I usually don't respond to any of the debates on the fml but I can't
resist putting my 2 cents in on this one.  Mark Z. posted:
>This is why I rarely adopt to anyone in their teens or early 20's.  Not
>that they are bad people, but because this is a stage in their lives
>when things are quite dynamic and uncertain.  "Do I go into the military?
>Do I go college?  Do I work at McDonald's?  Do I travel through Europe
>then go to school?  Hmm...maybe vet school.  OH!  Or the French Foreign
>Legion!" "Ooh.  College is a lot harder than I thought it would be.
 
I personally think this is a narrow-minded point of view.  I am 25 and
have been in the full-time work force since I was 19 and worked at my
first job for 3.5 years.  I've only had 2 jobs since, even with a move
from FL to OH.  I've always had high profile corporate jobs.  How many
people are in their 30's and 40's and can't hold a job or be responsible
for their children, let alone their pets.  Age isn't always equal to
maturity as we all know.  It's a shame that a caring, loving person like
me could be refused by a shelter like Mark's just because he assumes he
knows that I'm not responsible because I'm in my 20's.
 
My mother originally rescued my Pippin from the Animal Protective League
2 years ago and 3 days later the family couldn't handle him (he was a
sneak attack biter) so they were going to take him back.  We took him in
even though we knew very little about ferrets.  I researched, read books,
and then later found the FML to help me figure out the right way to care
for him.  Pippin has a forever home that was given to him by a 23 year
old (at the time) and my parents who surely must be more responsible than
me because they are older, were not willing to stick it out.  (In their
defense my brother told my mom that ferrets were like kittens.)
 
Valerie is a caring person and was very responsible about finding a good
home for her ferrets when she thought she was leaving for the military.
Sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants.  At least those shelter
kids found a good home, even if it was through being adopted by Valerie
and then by her finding them a responsible ferret owner to adopt them.
Good for them.
 
Regarding PV - I'm so glad to hear that Path Valley made good and paid
for Lisa's ferret Ruby's surgery.  Merry was a PV ferret.  She was
diagnosed with lymphoma within 6 months of my purchase.  When I contacted
the pet store they referred me to PV's corporate office.  I was told that
they couldn't do anything for me except when she died they'd replace her.
Even though I had her guarantee and original receipt and all in order - I
never even got so much as an I'm sorry.  Like they thought I would not
give my ferret treatment so she would die and I could get a replacement.
I spent over $2,000 on care for Merry - sound responsible enough Mark?
 
Sorry for venting-the age thing's my pet peeve.
 
Trish ~ Pippin & Zira
*missin Merry*
[Posted in FML issue 4073]