>"How many of you ferret foster moms/dads regularly get calls requesting
>socially unacceptable or medically challenged ferrets?  I know I don't.
>Those special individuals who come to my home w/an open mind & fall in love
>w/an older ferret, knowing that their time together may be short-lived, are
>few & far between.  I'm grateful to have had the good fortune to meet every
>one of these unique individuals."
 
This is my 2 cents.  We have adopted two of this "type" of ferret and we do
not consider ourselves to be unique....our reasons are multi.  My first
ferret is a pet store ferret (we did not know about shelters at the time)
and although she is a luv I do not want another baby again.  Once has been
enough for me.  The other reason we like this "type" of ferret is for the
reason that they are NOT easily adoptable.  I know that first timers are
coming to the shelter looking for kits and babies.  I assume I don't have to
worry about them, they will find homes easily.  And my last and most
important reason is this.....we ended up with Oki purly by accident because
we picked him up directly rather than him going through the shelter and
being exposed to ECE.  If we had not done this he would have gone to the
shelter and spent the rest of his life there (which turned out to be 2 wks)
and although FAST is a wonderfull place to be a ferret, I am glad he came to
us and had a home.  We adopted him so that he would be "ligitamet" if he
died and truly be ours (he already was in our hearts) I DO NOT for a moment
regret the time or the money or the energy we put into Oki.  It was very
rewarding just to see the spark in his eyes and the joy he had at being here
and he was an absolute sweetheart.
 
Our newest ferret, Oakley, is almost 3, has had tumors removed and is an
ECE ferret.  Right now I am having to mix up special food for him and give
him sucrafet (sp?).  I luv him to bits.  He is the sweetest ferret I have
ever met.  He is a happy go lucky guy who luvs to roam and talk to himself
and play all day.
 
My point is this...if I had requested a younger ferret or a healthy ferret
I might have missed out on some of the most unconditional love and all the
laughs and joys I have experienced with these two ferrets.  Each of my
ferrets has had its own personality and its own quirks.  Footsie is a
stalker and a terrorist, Oki was a digger and a burrower and Oakley is a
toe biter and cant seem to quite get the litter box idea.  So what?  They
all come with problems and they all come with love and isn't love what
matters?  I always encourage friends who are considering getting a shelter
ferret to get this "type" if they can handle it.  I realize not everyone
can.  I also look at it this way...you get a young one or an older sicker
one...there are still no gaurantees.  You still have litter training, bite
training etc...depending on the ferret.  And young ferrets get sick too.
 
Give me the unadoptable ones any day.  I love my baby Footsie bunches but
the less adoptable shelter ferrets I have and have had hold a special place
in my heart and always will.
 
Cindy Smith
Doug, Footsie and Oakley
always remembering Oki
[Posted in FML issue 2302]