Well, I've really gone and done it now. Tonight I picked up a fourth
ferret from the vet. This one is my second rescue ferret -- her owners
brought her to the vet three or four months ago near death with a liver
infection. Then they didn't return to pay the bill and take her home. The
vet finally sent them a certified letter, which they received and for
which they signed, but they did not come and get her. Consequently, one
of the veterinary assistants adopted her.
 
However, this woman's husband didn't get along with the ferret. It seems
she bit him all the time until he became quite afraid of her. I faxed her
copies of all of your suggestions for training biting ferrets not to
bite. This kept them trying for a couple of months, until yesterday, when
I got a message on my answering machine that the woman was looking to get
rid of "Munchie," as she called her. I had told her two months ago that I
would take the ferret, but I didn't want her to give up so easily. The
woman says the ferret is now quite attached to her, but it came down to
"who's more important," and her husband is more important. (Personally, I
hate all-or-nothing ultimatums like that.)
 
This little ferret has reddish eyes like an albino, but she's not pure
white. Her fur is silver-tipped and she also has a little bit of
golden coloring. Maybe someone can tell me -- does this mean she is a
so-called champagne ferret? If so, maybe I can call her "Bubbly." I'm not
sure whether to change her name again or not. The people who left her at
the vet didn't leave a name. She weighs in at an amazing 2.3 pounds,
which makes her a monster compared to my other three, but she's very
gentle with them. She doesn't seem to know yet that her size probably
makes her superior in strength. And she has the thickest fur of any
ferret I've ever held. She is quite beautiful.
 
So now the score is: Rescued ferrets 2, brand new ferrets 2, departed
from this life 1.
 
                        Linda, Esperanza, Frankie, Lucky Charm, and Munchie
[Posted in FML issue 1116]