Hi FMLers,
 
Last week I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Baltimore Ferret
Show- and I brought home the best things I've ever had the sense to bring
home before- "shelter" ferrets.  The most wonderful of all is Pappy.  Pappy
is a 6 - 7 year old sable neutered boy (no ear tattoos) who had been turned
into a shelter earlier this summer.  Pappy has Lymphoma.  And he is the
most beautiful ferret in the world to us!!!!  There was never any question
whether I would take him home- I had contacted the Pennsylvania Ferret
Shelter before the show to see if they had any "needy" ferts that I could
possibly take.  Kymberlie Barone quickly responded with a heart-wrenching
list of sad little guys that needed homes:-( .  Two other shelters sent
their lists also- I had NO IDEA at just how many ferts are homeless; not to
mention the amount of love, care, time and money that shelter owners gladly
give to these sweet ferts.  Kymberlie sent me e-mail that they had voted
Pappy as the ferret that most needed a home.  There were other ferts that
were waiting for adrenal surgeries, or ferts that needed to be adopted as a
pair- a few ferts had small growths- but none were as hopeless as Pappy.
Kymberlie thought that Pappy would truly love a home where he could be a
"lap ferret".  He didn't really enjoy alot of free time- he'd rather be
held.
 
He had been rumored to have "shredded a guinea pig", and he didn't care
much for cats.  Kymberlie currently had about 40 ferrets in her shelter and
just didn't have a free lap all the time for Pappy.  I headed up to the
show (we live in Va.) on Friday night with a carrier, 3 different types of
fert food, blankets and an empty water jug to take back some "native water"
for Pappy.  I met Kymberlie at 1:00am to pick up the old fart- and I fell
in love so fast, I still can't believe how quickly that farty ferret crept
into my heart!  He's pretty big for an old fart- and his coat shines- but
he's got a few lumps.  His lymph nodes are swollen under his jaws and in
his "armpits".  His eyes aren't always clear- but I've never seen a look of
love like this old guy has.  Pappy is absolutely the most appreciative fert
I've ever met.
 
Everytime I go into the Kitchen, that big, old, flat triangle-head pokes up
out of his hammock to see what's going on.  Pappy will curl up in your lap
and watch TV with you- He'll stretch out and put that big, ole head on my
arm, and he'll look up at me as if to say" I'm so glad I'm here." He eats
raisins everyday, licks ferretvite off of our fingers and his kisses are
wet and fierce!  We are so lucky to have him.  We have 6 other ferrets- 5
others are rescues, but none so special as Pappy.  SO PLEASE, PLEASE- ADOPT
AN OLDER FERRET!  THEY ARE WONDERFUL!!!  Yes, some of them have problems-
health or otherwise, but they need homes, too.  We couldn't stand the
thought of a fert like Pappy dying in a shelter.  Now Pappy has a home- and
I'll have Pappy waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge when it's MY time.
Please hug your guys- life's so precious!!!
 
Love and Dooks!
Marlene Blackburn and her fortunate family!
[Posted in FML issue 2443]