Picnic results...

Well...today was the "14th Annual Ferret Follies and Show"...and we did VERY well!

~Booda took home the First place in Albino/DEW class/ring and got not only a really cool ribbon, he got a 1st place trophy as well! Chris made me feel proud when she took Booda from me, held him up to everyone and went.."This is a WHITE ferret! He is gorgeous, and oh so fluffy!" Then she pet him all over her face, we all laughed and Booda had this WTF look on his face. XD

~Cynnie took home the 3rd place Ribbon for Chocolate class/ring. ^__^ Chris LOVES Chocolate'. She said "First of all, I want to say...I want to take them all home!" We laughed, and While Cynnie did not get 1st, I am proud of her!

~Kobun took home the 6th place Ribbon for Champagne class/ring. Chris said it was because of his gold/orange under coat, and a lack of a mask but he is SUPER SOFT! lol But that's fine...I don't care that he scored low, I am super proud of him regardless!

~Ozzy took home the 4th place Ribbon in the Shelter class/ring. Shelters are judged not be color/pattern, but maintenance, and body build...etc. Ozzy has a shorter right top canine tooth, from a failed jump he made over a year ago (leaped off of the futon and hit the wood floor...breaking the tooth). But again, Fourth place in 10 ferrets is nothing to sneeze at. ^__^


Ozzy took part in 5 out of 6 games (Cynnie did the Chariot race with Dave)....and he got 1st place in one of the games, and 2nd place in the costume contest! He took home ribbons for both events, and a Ferret plushie. ^__^

I got a few cool things from the raffle...like 2 brass ferret shaped cookie cutters, a ferret hammock, a package of treats, an enamel pin from Japan (as in the Japanese Ferret Association)...and a crystal prism thingie with a ferret etched into it. =3

I will post piccys later of the kids with their ribbons....just too tired right now. We got there at 8am and did not get out of there until after 7pm...I hurt and I am exhausted. I mind you, I only got 2 hours of sleep last night.

OH! And the art....Chris was bummed that she did not get the football one, so naturally she wants me to make her one. LOL But all 4 pieces were a HUGE hit! ^__^

Ok, I am gonna leave and go vegetate.


EDIT: We did shoot video, but it will take Dave a bit to get them edited (time wise) and uploaded. But after that I will post them. ^__^

Booda




Cynnie




Kobun




Ozzy




Ozzy in the costume contest...he took second but he should have gotten First! Jerks.



Videos are not ready...sorry.

Super sweet! I was wondering all day how it went. It's awesome to hear that they all did great. And a great thing about the art. Only way to congratulate you is:



CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Wow, Mim! Sounds like the kids did a GREAT job! I'm really glad it went well, I was wondering too. I'd be proud of each and every one of them as well, and I can't wait to see the pictures and the video! and I'm VERY glad that the art was a hit! I LOVE those crystal etching on the inside thingies, they are so neat! the cookie cutters sound cool, too! I'm really happy for you guys ^^

Thank you both!!

I was soo happy when she called Booda as the first place winner! I mind you I was just as happy with the other 3 too!



The 4 of them slept alllll niiight, babies were soo tired. lol Then last night everyone was a lil nutty, and running like lil mad men all over. lol

Everyone got loads of treats, and tonight they will get meats. Which will thrill Booda! lol

But yeah, I am sooo happy with all of them, they did a great job, behaved wonderfully, etc. What made me laugh, was even thought I was competing my "Marshall farms" kids, a ton of people complimented on our kids look/coat/temperment/etc ^__^

My kids ROCK!

EDIT: I will try to get the piccys taken by tomorrow...Dave had to work today, so tomorrow he is off, and will have a lil more time to help me.

my only question is...what does "Marshall farms" refer to...? ^^; not entirely sure. but yeah, glad everything went well!

Ok, ferrets are split into 2 categories....Marshall Farms, and Privately Bred.

