My first post to the FML!  (There goes my virginity.) And it's so easy too!
What a great forum!  I would like to thank Rick and Kathy at
http://w3.one.net/~ricks/ferret.html for introducing us to the FML.  We
subscribed a week ago and can hardly wait for the day to day postings.  All
the information, stories, gossip, controversy and insults.  It almost beats
out "Tool Time" and is certainty better than any soap opera (my opinion
only, not my wife's).  But in a household were I wear the pants and she
works the zipper, my opinion is marginal at best.
 
Let me introduce you to the family
Nita - She's my beautiful wife of 13 yrs.  (I think 13's right).  Animal
lover, friend, and a great mom.  (According to my kids but they're bias).
We have two great sons Jesse (9) and Corey (5) they're handsome, out going
and smart (we might be a little bias).  To round out our little group we
have, a white German shepherd mix named "Sham", a Chow named "Hyling", a
rabbit named "Bunny".
 
What about the fuzzies?
Oh!  We could never forget to mention the fuzzies.  They deserve more than
just a mention.  But Let me give you a brief history on our introduction to
ferret ownership.
 
The first year we where married we adopted a ferret from a woman whom I
worked with.  It was wonderful sable female named "Kalua".  She was
approximately 5yrs old when we got her, and lived until she was 8-9.  Nobody
around here knew anything about ferrets.  Ferrets where and are illegal to
own in this county of Ohio (They will be legal at the end of April).  As a
result we knew very little about them and looking back on it we made several
mistakes.  Even though we only had her for 3-4 years we became very attached
to her.  After losing Kalua it was a little difficult to justify purchasing
another do to starting my business and Nita being pregnant (9 months
wonderful of joy).
 
Sometime had passed, since the loss of our first fuzzy, actually 8 years.
Yes 8 years when a young man fancies turn to new pet ownership and those
famous words "Dad I'll take good care of him", "Please dad can we get him",
"Please dad".  Being the clever dad that I am (At least I thought) a
discouraging deal I had for him.  "Son if you want this ferret you will have
to pay for it yourself out of your allowance" (which would be 64 weeks
worth) and "You must take care of your pet and do all the rest of your home
duties without expecting any allowance for the next year!".  That meant no
new video games, toys, candy and all those other "got to have" things.  So
what was his answer ."OK dad".  So on March 17, 1997 we where headed home
with a new male sable ferret now named "CoCo".  Since it was necessary for
are new friend to stay inside we would need a cage, not just any cage, but a
cage Acceptable to dicor of our home.  I built a large cage that anybody or
anything would be very comfortable in (including kids if it was necessary).
This cage was 2ft x 2ft x 4ft, three carpeted levels which where identified
as the play room/dining room, the bathroom and the bed room.  The cage also
included, carpeted ramps, 2 hammocks, a swing and few toys.
 
Oh yes the toys!  We bought every ferret toy we could locate within a 20
mile radius, Tent, balls, tubes, teaser, bandanas and I think you get the
idea.  My sons $129.00 investment turned into a $600.00 joy of shopping and
building.  Was it worth it?.  You bet!.  I forgot how much fun we used to
have with Kalua.
 
So your wondering how things are today!  Well my sons agreement was right on
schedule ..  with the rest of the rest of every 8 year old who makes that
same commitment to their parents.  It lasted about a month.  But I have to
say it went 3 weeks longer than I really expected.  My wife and I have taken
a real interest in our little fuzzies.  Fuzzies that right!  More than one.
My wife saw a shirt that said "Ferrets are like potato chips, you can't have
just one" so we don't.  We now have four, a male silver mit named "Jake", a
large male albino named "Buzz" (after Buzz Lightyear), a female albino named
"Snow" and of course "CoCo.
 
Thank god for the internet and all the people it has put us in contact
with.  We joined the Tri-State Ferret Connection (What a great group) and
are absorbing all the information we can on ferrets.  We really do enjoy
the FML and take our hats off to all those responsible for it.
 
God Bless Everyone and be good to each other.
Jerry, Nita, Jesse, Corey, Sham, Hyling, Bunny,
CoCo, Jake, Buzz and Snow
[Posted in FML issue 2251]