I brought a new baby home last week.  His name is Freddy (not my idea)
and he is approximately 2 and 1/2 years old.  He came from a rather sad
situation.  He belonged to a poor family who are not very well educated.
The girl who owned him is living with her aunt and uncle.  She is about
20 years old with the mentality of maybe a 10 or 12 year old.  She has
a 3 month old baby of her own (human baby) .  They have a house full of
pets and the social worker is trying to find homes for most of them.  It
seems to me that maybe so many creatures to nuture has become somewhat
overwhelming.  They seem to have really cared for him and seem sad to
let him go.  In fact it almost seems like they were, should I say
brainwashed, into believing that they no longer had time for him.  When
they told me that they didn't have time for him anymore, it seemed to me
that they didn't quite believe it, but that's what the nice social worker
lady said, so it must be true.  It seems to me that they have nothing but
time on their hands, since it seems like no one has a job.  There is also
a young boy (maybe about 16 or 17 years old) living there.  I don't know
how he fits in.
 
The ferret seems well nourished and relatively healthy.  The only problem
was he was kept in cedar shavings for 2 and a 1/2 years.  He has a large
bald spot on his left side.  It looks like he has scratched the hair
away.  He was also badly infested with fleas.  Soooo, before he got down
on my floor he had a bath.  That was kind of sad because the young lad
had bathed him before they turned him over.  They meant well I'm sure,
and I felt really bad for bathing him again so soon, but there was no way
he was being released in my house with all those fleas.  Anyway, I figure
with some blankies and hammies instead of shavings and some zincofax
applied liberally to the bald spot and he should clear up in a few days.
Right now the skin in the bald spot looks like eczema and really dry
skin.  It does not look inflamed or infected, so I hope a few days of
pampering and attention will clear it up.  If not, a trip to Dr. Cathy
will be in order.
 
I"m keeping him upstairs and away from the others for awhile, until I'm
sure he is as healthy as he looks.  He has wandered all over the upstairs
and found his way around the upstairs and while he was at it, he found
his way into my heart.  I had seriously considered trying to find a home
for him.  You know the old integration thing, and do I really want to get
into a third cage again.  As I knelt at the tub, bathing him I looked
into his eyes and said, "You know I love you already." I guess that means
that no matter what, he's a keeper.
 
Missing 9 "Little Angels" @ the Bridge
Sally St. Germain and her 8 "Little Saints"
Hi.....my name is Sally.....I am a ferret-a-holic!!!!!
[Posted in FML issue 3927]