We are the proud and grateful owners of 2 new fur children, a beautiful
sable male who we have named Spartan and a beautiful little albino female
who will be known as Athena.  We choose Greek (or is it Roman) names because
they are such little troopers to have undergone all that they have and still
be very sweet and loving little ones.  They seem to enjoy being handled and
loved on and we are just as much in love with them.  Thank you to all who
contributed money, rides to their finale destinations, moral support, and
anything else I may be forgetting which made their rescue possible.  A
special thank you to Troy Lynn and her cohorts who got the ball rolling so
that these fur children (all 50 or 60 of them) will now be loved fur
children to those who will now belong to them.
 
Also I'm posting a response to the DR Robert Steele which David wrote about
in yesterday's FML, (I hope this isn't too long BIG) :)
 
Dr. Steele,
 
(This is rather long and has absolutely no personal attacks only a desire to
share information and hopefully receive some from you as well.)
 
I am owned by 16 ferrets, the last 4 are rescues that we took in because
they needed love and attention, one being near death due to the inexperience
of the pet shop (he was severely dehydrated and had a prolapsed rectum) and
the other 3 by owners who didn't know much about ferrets.  Ferrets, like any
other animal, need close supervision around small children tho' not always
because they will hurt the children but because small children can also hurt
them.  I have some ferrets who are quite docile and would not bite unless
under extreme duress, one of which didn't bite us when he got caught on a
spring in our couch which impaled him and we had to slide him off the wire.
Ferrets are quite stoic about pain and will be in terrible pain before you
will know about it.  I also have temperamental ferrets who I wouldn't trust
around adults.  It depends on their personality, not just because they are
ferrets.
 
Please do not take this as a flame, but as a ferret owner I simply wanted to
correct some misunderstandings.  I have a wonderful vet who would be more
than happy to discuss any concerns you have regarding ferrets and to add to
your base knowledge of this wonder critter who never seems to grow up.  They
love their owners, and they love to play and sleep.  If you had told me 4
year ago that I would be a ferret owner, I'd have told you that you were
nuts, however after my husband talked me into getting our first ferret, I
haven't been able to say no when there's one that needs help.  One of the 4
rescues we took in was a terrible bitter (again I must reiterate that a
ferrets individual personality plays a roll here), he bit through my finger
several times, but we have been able to rehabilitate him (which most ferret
shelters do) and he is now a sweetie that loves to be handled and played
with.  He had been kept in a cage all his life with out interaction with
people.  He simply needed love and patience and he is now returning it to
us.  The other 2 rescues we have were abused their entire lives and have
never bitten us but love to be held and cuddled, so you can see their
personalities are as individual as ours are.  They are very intelligent and
I can honestly say out of all the pets I've ever owned (and there has been
many different kinds) the ferret is my very favorite.
 
My hope is that you will desire to know more about this wonderful little
animal and I will leave a URL for you to access.
 
http://www.optics.rochester.edu.8080/users/pgreene/central.html
 
Also I would be interested in the source for your information regarding
infants and ferrets in unproved attacks.  There is only one incident that I
am aware of and that one was iffy because the father was in the room when it
happened, asleep(?) during the attack, in which I would have to assume,
being a mother of 4 children myself, that the infant would have been
screaming.  I would be interested in any of your sources for my own
information.  I hope I have been able to give you some helpful information
as well.  The web site I have posted for you is very well done and has
access to some well know veterinarians who would also be of help if you
wish.
 
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
 
Sincerely
Vicky James
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I hope I have helped and not hindered our cause on behalf of those special
furry ferts that own us.  :)
 
Vicky
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[Posted in FML issue 1726]