Hi to everyone My husband and I, and our little gang wanted to introduce ourselves. Where to begin? My husband had begged for a fert for quite a long time, but I was afraid it would go the same way most things do. He would want it and I would be stuck with it. I had never had one before and had little knowledge of what to do with one. We had a beautiful Rottie that died of cancer and my husband was heart-broken. One day I stopped at the new Petco in Jefferson City. There I met and fell in love with Frank and Jessie. I spent several hours trying to figure out how I would explain to my husband about the new "boys" in my life, but I needn't have worried. As soon as he saw them he was instantly smitten also. I educated myself and with the help of our local vet found a good vet in Jefferson City that specializes in the little goofs. Shortly after that we obtained Cole. (after all what would Frank and Jessie James be without the Younger Brothers). He is the cutest little thing I had every seen. It was only a few weeks later that my youngest daughter heard an advertisement on the radio for a home for a ferret. Having only bought ferrets from a pet store I was more than a little worried about taking in this one. Without my knowledge the daughter contacted her father and he stopped and picked up John on his way home one evening. He was the most pitiful little thing I have ever seen, you could have counted every bone in his body. My husband was more than a little upset that this person treated this baby so badly (he asked for money for the cage, but could care less about the ferret). He is now very much loved and cared for. He recently made his first trip to the vet, he got shots and she said he just need much love and tender care. I can guarantee that. It was upsetting that these people would mistreat this baby instead of taking him to a shelter. That is how we found out that there wasn't a shelter in Mid MO for ferrets, until now. My husband and I opened our home and hearts to these little heart stealers. Since that time we have acquired three more little sweeties, Sable, Stinky and Paco (which I think is spanish for He who doesn't play well with others, hahaha). Sable is 8yrs old and has cataracts, Stinky is 9 and has cancer. Paco just doesn't play well with others. We also obtained a little kit, named of course, Bob. Younger Brothers were John, Cole and Bob. We are all a happy crew, all of the babies have different likes, dislikes and personalities. My husband and I have spent more time feeding, cleaning and playing in the floor lately than since our kids were babies (14yrs). Any one needing to find a shelter for ferrets in Mid Missouri here it is- Coffee Creek Ferret Rescue PO Box 223 Versailles, Missouri 65084 [log in to unmask] 573-378-2840 Thanks for the great educational articles too Kim and Rick and the Crew, Frank, Jessie, Cole, John, Bob, Paco, Sable, Stinky [Posted in FML issue 4405]