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From: kimh@tekig1.UUCP (Kim Hastings)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: Summary of response to "Ferrets as Pets" posting
Message-ID: <1897@tekig1.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Apr-85 01:27:02 EST
Article-I.D.: tekig1.1897
Posted: Fri Apr  5 01:27:02 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 6-Apr-85 02:37:48 EST
References: <1016@hound.UUCP> <171@kvue.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 48

> *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH A PET FERRET ***
> 
> ...etc.

Gosh, I never saw the original request for ferret info or I'd surely
have blown an evening writing a book's worth.  I'm sure y'all want to
hear about my ferret.  She comes to work on occasion and pokes around
inside various board buckets and listings, but prefers project picnics
where she can truly be the center of attention.

I've taken her camping a number of times.  When backpacking, she sleeps
in the pack and then wakes up when we pitch camp.  I tie an orange flag
to her (death by being stepped on is a ferret's greatest worry) and turn
her loose to explore.  My dogs (Malamute and Shepherd) love her and I
can always find her by triangulating on the axes of their noses!  The two
of us went ocean kayaking for 10 days last summer.  Several times she
climbed out of the kayak while underway.  At last, I just let her swim
along side for a while -- obviously what she wanted.

When I take a trip that the ferret can't come on, I have a regular waiting
list of six year olds just dying for the chance to look after her.  She
seems to be relatively indestructible (in the company of people who care).
She runs right up to stray dogs and climbs right up onto stray people.
I once watched a room full of little kids jumping around humpbacked and
sideways "playing ferret" and she just ran around underneath them having
a great time.  All this is, of course, related to my animal raising style,
which places a heavy emphasis on socialization and diversity of experience.

Why not have a ferret?  You can take them anywhere, they're clean, *everyone*
is fascinated by them, they don't make any noise, they definitely recognize
you and are quite affectionate.  The main change in your life is that you
become extremely aware of well-hidden holes which other people would never
notice (but all ferrets do).  Mine is pregnant now and I'm greatly looking
forward to a pile of kits to go with the kittens my six-toed cat just gave
me.

Oh yeah...did I forget to mention the heart-stopping experiences?  I have
a pick-up with sliding windows between cab and camper.  Once we were
cruising along at your basic highway speed (whatever that means to you)
and Mme. Ferret decided to climb from front to back, but became interested
in a side trip to the roof en route.  Someone noticed just in time to screech
to a halt and pluck the would-be astronaut from the roof just before lift-off.
Narrow spaces which can be wriggled through definitely rate high on the
ferret scale of things.  Ah the stories I could tell....  It does take time
to develop the necessary alertness, I suppose.

-- Barranca Buckaroo, Curator
   Timber Home for Wayward Animals