I'm happy to share my story of adopting from a shelter.  We adopted
Freddie from JD (Widget's Halfway House) in September 2000.  That boy
was a throw away.  3 homes and a shelter in his 8 short months of life.
I don't believe he was abused, just was in a lot of homes in a very short
period of time.  JD came all the way from FL and we from Indianapolis,
IN, to meet in Columbus, OH for us to bring Freddie to his forever home.
To this day, I can't understand how a private individual could give up
Freddie.
 
Most of my ferrets are very laid back.  Freddie is a hellion.  He's
smart, mischievous and can get the other ferrets really wound up!  We
have a great time!  He has brought a tremendous amount of joy to our
lives.  He brings a smile to my heart just thinking about him.  A bad
day is made so much better by opening the ferret room door to see his
sweet, yet mischievous, face looking back at me.
 
JD's love for Freddie was obvious to us while Freddie played and we
talked about him.  I had to all but pry Freddie from JD's hands.  If I
hadn't already been in the truck ready to leave when JD gave Freddie his
last kisses and told him bye, he may have chased me around the yard to
take Freddie back.  I know JD had a very difficult time letting that boy
go.  JD loves that boy, but he was running a shelter and by finding
Freddie a forever home, he made room for the next unwanted or abused
ferret that came his way.  We are forever grateful to JD for allowing us
to adopt Freddie.  We are grateful that JD thought enough of us to let
us bring Freddie home.  I think Freddie is grateful to JD for allowing
him to come be a part of our family also.  Lord knows Freddie has enough
admirers from me posting pictures and stories of him on some of the
boards.
 
Adoption benefited all of us, even though letting Freddie go broke JD's
heart.  Freddie has a great forever home, JD was able to free a space for
the next ferret that came his way, and we have the joy of having Freddie
in our home creating all kinds of discontent.  I wouldn't trade that boy
for the world!!
 
Feel free to visit my homepage to see what a tough life Freddie now
has. ;)  There are many, many pictures of him and his buddies in my photo
albums that you can link to thru the links page:
 
http://hometown.aol.com/junassicpark/index.html
[Posted in FML issue 4032]