12:00 Saturday.  An innocent trip to a pet store to check out the fuzzies.
There was only one on the sales floor, in a bare cage sitting on top of the
guinea pigs, but her nails were too long and she had no toys so we told the
store manager she needed attention.  An employee came to check on her and,
upon discovering that we're "those ferret people" told us he had one in the
back he couldn't do anything with.  Back through the boxes and cages in the
land of "non-saleable animals" (those that are too old & no longer cute,
breeding, or "dangerous") we went, and there she was - a dirty, champagne
sable mitt (champagne-colored, with darker mask, legs, tail & white feet)
sandwiched between guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, mice & a prairie dog.  She
cowered in the rear of the cage, & when my husband picked her up, she tried
to take his finger off - but when I carefully took her from him she sniffed
me for a minute and settled in my arms.  She'd been there 3 months, nearly
all of her young life, and had never known the love of human nor ferret.
"How much did you pay the breeder for her?" I asked.  "I don't know anything
about the ferret prices, but we'll sell her for $75-$100," said the
employee.  I said, "I'll give you $50," (and to my loving - and bleeding -
husband: "she can be my birthday present") "You can't sell her," I
continued, "And if you send her back to the breeder, he'll probably
euthanize her." "Well, I could check with the manager.  .  ." said he, and
20 minutes later (as she curled up in my arms - to the amazement of several
"backroom employees"), I'd written the check and promised to come back for
her after we finished shopping.
 
The first order of business when we got "Ginger" home was to introduce her
to ferretone, clip those too-long nails, & give her a bath.  After 3 bloody
fingers & narrowly escaping a 4th, I pulled on an old pair of leather garden
gloves & when she bit them, scruffed & dragged her 3 or 4 times, while
saying "NO." (She hasn't bitten me since, but I've been careful!).  After
her bath & getting her nails clipped, she spent a joyous 2 hours exploring
the house - probably the first time she'd ever been out of a cage in her
life.  It was so wonderful to see her dooking & chuckling, wardancing &
playing with everything - acting for all the world like a "normal ferret!"
Lao Bear (The Cuddliest Ferret in the Universe) cuddled up with her & went
to sleep, and even Gurgey (also known as "Tyrannoferret Rex" because he's so
aggressive) sniffed & played with her a little (and did NOT attack her).
THEY seemed to know she needed someone, and SHE seemed to know she was
finally home!  We've made her "off-limits" to the kids "until further
notice", but we're confident that sooner or later, her story will have a
happy ending.  Not a bad way to spend a Saturday!
 
Karen, Joseph & the Gang at Rogues Gallery
(Lao Bear, Gurgey, Samantha, Puka,
Roscoe, Bandit, Fuji, Uma, Pinto,
 
and Ginger)
[Posted in FML issue 1481]