The fiercely hot weather broke here, and the day was perfect: with a breeze, lovely cloud formations, brilliant blue skies. And I drove through cow and corn country to visit a dear friend once again. It is really amazing to me how lovely the ferrets are at Zoos Ferret Sanctuary. So many joyful beauties bouncing around, chortling, and making me laugh. And as always, Zoo is the most gracious hostess. She is perhaps the kindest person I have ever met in my life. I could never put up with the miriad of situations and rotten people she has to interact with....not without a bleeding ulcer, and my tongue bitten off. The ferret thrown out of the moving car unlikely to survive was there, bouncing around Zoos steely gaze. Beautiful cannot be allowed to climb anything. He cannot suffer a fall. And there is this 3 legged girl that has spots like a Dalmation zipping around. I never would have known she was missing a leg. Her survinval after surgery was most uncertain. Intensive Care was around the clock for days. But now? She certainly had a set of lungs on her. LOL. If she did not get the bag, or the N Bone, or whatever it was she wanted, she let one and all know. What a character. Missing a leg is not going to stop this pretty little girl from being bossy. I picked up and kissed the wrong little sable girl..She had put two little girls in the hospital tearing up their faces before Zoo worked with her. You would never know now. I played with the ferret that bit to the bone that I would not touch for two years prior. There was the huge lug of a boy just lying on his back in one of the boxes I brought over (with crinkly paper and paper towels, and blanket) He has lymphoma. But he was mellow, kissy,and content. Some are ready for yet another expensive lupron shot. This particular shelter has thousands more in medical bills than other ferret shelters. The healthy young ones go to another shelter. This one has taken in hundreds of the inferm, old, and injured. Many now have coats softer and silkier than my spoiled goof balls. There are the blind ones, the ones that cannot get along with any other ferret,the ones at the very end of life on one side,and the remainder of the 29 or is it 27? dumped on her by one of those people you see on Judge Judy. You know: one of those people who live and leach off the kindness of others. Zoo spent and continues to spend large sums of money on surgeries and meds and soups that they have required. And as so often happens, the ferrets so loved and cheerished by the owner (uh huh) the litter boxes were not cleaned for so many years that the ferrets deficate anywhere now. This person gave NO money for all the care of these babies. In fact, he would ask a poor shelter mom for her money. And it may be that the man took in another ferret that died, and now has yet another. To me, He is like the dementor in Harry Potter books: He sucks the happiness out of a room, and off of the life of others. When he is known for what he is, he moves on to the next victims. There are many more here. Each one of these little souls has a story of sadness...divorce.bankruptsy, a baby, a terrible person NOT caring for them, etc. But here we are in Zoos' home soaking up ferrety company in this huge and happy ferret room with bouncing loonies, and laid back surfer dudes, and teensy fragiles, and inquisitive kissers. Sharing a few hours of ferret love with one of the nicest, most honorable lady that I have ever met. It was truly a lovely day through and through. Though I do worry about her. The expenses are staggering. And the hours are grueling. Keep her in your prayers And maybe think of donating a dollar or two Hugs and health to all the floor poopers. Lisette [Posted in FML 7516]