[Moderator's note: Polly wasn't sure if this was related enough to ferrets,
but I think it is and am posting it.  BIG]
 
I work in a group home for developementaly disabled people.  Two of the
people in the home are autistic.  I bring my ferrets to work with me some
times.  Everybody at work enjoys the ferrets including the bosses who find
them to be great pet therapy.  We also have many gray squirrels around the
home that I work in.  I started feeding the squirrels peanuts early this
fall.  I have the squirrels tame enough to come into my lap for peanuts.
One of the autistic people in the home will sit on the porch to watch the
squrrels.  Most of the staff and bosses will feed the squirrels by hand and
have found it a great stress relief.  Most of the female employees in the
home have migraines and since we've started feeding the squirrels we've had
fewer migraines.  People from other homes in the company come to the house
and feed the squirrels as well as other bosses.  The peple in the home that
I work at feed the squirrels and talk to them.  One lady in particular
who's not an animal lover, now asks about my ferrets and feeds and talks
to the squirrels.  Animals are th best therapy.
 
Polly
[Posted in FML issue 2904]