Marshall Farms - 80% of ferrets in pet stores, or places where animals go when they are no longer wanted (Shelters or classified ad's) are from Marshalls'. Marshalls' is the worlds largest "breeder" of ferrets. They breed for pets and for labs. In my eyes, Marshall Farm is the same thing as a puppy mill. They over breed and not for quality....but for color and quantity. These animals are put through hell, just so the public can have a pet. Like the kits are spayed or neutered at a few weeks of age (they should not be fixed until 1 year of age). They are pulled from their moms early ( I have seen very young babies in Petco). Etc.

The sad thing bout Marshall ferrets, it that in many cases they have health issues, some severe, and in some cases they die earlier than they should.

Another problem is getting a ferret that is deaf or has waardenburg syndrome has a large %. Case in point..I have 2 deafies now, and my one other, Yumiko was also profoundly deaf.

I am in no way saying that I would trade mine, or that Marshall ferrets are less better than Privately bred, but I am saying that Marshalls needs to stop this madness and see the damage they are doing.


and

Private breeder..Speaks for itself. A privately bred ferret is usually healthier, larger etc. It's really hard to say if they will love longer, as I have seen some die young from the same illnesses (ferrets can develop all sorts of cancers). But a privately bred ferret is usually NOT neutered/spayed at an early age (usually done after they hit ayear of age). Many people believe in feeding the BARF diet....which is more ancestrial so they are not being fed grains, etc.

What all this boils down to is...are privately bred ones developing cancer as fast as Marshall ferrets? Diet is usually different (kibble and manufactured diets verses raw meats and such)....health care differences (neutering/spaying at a few weeks verses over a year). The actualy breeding practices alone...private breeders usually keep it to a couple to a few breeding females and allow 1 or 2 litters a year....where as Marshalls use the same females year round and trick them into going into heat with lighting.

The problem is....we can shut down Mrshalls'...if we STOP buying anything from them. No pets, no food, bedding, etc. But if that happens...well, they still supply world wind labs with live babies. So what about them. Also what will happen to said babies that do not sell from those stores? Yeah, shipped back and put down.

But no...one is NOT better than the other (Marshall verses Privately bred). It's just the breeding practices.

Sorry for going on and on.

damn. I don't know what to say to this other than just...damn. I hate puppy mills, so I can't not extend the same regards to this Marshall Farms. not the animals that come out, the humans behind it. I'm very glad that your ferrets were recognized for how well they are taken care of though. ^^

Mm...Marshall' also breeds Beagles for labs, and not for pets.

I HATE lab testing....there is no use for it. I look at it like this....how does a reaction in animals going tot ell you how MY body would react?! Test on death row inmates, make them useful.

I detest animal mills. I have seen the effects of mills and the lasting mental damage the animals suffer though.

noooooo! not the beagle puppies! that makes me extra sad 'cause Fred was half beagle. ;~;

I agree about the mills, but I am still to this day not entirely sure where I stand on animal testing. I can see both sides of the argument, but do not consider myself to be educated enough on the subject to take a stand. >_<

Ok...see 2nd post. ^__^

OMG MIM!! THEY ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE! <3 you're right, Ozzy should've won first!

Tee Hee! I love my kiddles! All 9 of them! If they do not have another show next year, we are not attending most likely. But if they are..look out! lol

congrats ferrets! you are all lovely adorable creatures, no matter how you ranked in some human contest! i love the picture of kobun with his tongue out. <3

I do so love how they all look at the ribbons with interest...as if they're trying to read what it says. Soooooo cute!!

Thank youuu Pecha!! LOL, Kobun is so silly. He then had a lil temper tantrum after that pic was finished. He wanted down to run and play. XD

I think Booda was secretly thinking of ways to EAT his ribbon. XD I was hoping no one would try to give him kisses at the picnic, as when he gets annoyed he will nip. Lightly I mind you, but getting a lip nipped feels wonderful. XD

I love my babies! They are all perfect to me!