1. Chris: Although I am new to FML, I certainly appreciate your devotion
in moderating 1000 issues of FML.  I am now throughly ADDICTED, so I hope
someone will try to fill your shoes!
 
2. The 8th Annual Oregon Ferret Association Fun Match is history (time to
start planning for next year?!). We grossed over $575.00 - which is about
10 times the amount that we made last year!  We ended up with about $1200
in donations for the fun match and played 15 different games with our
fuzzy critters.  Although this is probably small potatoes to some groups,
we only have 30 people total in our club with about 10 who are real
active.  This money will go along way to replace the 20 year old cages for
our 145 ferrets in the shelter.  Thanks for letting me use this space to
broadcast information, Chris!  We have had several contacts as a result
of the e-mail.
 
3.  The the California resident who wants to buy ferrets: Consider a
shelter ferret!  Our shelter in Portland has kits (8 weeks and up) as
well as adults.  Chris Mathis is able to care for the dozens of ferrets
(that will probably never find permanent homes because of age or medical
condition) by breeding and selling a limited number of kits.  The prices
range from $50 to $75 ($95 if you INSIST on getting it descented).  She
is a wealth of information.  Contact her at (503) 657-6902 (M & P
Ferretry).  She is located in Oregon City. It's worth the drive!
 
4.  On a sad note:  We just found out that 2 of Deborah Jean's 3 ferrets
are critically ill.  Although I have never personally met her, I adore
her! She is the author of "A Practical Guide to Ferret Care", a SUPERB
ferret book.  She lists many of the ferret shelters in the United States in
her book and talks about her experiences with the Miami Ferret Shelter
following Hurricane Andrew. She also talks about what everyone can do to
help your local shelter. On top of that, she sends monthly "care kits"
to shelters in need, including ours.  She has sent us water bottles,
litter pans, food dishes, hammocks (lots!), etc. I was hoping that the
FML could reciprocate for all of her kindness towards shelter ferrets.
 
>From what I understand, one ferret (Pepper) has an inoperable adrenal
tumor (it's on the right side.) Another ferret has insulinoma. I was
thinking of sending a card to let her know that other ferret owners
are "thinking of her and her fuzzies in their time of need."  If anyone
would like to send a short e-mail message to me, I will compile the messages
and forward them to Deborah in a card. My address is:
                [log in to unmask]
I would like to send the card by the 19th.  Thanks in advance!
 
        - Carla Almaraz
 
[Posted in FML issue 0920]