I guess by now you all are probably tired of hearing about the Rainbow
kids. Its just being around them daily and watching them develop, I
have to tell you it's an awesome experience. They didn't know what they
were doing, they'd look at you, at the new toy, at you, go around it,
sniff it, take hold of it one way then another..........after awhile
you heard them shaking the pieces out of it. Three girls in one cage,
I haven't decided which one it is, is absolutely destroying the whole
lot of crochet eggs. She shakes them off and on all night long and I
am pretty far from that room too to wake up to the sound.

I am hoping to post some more pictures today or tomorrow, have them,
just haven't had time to edited them. Look in the pictures for the
donations you sent in as much is being used in the playpens most all
of it is from you all. Another big THANK YOU to Lisa Osestereich of
Winchester, Ky., She has really gone out and fallen in love with Rage -
so she sent 4 boxes of things addressed to Rage but a note saying she
could share with her friends - one box was NEW toys, things I didn't
think ferrets would enjoy and they are having a ball, and these got
distributed among the 5 playpens they get time OUT in.

You'll note some of the "playpens" are just large cages but these are
so much bigger than the ones they are housed in, it IS time out for
them, gives them time to stretch their legs, play with larger toys than
they have in their cages - some are in pens that are just 2 stories but
they can't be caged together yet. This bothers me as I can't stand to
cage the shelter kids, they get to run free unless they are scared of
other ferrets, get in fights or are on medications.

Want to tell you about Laura from Michigan. She BROUGHT a suitcase full
of stuff they made and it is awesome. She took a few pictures and was
gone in a puff of smoke but so glad she was able to stop by during her
trip. Her rescue makes these things to sell for their rescue. I wanted
to save new stuff to go with these darlings as they are adopted but
these are so great I had to let the kids start using them now. The list
(I mostly don't say what or how much someone gives as I have received
apology after apology for someone sending something they think is so
little and I think it is great, know it is heartfelt plus the effort
of packing it up and getting to the post office not to mention the
expense) but she had a list and I have to quote it "41 blankets, 28
leashes harnesses, 8 ball toys, 9 hammocks, 2 hanging beds, 8 floor
tubes (these are fantastic, nice and long, great material) and 1 corner
bed. If any of you are interested their website is www.ferretasylum.org
We make hammocks also but what she brought was very different and the
ferrets took right to it.

Special thanks too to Leanne who has come and spend HOURS several
times rearranging things where it is more comfortable for the ferrets -
changing out the smaller cages to larger ones, getting the girls more
socialized to share, and that was no small job. Before hand she mostly
had been working with the girls. Yesterday she got here fairly early
and I think it was 10:30 pm before she gave it up. She got the boys to
tow the line too and they were most appreciative. Certainly was nice to
move some cages out and have a little more room in there too, she used
the shop vac and got stuff the little stinkers had tucked into hard to
get to spots. I think they are testing her. Plus it was girls day out
in the exercise pens, a set of 4 got to go into the sandbin - naturally
they didn't want to come out, they had dug some great furrows where
they were completely underground (When Staci was here, she would go
bananas and get in there to cover up their holes - which I told her the
cage goes 18" into the ground and they have never in 15 years gotten
out but she still worried. They loved it cause they watched her
climbing out and were already busy clearing it back out again - the
pens are 4'x8' by 2' tall.......) Well sure enough, when it was time to
put them up, we couldn't find one girl. We had capped off the tube that
goes into the house (this had been my personal ferrets accommodations
in the past) They had pulled the cap off and it didn't feel like anyone
was in there yet when we pulled the tube apart, there she was right up
to the opening that goes into the ferret room trying to push that plug
out.

Starting next weekend we will be releasing some of the RE's all of the
boys are spoken for, several girls. We are thinking strongly, with the
help of other shelters in Texas, especially Connie's Ferret Waystation
in Austin, we can find homes for all the ferrets here. Special thanks
goes to Beth, in Utah with The Ferret Cubby Shelter/Rescue. and Jerri
Carel, The Ferret Haven, Louisville, KY who both have had experience
with the McKay ferrets and offered to take some of the kids - which
we still have them listed in case we need to move some out. They have
given us some wonderful advice and support and help with this endeavor.
I had to especially laugh at the comment that her vet did so many spay
neutering, he could do it with his eyes closed now.

Again, everyone, you have come through, our vet was impressed with the
emails they received thanking them, if you wish to send a thank you,
its Drs Dearixon, Dr Sperry and the whole crew at [log in to unmask] .
It would be nice to put your city and state in there as those who did
gave them the idea this was coming from EVERYWHERE.

It won't be till late today or tomorrow that I get those pictures
posted but you can look at either album - bringing the headshots with
the right name up on
<http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/ff149/milliesa2003/A%20Rainbow%20Ferret/>

and then the Rainbow Action Figures with fun photos.
<http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/ff149/milliesa2003/Rainbow%20Action%20Figures/>

Happy Easter everyone, take time to enjoy it and share with family and
friends. And Thank You for your support and making this a success - I'm
counting it a success for it is completed but we couldn't have done it
this well without the whole country being involved like it was.

Millie and her Cleaning Crew
www.Txferretrescue.org

[Posted in FML 5921]