While being tied to a cold building in the midst ofg a nor east freeze is not the most exciting point of my life- we are getting by okay. The heat is cranked as the shelter floor is not insulated and the chill fills the room-- meanwhile we are venting heat out the kitchewn woindow so our pets ferrets don't succomb to overheating! LOL I could almost cry when I think of thre oil that is racing through the boiler- lets all pray the cold decreases SOON! One good point to all the hysteria here though wheel-less at Ferret Wise is the call I received form a BRAND NEW ferret owner at 10 AM. Seems she purchased an 8 week old kit at Petco last night, she has three young sons 8,9 and 12 ( if I recall) this Am she was bit unmercifully by this female ferret while she was holding it. In my conversation with the new ferret owner I tried to explain about the many changes the little ferret had gone through the past week or so- neuter, shots, being separated at too young an age , shipped for point to point to being placed in a tank with strangers peering in etc., and gave my best tips for a training program and handling technique. We conversed for a good 30 mins. meanwhile I reassured her there was no inherent rabies in the animal and that vaccination is recommended at a specific age - to protect owners first most from suits and sacrificing the pet for rabies testing - by questioning peers in bite instances. At the end of the chat when I reassured her she may call back at any time if she needed help- she stated she was calling form Portland, OR area... I have to thank Ferrets Magazine & the Petco lists for making our contact info accessible. It has helped assure his little ferret a chance at staying in a home & family rather than being returned and labeled as a biter- or worse... So all in all being unable to travel and housebound in the frigid cold has some positive results for s today! We have new sleepers listed on ebay for our Van restoration fund raiser... and we are doing our best to provide the kids with a warm living & playing area-- A SPECIAL THANKS to those who sent lots of warm cuddly sleepers over the holidays -- they surely are getting used well this week here at the shelter and at the hospice house where they are struggling to keep the temp at 62 degrees!! Fondly , From the folks & ferrets at Ferret Wise www.ferretwise.org [Posted in FML issue 4394]