Hi Everybody and most especially Sandy...
 
Your post concerning a pushy, rude, and undisciplined visitor to your
shelter was OUTSTANDING!  Shelters do not 'SELL' ferrets.  they seek homes
and place ferrets in homes found to be appropriate to that particular ferret
or ferrets.  Your staff must have the patience of Job to have tolerated her
behavior as it did..
 
Biting ferrets: well, I have found a nippy or biting ferret will often
figure out the shelter folks are a lot smarter and quicker than they are
and that the shelter people can and will refuse to tolerate any bullying by
a fuzzbutt.  Soooo..  said nippy fert will knock off the dental exercise
when with the shelter folks..  however, often anyone that is a stranger may
get a pretty rude surprise from the very same fuzzy that has now stopped
even play nipping the shelter people.  Being extremely careful with the
placement of a ferret with antisocial behaviors is only part of being
responsible toward the little ones in the shelter.
 
Sandy has shown very high standards and a thoroughly thought out position
toward humans that are exhibiting thoroughly negative behavior in her
shelter..  I think this post of hers might be a good one to include in a
small booklet 'Words of Wisdom for the New Shelter Operator'..  I often see
posts from ferret parents that are very interested in offering shelter and
caring to little ferets in need.  And reading a post such as Sandy's gives
an excellent example of poor human behavior and the appropriate response to
it while maintaining the dignity and excellent ethics of the shelter
operators and volunteers.
 
Thank you Sandy for sharing your excellent response to what had to be a
very unpleasant contact with a member of the public obviously totally
inappropriate for ferret parenting..  Would that we all could be so well
mannered and controlled in these circumstances...
 
Happy Fuzzys
 
dayna and the Woozles
[Posted in FML issue 2247]