Thanks, BIG, for stopping and restarting the FML during my vacation!
Needless to say, I'm behind on all topics.  I was chagrinned to read old
posts from people who dismissed our conversations about ferrets in Egypt as
boring and pointless.  I thought it was just another ferret-type thing that
had a place here.  Several subscribers sent me private e-mail to continue
the discussion, so I think at least SOME people were interested.  As a
relatively new ferret owner, I enjoy ALL aspects of the FML, especially
medical advice, and including smiles AND tears.
 
P.S.  Dayna,like you, just thinking about the critter named "NONOBADFERRET"
always cracks me up.
 
I have just returned from the dreaded FFZ California where I visited family.
We brought along a home movie of our frolicking ferrets and everyone was
charmed.  What a job it is telling people over and over again that no, my
ferrets don't bite, consume crops, attack livestock, etc.  (By the way,
being from New York, I also had to put up with endless boorish comments on
Noo Yawk accents, which we don't have since we were raised in Illinois.  In
20 years here on Long Island, I have never heard anyone actually pronounce
it Lawn Guyland.)
 
I'm so distressed by all the ferret rabies stories.  So far, I do not permit
ANYONE outside of my immediate family to handle the ferrets, ESPECIALLY
children.  Cody, Chip, and Dale are always supervised when they're on the
loose.  In this way I hope to avoid ever having to prove that a) they don't
carry rabies b) they ARE vaccinated c) killing for testing is not required.
Doesn't it seem like the ultimate Catch-22, that you MUST vaccinate your
ferrets against rabies, but the fact that they ARE vaccinated doesn't
protect them from those who would automatically kill and test them.  So why
do we vaccinate them at all if it's not going to make a difference in a bite
dispute?
 
Ok, I know we must vaccinate them.  It just seems ridiculous that following
this rule means nothing to those who institute the rules in the first place.
Nuff said from this soapbox, sorry.
 
In response to the story about Bob Church's ferret bobbing with Willy, be
warned that this is most likely a directive of the FLO.  What happened at
our house on almost the same day is too similar to be a coincidence.  Hubby
was sitting on the commode, reading a newspaper, with his boxer shorts
around his ankles on the floor.  (Sorry to be so graphic, but your safety is
at stake here.) Cody slipped into the room and then slipped into the shorts,
where she was probably trying to remain still until the attack.  Fortunately
for hubby, she was unable to resist the luxurious silkiness of the boxers,
and began to writhe and dook.  This of course, alerted her intended victim,
who shot his entire body straight up in the air and thus extricated the
ferret from the shorts.  This is a true story.  I urge all FLO resisters to
take heed.
 
Ferret proofing the couch: Our "colonial" style couch has a dust ruffle so
it was easy.  We removed the four lil round legs from our couch and screwed
double 2 x 4s all the way around, forming a box that rests directly on the
floor.  The dust ruffle covers it.  It works great, and also prevents all
the junk from my human children from getting under there, too: food, toys,
books, TV remotes, newspapers......just like the ferrets.
 
Finally, I now have proof that ferrets understand what they see on
television.  Ever since the Olympic opening ceremonies, Chip n Dale, the
ones that LIKE each other, have been engaged in totally new forms of
Graeco-Roman wrestling.  The Graeco part is where they grab each other by
the neck and throw each other to the ground.  The Roman part is when they
start roamin' around looking for each other.  (Groaaaaaaannnn.)
 
Kat
[Posted in FML issue 1640]