I do small scale ferret rescue just outside of Orlando and wanted to share an awesome story with you about 2 ferrets finding their forever home. There was a listing on Craigslist about 3 ferrets needing a home. We answered the add and went and picked up the 3 ferrets. 2 were younger and 1 was older. Apparently the person getting rid of them also got them from Craigslist and didn't realize how much work they really were. I had them at my house for about a month and knew that the older one was probably going to be hard to find a home for. No one wants older ferrets! Very sad I know. I personally love the older ones. Well Maggie (the older ferret) bonded with another older ferret that I had here so I felt it would be ok to separate her from the 2 younger ones. Usually I won't separate ferrets that come in together but she really didn't seem bonded with the 2 younger ones. I got an email from a college student that had had ferrets when she lived in NYC and wanted to adopt a couple. After talking to her several times on the phone and meeting her in person I felt she would make a perfect home for the 2 younger ones. Well, she had them for about 3 weeks and wanted to know if I could watch them while she went back home for a vacation. She had named them Artemus and Apollo. No problem. While watching them I only heard from her a couple times. Personally I would of checked in on mine daily. She told me when she would be back and that day came and went. I emailed her and she hesitantly told me that she had become engaged while back home and had decided that she couldn't handle the ferrets as well. She felt bad. Yeah right! Meanwhile the older ferret named Maggie and Jack (RIP) were adopted by my friend Jenny who cares for hospice and elderly ferrets in Melbourne. I knew they would have an excellent home with her. Unfortunately Jack passed away during surgery for insulinoma. You might of read about him on previous posts. Maggie in the meantime had several other brothers and sisters at her house to interact with. I had Artemus and Apollo for about another month when I got an email from a guy that had adopted a ferret and found out it was sick after adopting it and had to put it to sleep. He also had previous ferret knowledge and was ready for another couple. So after talking to him several times and meeting him I adopted the 2 to him. He had them for about 2 months and lost his job here in Orlando and had to move back up to Philly but was going to take them with him. I heard from him about a month later through an email stating that his landlord at his new place in Philly was giving him a hard time about the ferrets and he wanted to fly them back to me here in Orlando. I told him to hang on for a few days as I knew a few people up north. That night I posted on my forum (www.ferretopia.proboards51.com) their story and if anyone knew of anyone in that area that could possibly find them a good home. I got a phone call the next day from my friend on the boards Joclyn saying "Hey! I live right there!! Did you forget about me?" Well, she said she wanted them and to give the guy her phone number. As it turned out she was only about an hour from where they were and was going to make arrangements to get them. I cried. I cried hard! These were tears of joy. These babies had already been to 5 homes that I know of in their short little lives and I knew they would find their forever home with her. Joclyn got the ferrets with a cage with no bottom and no shelves. He had also been feeding them cat food. I was infuriated and wanted to give this guy a piece of my mind. I screen people well..........or so I thought. I had cages if he needed which he didn't as he already had one and also was told he would feed them Totally Ferret. I even gave him an almost new bag when they were adopted. I was very relieved when I was told that they were in great condition considering their recent care. So now, Artemus and Apollo will have a new home up north. Originally from Florida. Their names might be changed to protect the innocent. LOL Their travels have been long but well worth it in the end. This story shows just how awesome ferret people really are in times of need. I wanted to share this heart warming story with people but most of all this post is a personal THANK YOU to Joclyn for giving these 2 babies a wonderful forever home!! Kim Stinky Pete's Ferret Retreat http://floridaferrets.webs.com/ [Posted in FML 6097]