adoption of ferrets that is.
 
As everyone who has posted is aware, the reason behind the policy is that
there *are* many young children who don't mix well with ferrets, or other
animals (small or otherwise) and vice versa.  And that parents aren't
going to be honest (aware or not) about how their kids *really* are with
animals.  Also, MANY ferrets come into shelters when kids get older and
start after-school activities and suddenly the family doesn't "have time"
for them.  Since shelters are in the business not of providing people with
ferrets, but providing ferrets with a permanant safe environment to spend
the rest of their lives, unfortunately many (rightly) err on the side of
caution.
 
BUT...want to adopt?  Get involved with your local (if you have one)
shelter!  Let them get to know you, get to see you and your kids on a
regular basis so they can see that you're an exception to an unfortunately
all-too-common rule.  Remember that shelters don't know you from anyone
else off the street, and that anyone else off the street is going to
probably say the same things *you* do about your kids and family.  So it's
up to *you* to make the effort to *show* them otherwise.  (And, of course,
DON'T just disappear if they make an exception after a time and do adopt
to you...that just means that the next exception to the rule WON'T get the
same opportunity.)
 
unfortunately, there aren't ferret shelters everywhere.  But check at the
local pounds, humane societies, animal control, vets, etc.  All of those
organizations may, from time to time, get in ferrets.  And many of them,
particularly if there isn't a ferret shelter in the area, may simply kill
them.  The bad part about this is you may well get a ferret that isn't
good around small children, that's never been taught to not bite, etc.
So be *very* aware of that, it can take many months to undo the problems.
 
Ultimately, if someone falls outside the normal "acceptable" parameters of
shelter adoption, the burdon falls on them to demonstrate, with patience,
and *genuine* willingness, that you are indeed deserving of that trust.
Just remember to consider the shelter's point of view.
 
Sue M.
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[Posted in FML issue 3716]