Hi...I've been lurking for several months and very much enjoying Mo' Maggie
and Paw Paw and the Xmas stories.
 
I have had the privilege of being owned by two fantastic fuzzies...Sparky
and Pooka.  Sparky was a small sable female, and Pooka is an albino male.  I
noticed a difference between the two in temperment...Sparky was much more of
an aggresive ferret, while Pooka is a cuddle bun.  Though Sparky would crawl
into my sweater to sleep while I read, she had an attitude of never ending
energy...whereas Pooka comes up and sleeps beside me on the couch while
read, but has a much milder outlook on life.
 
I also have dogs...Shelties to be exact.  Pooka grew up with theses guys,
they're his buddies.  Though I've noticed lately that he is becoming less
and less tolerant of pups (he's over 5 now and getting a bit crotchedy!), so
I make sure they don't thump him or else he gets pretty ticked and fights
back.  Though he's never drawn blood, I have to flick his nose to get him to
let go.
 
As in my two fuzzies, I also prefer the male Sheltie to the female Sheltie.
Less aggressive with strangers, more confident, and more affectionate.
Also, less fighting amongst themselves, those "ladies" can be pretty nasty
in the pecking order!
 
I had planned on going to NH to visit shelters in November...but due to
unforseen problems with a new litter of pups...and Pooka's newfound
intolerance...I cancelled the trip for now.
 
To the lady looking to buy her next fuzzie from a pet shop...please don't!
Support responsible breeders, not conglomerations that care little or none
for the animals thay sell.  I just heard from a friend who works for XXX XX
that they recently lost 48 of 50 fuzzies during shipping...they were (all
50) shipped in a box not big enough for 10.  The surviving two were adopted
out with caring people and are still traumatized by the experience!  A pox
on that "breeder" (a term I use loosely in this case) and on the
Corporations that run these stores!
 
There are responsible breeder's out there and caring shelters that go out of
their way for our fuzzies...use your computer resources to search the net,
talk to the shelters in other states, get out your car (if you have one) and
make a trip of it if necessary...the money would be much better spent than
filling the pockets of fuzzie mills and pet shops!
 
Jennifer and Pooka and the fab five Shelties
Shelties *there he is...under the couch...go get him*
Pooka *watch it buster...that's MY tail your pulling!*
Prince Edward Island, Canada
http://www3.pei.sympatico.ca/silversong2/
[Posted in FML issue 1769]