I take each family case by case.  I've adopted several ferrets to a family
with a daughter who was around two the first time I adopted to them, and
is now six (or is it seven?).  She grew up with the ferrets, and is very
respectful of them.  I've adopted to quite a few others with younger kids
as well.  Previously ownership of a ferret is going to give them a leg up
for sure.
 
I've also refused to adopt to people who had kids, because the kid were
flipping BANSHEES!  They didn't follow my rules--always sit on the floor
when holding a ferret, don't stickfingers in cages, etc. and didn't listen
to their parents either.
 
I also refuse to adopt to anyone who calls and says they "Want to get a
pet for their kid to teach them responsibility".  I tell them a ferret
isn't a good "starter pet", explain the amount of care they require, tell
them about vet bills.  Almost everytime the parent ends up saying "Wow!
I didn't know that.  What would you suggest then?" and depending on the
conversation I either suggest waiting or getting a short haired guinea pig.
 
I take each person case by case, regardless of the kids.  I've refused
to adopt to more people without kids than with kids.  I'm more leery of
adopting to a 16 year old than a family with a six year old.  I always
think with the sixteen year old, what's going to happen to the ferret in
two years when they go to college?  Not to say I won't do it, it really
depends on the parents and their attitude.
 
The population segment that I almost always refuse right off is the
pregnant couple who are getting ready for their first human kid.  I always
tell them I'd love to adopt to them after the baby is born and they've had
a little time to adjust to familyhood.  When I follow up a couple months
after the baby has been born, almost always they say they can't handle
the ferret at that time, the baby is too time consuming.  (Yup!)
 
Anne
[Posted in FML issue 3716]