Hello to all of you~
 
Some here have voiced concern over me posting about my experiences with
animals on my travels.  It has also been expressed that I am rubbing it
in peoples' faces.  No!  That is simply not it.  My husband and I are not
rich but we like to travel and save money so that we may.  Those are our
values, they may not be yours, sorry.  If anyone was offended by me
posting about the animals in Mexico, I apologize.  I look at this as
sharing wonderful experiences and a way for those who are considering
Mexico as a vacation destination, to be aware of how wonderful PV is
versus other places I have been.  My entire family travels with every
dime they make.  My brother has worked for the same company for 18 years
and is able to take six months off to travel per year.  He backpacks
across everything.  He is NOT rich.  My mom is going to the Galapagos and
has saved for a very long time for this trip.  All of my family are huge
animal lovers.  Why anyone would conclude that someone else is wealthy
just because they travel, is beyond me, but is their right and opinion.
I reap the benefits of having frequent flyer miles from work, which makes
travel much cheaper.  On all my travels, I meet interesting people and
occasionally, we are invited back to stay with them.  That really saves
money too, but I am not a "free loader".
 
Why I am justifying myself, I don't know.  If I were rich, shelters in my
area would be much better off and I would probably be running one.  I
cannot afford it.  It is expensive enough every time my little ones go to
the vet <sigh>.
 
I also feel that clarification is due on what the hispanic woman said
about my ferret pictures.  I guess I should have clarified that she was
speaking about Cleo, who is female.  You would not call a female child
"bonito" because a female child is feminine just as a female ferret is
feminine.  I have no control over how people where I go, speak, and I
would never correct someone for speaking in their native tongue - they
know far more on speaking spanish than I, just as I probably/might speak
better english (depending on how many Coronas I consumed).  When I travel,
I am not a rude tourist who goes around voluntarily correcting others
speaking abilities.  I hope nobody does this because it gives Americans a
bad reputation.  We don't know everything, but could be perceived that
way.  Off my soapbox now, LOL.
 
To Rick at UFO - I understand your frustration.  Often it seems like an
endless battle to help ferrets and often it seems like it goes nowhere.  I
have tried to change how farms operate, how pet stores operate, to no
avail.  Please do not give up on these wonderful creatures!  I know you
have done plenty and it is appreciated.  If you don't want to fight for
legalization, fine, but please utilize your efforts and heart in other
ways (helping shelters, etc...) YOU HAVE A BIG HEART.  Don't give up,
ferrets need you!
 
As far as ferret food goes, I mix Totally Ferret, FerretStore Superior
Choice and Innova.  My ferrets are very healthy and have beautiful coats.
I am not knocking other foods, but this mixture has worked very well for
me over the past several years.  For treats, I give Pounce Tartar Control
chicken and turkey (they love it) and also give jerky.  It is best to make
your own jerky so that no additives/chemicals exist.  I caution you to
feed in very small pieces, so they can digest it easily and don't choke.
Foamy fries are another treat I give, but please watch closely, they can
choke.
 
If anyone cares to see any pictures of the dolphin experience, I will
have pics back next week.  Costco takes quite a bit of time to develop but
certainly saves money.  Let me know.  I am still stoked about the whole
thing!  It really was amazing.  However, nothing compares to my ferrets!
I really missed them!  Jim gave me a bad time because I hate flying and I
sat on the plane, holding their pictures.  They even comfort me in that
respect, LOL!
 
Here we go again...there goes another sock.  Time to go pull out the bed.
[Posted in FML issue 3603]