Charlie's Aquarium in Pekin, IL now has Totally Ferret in stock !!!  (Also
1999 Ferret Calenders.)  Charlie's is located at 1613 Valle Vista in Pekin
near Peoria.  Phone is 309-347-1930.  Valle Vista is the cross street by
the K-Mart on IL Rt.  9 (Court St.) on the east side of Pekin.  I'm not
associated with either company.  I use Totally Ferret (along with Eukanuba
Kitten and Iam's Kitten) and Charlie Davis, who owns the pet store, is a
long-time friend who introduced me to ferrets many years ago.  He is a
caring person who wants all animals to be treated properly, tries to
educate new owners and only carries what is best for them.  Other helpful,
knowledgable people there are Ursala and his son Rusty.
 
This is my first posting on the new 'pooter.  The ancient 486's hard drive
committed suicide.  Lost a lot of my addresses, etc.  If you were, or would
like to be, on the mailing list for Central Illinois "Ferret Connection",
the sporadically published, poorly printed newsletter I put together for
our group, please send snail mail address to: [log in to unmask]  This is
for anyone but especially Bob Church, Marge in O'Fallon, "Esmerelda" in
Champaign, the lady in Galesburg, and several in Peoria.  As you can see,
my memory works only a little better than the one in the dead computer.  I
thought I had backed up that address file.  See what happens when you age.
 
I read the vote for "Ferret Guru" Dr. Chuck Burmeister in Peoria.  How
true!!!
 
Dr. Chuck has now done his first hysterectomy on a girl ferret.  "Baby
Girl" (I posted her story last month) is doing marvelously, is growing
beautiful fur to cover the tiny little scar Chuck left her with and is
endearing herself to all people she meets.  Unfortunately, she doesn't
much care for ferrets.  If my history is accurate, she was not with another
ferret since she was 8 weeks old (now 2 yo) except to be bred.  She
attacks viciously.  Hillary, being First Ferret Lady, has to protect her
territory.  Bill can't understand why Baby Girl doesn't just love him like
everyone else does and Leroy hasn't forgotten what boys do to girls when
they are in heat.
 
Needless to say, Baby Girl is still living alone.
 
When they all visited Dee last week while I was out of town, she attacked
Slinky through the cage mesh or at least tried to.  Lucky, Jack and Jill
were curious but didn't get close enough to be attacked.  She has her home
even if she never does, but if anyone has suggestions on how I may help her
to realize ferrets aren't enemies, I'm listening.  I've tried switching
bedding, short times together as a group and individually but so far no
way.  At least the only blood drawn has been mine when separating them.
Hillary has never bitten anyone, but now I have her tooth prints
permanently etched into my hand.
 
Baby Girl just came to me and insisted that I pick her up and get some
kisses she had to get rid of. How could you be cruel to these remarkable
creatures?
 
Sorry this is so long. Thanks for listening.
John Gordon
[Posted in FML issue 2460]