BILL & FRIENDS,
 
I HAVE LIVED MY 40+ YEARS HERE IN "FERRET-FREE CALIFORNIA".  I HAVE BEEN
READING FML FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AND I AM REALLY ENJOYING THE E-MAIL.
 
MY JOB HAS BEEN SO CRAZY, SO I'M AT LEAST 1 1/2 WEEKS BEHIND IN MY READING.
I AM STARTING TO RECOGNIZED NAMES AND SITUATIONS.  THE JOYS AND THE SADNESS,
WE ALL NEED FRIENDS WHO CAN SHARE THEM WITH AND UNDERSTAND.  IT'S COMFORTING
TO FIND OTHER PEOPLE WHO CAN RELATE AND WHO WILL BE THERE FOR YOU.
 
I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED A FERRET AND HAD ONLY SEEN 4 IN MY LIFETIME.  2 1/2
MONTHS AGO, I GOT ON THE INTERNET FOR THE FIRST TIME AND LOOKED UP THE WORD
"FERRETS" AND FOUND an ENTIRE WORLD OUT THERE, INCLUDING MY OWN HOME TOWN.
SHOCKED!  LESS THAN 1 1/2 MILES FROM MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH OTHER FERRET
LOVING PEOPLE.
 
I FINALLY GOT MY 1ST FURRY, "SPANKY" AND WITHIN 4 DAYS (AND MY 2ND MEETING
AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION), I RESCUED 2 VERY SWEET ADULT GIRLS.  ONE OF THESE,
CLAUDIA, 5 YEARS, HER SIZE WAS ABOUT A 3RD THE NORMAL SIZE, AND THE OTHER
ONE (NAMED LITTLE FERRET) WE NOW CALLED SCARLET, 4 YEARS OLD.  CLAUDIA,
LOOKED FRAGILE AND I WAS TOLD SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY.  THEY CAME
FRESHLY BATHE, NAILS CLIPPED, A NICE CAGE, LITTER & FOOD.  THE ORIGINAL
OWNERS WE VERY NICE AND SAD THEY HAD TO FIND A HOME FOR THEM.
 
AFTER SEEING THE INGREDIENTS LIST AND THE FACT THE FOOD WAS MOIST, I WAS
HORRIFIED.  I FEEL STRONGLY THAT BEFORE YOU OBTAIN an ANIMAL, YOU SHOULD
CHECK INTO THEM FULLY, WHAT TO EXPECT, WHAT ARE THEIR REQUIREMENTS, MOSTLY
BECAUSE THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS A LIFETIME COMMITMENT.
 
I TOOK THEM (INCLUDING SPANKY) TO A VET I HAD BEEN RECONMENDED AND WAS
INFORMED THAT CLAUDIA HAD an INSULIN PROBLEM AND HAS an ADRENAL TUMOR.
CLAUDIA, IS NOW ON MEDICINE (TAKE HER BACK IN A MONTH) AND HAS STARTED
EATING MORE, HAS EVEN PUT ON A LITTLE WEIGHT AND WHAT REALLY BROUGHT ON A
SMILE ON OUR FACE WAS SEEING HER PLAY FOR THE 1ST TIME.
 
PEOPLE SHOULD REALLY TAKE GETTING A PET AS A SERIOUS SITUATION.  LEARN AS
MUCH AS THEY CAN BEFORE BRINGING IT HOME.  I REALLY FEEL FOR THOSE WHO ARE
NOT WANTED AFTERWARDS, RETURNED TO A COLD PET STORE.  MAYBE IF PEOPLE
RESEARCHED THESE AREAS, LESS PETS (CATS & DOGS ALSO) WOULD BE ABANDON,
RETURNED TO PET STORE OR WORST TURNED INTO HUMANE SOCIETY TO END THEIR DAYS
WAITING TO BE PUT DOWN.
 
ANYWAYS, JUST WANTED TO SAY HOWDY.  THANK YOU FOR ADDING MY NAME TO THE FML
AND A GROUP OF KINDRED PEOPLE & CRITTERS.
 
         US -- HERE IN THE BADLANDS OF CALIFORNIA
 
         OUR ZOO,
      DARA NIN (SIAMESE CAT), TAZ (DOG), SNICKERS &
      MONKEY (PEDIGREE ALLEY CATS), SALTY T. (THE BOX) TURTLE
 
         AND OUR THIEVES,
                  SPANKY, CLAUDIA & SCARLET
[Posted in FML issue 1875]