Sorry Debi.  I still respectfully disagree.  Pull over and stop is not the
answer.
 
>NEVER reach down to get your fuzzy from the floor while driving.  Pull
>over and stop!  It's a compromise YOU must make if your ferret is loose in
>the car.  The ferret will NOT learn to stay out of the driver's floorboard!
 
Rommel started screaming bloody murder because he caught his penis on the
edge of the cage.  He was no where near the front of the vehicle when he
distracted me.  I would challenge anyone (especially any man reading this!)
to totally ignore a ferret in such a situation while taking the time to
signal your intentions, move over in traffic to the edge of the road, and
then stop.
 
BTW, a saw an accident just the other day.  A car got creamed from behind
in slow moving (maximum speed limit was 30 MPH) rush hour traffic.  In
spite of the slow speed, the whole trunk area of the car was now in the
back seat.  The driver was fine, but I wonder what would have happened to
a ferret running loose in that situation?
 
Please folks.  Treat a ferret in a car the same way you would a child.
There is absolutely no need for a ferret to run loose in the car.  Rather
than pulling over and stoping when there's already a problem, don't start
the car with the potential problem brewing.  Buckle up your entire family
first!  Put the ferret in the carrier and then strap the carrier into the
seat belt to prevent harm if you have to suddenly stop.  I've always used
a spare seat belt to secure the carrier but if someone knows of a better
way, please let me know.
 
>Please consider the reality of your complaints.  If you have a valid
>concern please voice the real reason, instead of nitpicking for an excuse
>to complain.
 
Unfortunately, this is the reality of people with allergies and asthma.
The scent of an orange or lemon or even Lysol will send me into a severe
asthma attack.  Many of you might consider this far-fetched but I have to
consider my reactions every place I go.  A friend of mine went into a
severe asthma attack when she got around ferrets!  It's hard for people
without such reactions to understand but these problems do exist.  Besides,
taking animals into a restaurant or store is against the heath code.  Wendy
Winstead did none of us a favor when she planted such suggestions in her
book. :(
 
We ferret owners need to put on a positive image.  There are lots of places
locally that my ferrets are welcomed such as pet stores like PetsMart and
building supply stores.  Home Depot is my personal favorite!  Let's respect
and play by the rules that were created for a reason.  Other people will
respect us for our positive decisions rather than chastising us for
flaunting the rules.
 
    -Carla (not the shelter mom)
[Posted in FML issue 3035]