Hello all.  My Shelter Mom Friend turned me on to FML....and I love it.
I would like to give a little background on my family.  I have 2 German
Shepherds (Lea 11yrs., Maxi 3yrs), 1 cat (Tigger 1yr) and 2 ferrets (Spice
7 months and the newest Pepper 5 months).
 
Now, if you would have asked me a year ago what a ferret was, I couldn't
tell you.  I hadn't really heard of ferrets except for my boyfriend
telling me that he had one once but she died when he had the house sprayed
for bugs and he put her outside - it wasn't hot and she had water and was
in the shade.
 
In May, Shawn brought home Spice.  She was 8 weeks old and the cutest
little thing I had ever seen.  But what in the world do I do with this
little thing?  We had all the stuff because he bought her from a pet store
where Sharon (Shelter mom of Ferret Corner) worked.  But I still didn't
know anything about them.  So, I do what I do best....go get books and
read!  WOW there was a lot to learn.  I am still learning everyday.
 
Spice has been handled so much from the time that she was so young that
she doesn't mind being picked up and held for a bit (but she is not a
cuddler...she is a lick lick bite...but only to her daddy).  Spice rules
the house.  She tells all other animals and people what to do.  She LOVES
food and if you sit in the living room to eat, your food is fair game.
(the ferrets 4 story cage is in the living room and they have free roam
of the front part of the house - we made a gate for the hallway)
 
Pepper is new and is from the Shelter.  She is still learning everything
and is also still a little "fluffy".  She loves to play and we have found
that she doesn't really like treats or raisins....but she does love
marshmallows.  She loves to play with empty (or full) soda cans.  She is
deaf and doesn't see too well.  She still bites real hard...but she bites
her dad the hardest.  But you know what?  I wouldn't trade her for the
world!
 
I am trying to become more involved with helping ferrets.  It makes me
so sad to see these little guys used in labs or just thrown away.  All
animals are Gods gift.  I understand that some people just can't handle
them or can't afford to take care of them.  Sometimes things happen and
you have to get rid of your animals.  I hope that animal owners that find
themselves in this situation find a place to take their animals so that
they can be cared for.
 
The shelter here in Sierra Vista is planning a picnic "Ferrets on the
Loose".  We have scheduled it for November 18th at the Veterans Memorial
Park.  I am looking for ideas, speakers and sponsors to help with the cost
of the park rental and food.  Our website is
www.geocities.com/ferretcorneraz/index.
This will be the first "big" get together and I would love to see this
happen every year.  We will also be taking donations to help out with the
shelter.  We only have one shelter in this area and recently Sharon
(shelter mom) injured her back at work and has been out of work for two
weeks....caring for the animals has also been hard for her.....HANG IN
THERE SHARON!
 
If you can help or have ideas for the picnic please email me at
[log in to unmask]  I am also on AOL chat desertbutterfly4
 
Thank you...and sorry that this was so long!
 
Love you all!
Joanne, Shawn, Samantha
Lea, Maxi,
Tigger,
Spice and Pepper
Waiting at the Rainbow Bridge:  Sugar
[Posted in FML issue 3582]