Hello all,
 
In light of the season, I thought I would just give a few suggestions for
Christmas gifts for you and for the fuzzies.  When most people think of
adopting a ferret, they think of a young cute one for their enjoyment.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, however, this Christmas, maybe
you could think of adopting a ferret for the ferret's sake.  Shelters
usually have no problem adopting out younger, healthy ferrets.  However,
most shelters usually have older or unhealthy ferrets that may only have a
few years, or even just a few months left.  While most shelters will try to
give these ferrets time and love, it will never compare to what they could
receive in a home where they don't have to compete for attention with quite
as many ferrets.  If you adopt an older ferret, it will probably cost you
little, if any.  And if you adopt a ferret that is unhealthy, that needs
surgery or medication, and you are able and willing to help out the ferret,
and give him or her love and affection for the rest of their lifetime, you
are giving a gift to that fuzzy worth more than any toys you could buy.
 
If you don't have a shelter close to you, and you are not willing to drive a
great distance, maybe you could consider sponsoring a ferret from a ferret
shelter in your state, or in a neighboring state.  Most shelters would be
more than happy to send you photos and updates of a particular ferret in
return for sponsorship of vet bills, meds, food, and such.  Donations are
always accepted with open arms too, if you wish to sponsor a group of
fuzzies, and help out the entire shelter itself, rather than just an
individual fuzzy.  When you are writing out your Christmas cards, send one
to your local shelter too, and maybe enclose a check, or gift certificate to
a ferret catalog, or feed store.
 
If you would rather not help out a ferret shelter, for whatever reasons, and
you are unable to take a special needs ferret into your home, consider
spending a day of your time educating the public about ferrets.  Distribute
brochures about ferret care at your local vets and pet stores.  Set up a
time with either a vet clinic or a pet store that you can hold a ferret
information day.  Take a sweet ferret on a visit of schools, nursing homes,
or hospitals, to help brighten up people's days and to help educate.  Go to
a pet store that takes less than perfect care of their ferrets, and offer to
clean cages, nip train, educate the employees, and play with the fuzzies.
Download copies of the ferret faq off of the internet, print it out,
photocopy it, and distribute it free to vet clinics, pet stores, and anyone
that is interested.
 
This Christmas, when you look down at your fuzzies, think about where they
might be if you had not adopted them, and taken them into your home.  Maybe
they might be in another home just as good, maybe not.  Consider how lucky
they are to have found you, and how maybe you can help out another fuzzy who
was not so lucky.  I guarantee you, the feeling you can get from knowing you
helped to save a ferret's life, or change their life for the better, can be
worth more than any monetary gift.
 
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, and happy, ferret filled,
holidays!
 
Shelley
[Posted in FML issue 2156]