Hello all. My Shelter Mom Friend turned me on to FML....and I love it. I would like to give a little background on my family. I have 2 German Shepherds (Lea 11yrs., Maxi 3yrs), 1 cat (Tigger 1yr) and 2 ferrets (Spice 7 months and the newest Pepper 5 months). Now, if you would have asked me a year ago what a ferret was, I couldn't tell you. I hadn't really heard of ferrets except for my boyfriend telling me that he had one once but she died when he had the house sprayed for bugs and he put her outside - it wasn't hot and she had water and was in the shade. In May, Shawn brought home Spice. She was 8 weeks old and the cutest little thing I had ever seen. But what in the world do I do with this little thing? We had all the stuff because he bought her from a pet store where Sharon (Shelter mom of Ferret Corner) worked. But I still didn't know anything about them. So, I do what I do best....go get books and read! WOW there was a lot to learn. I am still learning everyday. Spice has been handled so much from the time that she was so young that she doesn't mind being picked up and held for a bit (but she is not a cuddler...she is a lick lick bite...but only to her daddy). Spice rules the house. She tells all other animals and people what to do. She LOVES food and if you sit in the living room to eat, your food is fair game. (the ferrets 4 story cage is in the living room and they have free roam of the front part of the house - we made a gate for the hallway) Pepper is new and is from the Shelter. She is still learning everything and is also still a little "fluffy". She loves to play and we have found that she doesn't really like treats or raisins....but she does love marshmallows. She loves to play with empty (or full) soda cans. She is deaf and doesn't see too well. She still bites real hard...but she bites her dad the hardest. But you know what? I wouldn't trade her for the world! I am trying to become more involved with helping ferrets. It makes me so sad to see these little guys used in labs or just thrown away. All animals are Gods gift. I understand that some people just can't handle them or can't afford to take care of them. Sometimes things happen and you have to get rid of your animals. I hope that animal owners that find themselves in this situation find a place to take their animals so that they can be cared for. The shelter here in Sierra Vista is planning a picnic "Ferrets on the Loose". We have scheduled it for November 18th at the Veterans Memorial Park. I am looking for ideas, speakers and sponsors to help with the cost of the park rental and food. Our website is www.geocities.com/ferretcorneraz/index. This will be the first "big" get together and I would love to see this happen every year. We will also be taking donations to help out with the shelter. We only have one shelter in this area and recently Sharon (shelter mom) injured her back at work and has been out of work for two weeks....caring for the animals has also been hard for her.....HANG IN THERE SHARON! If you can help or have ideas for the picnic please email me at [log in to unmask] I am also on AOL chat desertbutterfly4 Thank you...and sorry that this was so long! Love you all! Joanne, Shawn, Samantha Lea, Maxi, Tigger, Spice and Pepper Waiting at the Rainbow Bridge: Sugar [Posted in FML issue 3582]