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Bandit
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Here's Bandit as Count Dracula. He was surrendered to a woman who does local pitbull rescue, and was living in dirty conditions before she got him. He was well adjusted and healthy, so he does not appear to have been used as a training animal. He's a bit shy but quite friendly, and he'll fall sleep in your arms if he's even a little bit tired. When I first got Bandit, I didn't know he'd be the first trickle in a flood of ferrets, so I just assumed I'd be adopting him.
Bandit is semi-adoptable.
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The Halloween Rescue
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Bandy Casper Oliver Willow
   
These guys were dearly loved and it shows, but their owner had had a stroke and was unable to work to provide for herself or for them. She tried to hold onto them just a little too long, and when I got them Willow had been bald and swollen for months, and the whole crew had been eating dog food. They were housed in pairs: Bandy and Casper in one cage, and Oliver and Willow in the other.
Bandy and Casper are gentle, kissy, and playful--perfect ferrets. They adopted with three of the root cellar kids, who they'd become attached to. Bandy and the two other brown kids went to a couple who has worked extensively with shelter ferrets, while Casper and Ash went with Angel, the wife's best friend, who is also an experienced and trusted ferret owner. The ladies live near one another, so Bandy and Casper can visit often. And if the separation causes problems, they've promised to allow them to live together again. Here are Bandy (with Kitty and their new human) and Casper (with Ash and their new human). Update: Bandy has insulinoma. His experienced owners are taking good care of him.
 
Willow and Oliver are not adoptable. Willow's not a good candidate for surgery because her tumor is wrapped around the vena cava, which can't be ligated until (and unless) her system establishes alternate circulation. On the bright side, she's responding very, very well to melatonin and lupron--wait 'til you see the most recent pics! She's a bundle of joy; won't slow down for anyone, plays with everyone, and just runs around dooking to herself. And then Oliver's madly in love with her. For the first couple of weeks I had them, he attacked me every time I went near her. And that little boy can BITE! I never felt my bones crunch from a ferret bite before I met him. He gets agitated if she is moved away from him, and he won't let her be alone. Within a couple of days of joining the group, he had some of the other ferrets trained to take care of her. If he wanted to get up and walk around, he'd go and nudge Butter, who'd wake up and go to lay down with Willow so Oliver could eat. He doesn't bite the shelter mom any more (well, not as much or as hard), but he might bite strangers. And when he went out of state with Willow to get her ultrasound, we found out that he doesn't travel well either. he suddenly got terrible turds and wouldn't eat or drink. So he doesn't handle change well. And I think they'll both be welcome residents for as long as they live. Now here's Willow enjoying her 2006 Christmas doll from Su Hayes, just over a month after the first picture--look at all that hair! Here's Oliver at Christmas too. Many, many thanks to Sandi Robinson for lupron, to Debby Osburn, Trish Walther, and Arlena Parrish for starting her medical fund, and to Susan Hayes for sending them goodies when she thought Oliver had been forgotten on the tree. And thanks to Ollie's 1st Santas, Nicole Chipman and Jesse Molan, for wonderful goodies!
 
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The Root Cellar Kids
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Ash and Kirby Kitty Panda
  
These four sweeties belonged to a young (too young!) couple in Albuquerque. When they broke up, the girl moved back in with mommy and daddy, who were NOT happy about bringing ferrets into their home. All four were exiled to the root cellar. The girl did contact me about getting them, and I finally convinced her that it wouldn't be "too much hassle" drop them off at my vet (across town from her) so that I could drive 150 miles each way to get them. They are all wonderful, loving, playful ferrets.
Kitty was adopted by a couple who have done rescue and fostering for years. They like the dark kids. And the wife's best friend--who likes light ferrets--took Ash and Kirby. That left sweet little Panda here with me, just because of her pretty gray color. I wouldn't have let her stay alone, except that she'd already made lots of friends. This tiny girl LOVES to wrestle with the biggest boys, but she also snuggles with sick and elder ferrets, even playing sissy games with them to make them feel good. She also welcomes newcomers, even when all the others are picking on them or ignoring them. I have taken to calling her Gidget (or Panda Bear) because people kept being confused by her name. She's a tremendous comfort to any ailing ferret in the house, especially older-than-dirt Buddy. Right now, that's her job, but when Buddy goes she may be adoptable.
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Junk Food Kids
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Cocoa Puff and Jimbo
Shortly after New Years, 2007, I got a call from an older lady whose three teenaged-grandchildren--a brother, sister, and cousin were living on their own (not too uncommon around here) with two ferrets. Their property manager had found out about the pets and was threatening to evict them. The boys were living in a filthy cage and eating mostly human food, but it was obvious that the kids loved them, were heartbroken to see them go, and had been doing their best. The cage had home-made extensions that someone had spent time on, and the boys were friendly and happy. CocoaPuff (originally named Whiskey) was very active and outgoing right from the start, while Jimbo takes some months to warm up to a new place and new people.
In the spring of 2007, both boys were adopted, but were returned several months later, just as Jimbo was starting to adjust to his new environment. Not their fault at all. They have perfect temperaments. Now Jimbo's just readjusting to being back here, but it seems to take him longer each time. He's much more of a homebody. (Cocoapuff had a chordoma removed and is doing just great.) In the mean time, it seems that both boys have new best friends more matched to their individual temperaments. Cocoapuff, Chance, and Beebo are the rowdy boy gang. Jimbo has taken to hanging out more with Bandit--and sometimes with Theodore. Another adoption--this time of Cocoapuff and Beebo--fell through just before Halloween. I'm a little nervous about trying again, but there may be a great home coming up. He certainly deserves it.
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Chance and Lucky
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These two cinna-buttery boys were rescued from an exotic animal collector in Phoenix. They were kept in separate tiny cages constantly, because their play was mistaken for "trying to kill eachother." Well, Lucky was a little older and frailer, with undiagnosed heart problems. Normal play gave him a heart attack. Being happy killed him; life can be so cruel sometimes. Chance, on the other hand, is still doing great. Subject to approval by his rescuers, he is adoptable.
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Beebo
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This sweet DEW boy was found wandering on a military base in the Phoenix area and taken in by a CO, who tried to find his owner. When no one responded, the original rescuer was going to turn him loose again but a young military couple took him in until they were reassigned. He then went to another couple until they could bring him to me, so I'm at least his 5th home. He doesn't seem to mind. Beebo isn't rude or ill-mannered at all but he doesn't spend much energy or attention on people, and I think under the circumstances that's understandable. He does like other ferrets and enjoys playing with rowdy furkids.
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Daddy's Boys
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I sure hope these boys' daddy comes back for them. Over two months ago I got a call from a guy who had to leave town in a hurry and couldn't even take the time to drive these boys to me or the money to get their shots updated. He needed to board his ferrets but would surrender them if he had to, just to make sure they were safe. Luckily, I had a friend who was in Albuquerque at the time and able to pick them up and hold them while we got them checked out. This was supposed to be for a month. After about 3 weeks, the guy called to see how they were doing and said that his father might come by for them. Yeah. They're still here. Not even a year old, and you never met sweeter, prettier boys. Charlie comes barreling up onto your lap when he wants a nap. Both are playful and affectionate. Just perfect. I'm still holding onto them, hoping their daddy will be back. But they may be adoptable soon.
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