"I had worked with ferrets in Zoo education programs for 10 years. One day at the Indianapolis Zoo, a woman entered my office and she smelled like ferrets. Like the sweet smell of ambrosia, I was hooked. About a year later, I married that ferret smelling woman." And so Joel Vanderbush became a ferret dad overnight. That woman is Ailigh, an animal behaviorist who brought six British ferrets with her. Currently, the 39 animals in the family business, ANIMALIA, include 14 ferrets. And, Daddydom became even more real with the unexpected pregnancy and birth of six ferret kits -- "unexpected because the father had a vasectomy." But, ferrets aren't the only animals in Joel's life. Joel worked as a Zoologist in zoos across the US for 10 years before launching ANIMALIA in 2005. Joel was a national speaker for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for 5 years and was nationally recognized for youth programming in zoos. He is the vice-chair for the board of directors of the Emergent Leadership Institute which engages youth volunteer in their communities. So, to learn that a rhinoceros nearly bit his finger off or that a golden eagle talon sliced through his forearm should come as no surprise. These days Joel and Ailigh spend time renovating their house and taking care of the animals. But, if he does find himself relaxing -- "That would be my wife sitting on the couch with our Rottweiler, Carl, laying on her lap, while I lay on the couch using Carl as a pillow and while our Dachshund, Weasel lays on me." --his favorite movie, *Beastmaster,* might be on the screen. Or, he may be reading his favorite book, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak or listening to big band music. Joel would like to be remembered as "a man of passion and action that didn't just care about animals, the environment, and education, but actually did something about it." And, Joel and Ailigh do something about it through education. ANIMALIA conducts education outreach programs, animal behavior consultation and training and offers a full range of professional consultation services. Together they have served as professional educators, consultants, writers, artists, program managers, and zookeepers. To learn more about Joel, check their website at www.animalia.us. ANIMALIA can also be reached at [log in to unmask] or by calling (317) 695-5461. OR, you can hear him at the Portland Symposium June 24. -- renee :) It's amazing how much can be accomplished if nobody cares who gets the credit! Ferret Emergency Response, Rescue & Evacuation Team (F.E.R.R.E.T.) http://www.ferretemergency.org [log in to unmask] International Ferret Congress http://www.ferretcongress.org American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org [Posted in FML 5622]