I'm a little late introducing myself, since I presently only have access
to email from my job and therefore can't always read the FML every day -
although I do try to stay current as much as possible.  My name is Cheri
Johnson and I live in Brazoria, Texas.  I've subscribed to the FML for a
couple of years, but mainly lurk, preferring to read the wise words of all
of you guys.  Until last weekend I had shared my home with two darling
fuzzies: Chadley, my precious 6-year-old kissy boy, and Poo (nee Dana,
but somehow "Poo" seemed to fit her better, and it just stuck), my
year-and-a-half-old ball of fire.  I had been thinking for some time now
that Poo needed a playmate as energetic as she is, since Chadley would
rather eat and sleep than play much of the time, but hadn't acted on the
thought, since I had vowed to never purchase an animal from a pet store,
and there are no ferret shelters within a reasonable driving distance.  I
did inquire at the local SPCA about ferrets, asking them to please call me
if they ever had one, but they reacted to that as if I had inquired about
Martians.  Well... <sigh>
 
I was in my local Petco the last weekend, *only* to buy cat food (seven
cats also share my home.  And a dog.) I had to wander over to the ferret
cage, as I always have to do, just to talk to the babies.  Well, baby, in
this case.
 
Singular.  As I was innocently standing there, cooing to this tiny dark
sable fuzzy, a store employee approached me - they usually try to ignore
me - and asked if I would like to see the baby.  You know, I'm ok as long
as I don't touch them...once I've touched them I'm hooked, off the deep
end, abandoned by reason.  To make matters worse, while I was cuddling this
baby, two seedy-looking characters approached and asked if I was going to
buy her, because if I didn't, *they* would.  Then one of them proceeded
to comment on the stench of ferrets.  I know, I know - I only help to
propagate the pet store business, and that of Marshall Farms and any other
industry that has less than the ferrets' best interests at heart.  But I
fell in love with that baby, and she went home with me that day.  Poo is
thrilled, and Chadley will get used to her and learn to love her just as
he did with Poo.  The newbie's name is Oona, and she is a joy.
 
From now on I purchase my pet supplies online.
 
Cheri, Chadley, Poo, Oona, Alex the dog, and all the kitties
[Posted in FML issue 2891]