This might start a ruckus, but some folks who understand ferrets might
enjoy this- see, We've been hosting a "Ferret-Legging" demonstration at
the State Fair of VA.'s Highland Games for 8 years now- it's a 2-day
event, huge, and a great fund-raiser. Keep in mind that we DO NOT
take any adoptable shelter kids to this event- only our "Bomb-proof"
personal ferrets. We supply huge, baggie sweat pants for the 2-4
participants to wear, us RFRL members stand right in front of the
participant and we drop the ferret down the sweat pants for- it's
a timed event- 3 minutes. It has grown in size over the years- now
hundreds of people flock to see this one, short event- and we have the
help of the Shakespearean Players from DC to M.C. this event for us-
they explain the history of ferret legging, explain what RFRL does, and
it gives us a chance to educate the public about ferrets. We set up 4-5
tables with ferrets, info, etc- no on-site adoptions. We just talk and
let people pet the ferrets and take home literature. And, this past
year, Oct 2009, was our last year of this event. I always sweat
bullets, in fear that a ferret might be stepped on, hit, stolen,
lost....you name it. We've had a great run of luck, I'm quitting while
ahead- this event made the front page of the Metro section of the
Richmond Times Dispatch in 2006 and again this year. But here's a
goodie... this gentleman called me in 2007 and asked to be included in
the participants for the legging (they are drawn at random from the
crowds). He said he was with Sports Illustrated and was writing about
unusual sports. I thought I felt smoke blowing up my rear, but I went
along with him- and he attended with his secretary- I signed papers,
etc- then forgot about it. Until the State Fair sent me this link- and
they now want any video footage we might have went this book hits the
stands:

http://www.rickreillyonline.com/sports-from-hell-book.php

Yes, that photo on the cover is one of my ferrets- his name is Patrick-
he's now 6 years old, and a very special ferret. He was one of my
volunteer's personals- we lost her in 2007 to cancer. He's pretty much
a DEW now- lost all his Panda shoulders, etc. But he was tunneling in
folks britches again this past Oct- for the final ferret-embarrassment.
Just in the past 2 years events, we've raised over $1,600.00 in
donations.

So...really- no ferret was injured, no one was bitten, and we had a
chance to show thousands of folks over the past 8 years that ferrets
don't always just "bite and stink". I'm working on a new event in
conjunction with the State Fair involving ferrets and MANY other
things- it'll take 1-2 years planning as it looks now.

No more ferret legging- Promise. But, this photo on the cover- well,
I know it will humiliate and scar my son for life. He's in the army,
always a sports-buff, soccer addict, and his mom's ferret makes Sports
Illustrated.

Marlene B.
RFRL 
www.richmondferretrescueleague.org
804-276-3905 (I'm listing my number-that way you don't have to flame-
you can even call:)

[Posted in FML 6580]