Ferrets for Dummies

Paperback, 370 pages, copyright 2000.About the Author: Not too many years ago, the state of Massachusetts was graced with Kim Schilling's presence when her young biological mother was rushed to the hospital for what was thought to be acute appendicitis. Kim, undoubtedly, was much cuter than the inflamed organ the astounded doctors had expected to find. As a toddler, she was adopted by her Chicago parents and moved to Illinois where she's remained firmly planted ever since. From the get go, she related much better to animals than humans and spent her entire adolescence and teenage years caring for every sick, injured, stray, exotic, and wild animal that happened her way (either by accident or on purpose), whether they liked it or not. Her calling in life appeared clear and early: she wanted to become a veterinarian before she could even pronounce the word. The prepare herself for the medical terms she'd encounter in veterinary school, she even took four years of Latin in high school. Although she had the grades and ambition, she never made it to veterinary school. Instead, her life took her down a different path toward helping and saving animals. In 1989, she began taking in various animals, mostly exotic and difficult critters, that had been abused, neglected, or abandoned. At the same time, she fell head over heels in love with ferrets and their endearing antics. These lovable creatures quickly filled her life, her heart, and her home. In 1993, she also adopted her husband David, an addictions specialist no less, who supported her in her passion. That same year Kim became USDA licensed, obtained various conservation permits, and formed Animals for Awareness, a no-kill organization dedicated to taking in unwanted, abused, confiscated, or abandoned exotic and domestic critters. News of Animals for Awareness spread quickly. From unwanted bear and cougar cubs to stray parrots and neglected ferrets, their home sometimes overflows. While Animals for Awareness doesn't adopt out exotic animals to the general public, they do find permanent USDA facilities for the bigger exotics and always have domestic critters such as ferrets up for adoption. Kim and many of her critters frequently hit the road to educate as many people as possible--their main goal to promote responsible pet ownership and discourage the keeping of exotic, dangerous, or wild animals. The future for Animals for Awareness looks bright. Animals for Awareness obtained non-profit status in 1999 and continues to search for that perfect piece of land to build a dream sanctuary, where even the fuzzies can have their own large rooms filled with toys and snooze sacks. As Kim proudly states, ferrets are one of her favorite residents. When she began writing this book, she had 23 ferrets of her own. When she completed the book, she had more than 30.