There are homes for unwanted cats, retirement farms for aged horses and endowments for high-strung Afghans.
And now from southern Chester County comes Samantha Benson, who has opened her heart and home to ferrets - unloved, unwanted and abandoned ferrets. She calls her mission the Oxford Ferret Rescue.
On Saturday, helped by veterinarian Deborah Beck-Ross, Benson hosted a distemper and rabies clinic for ferrets only at the Penn Animal Hospital in Jennersville.
This event, though, was for loved ferrets. Despite their image as cunning creatures, there are thousands of adored pet ferrets; according to Benson, they are now the third most popular furry pet in the country behind dogs and cats.
And so they came from South Philly to State College in elegant carriers, in cardboard boxes and cradled in loving arms.
Like youngsters getting their vaccinations, reactions to these inoculations were mixed. Some hissed and bared their celebrated teeth. Some squeaked in their tiny ferret voices, while others were more sanguine.
These pets were a far cry from their wild brethren who have a deserved reputation for meanness and ferocity. These were bright, affectionate creatures prone more toward curiosity and nuzzling than cunning.
"I never thought I would love an animal so much," said Carol Murphy of Cochranville, who arrived at the clinic with her two daughters and a sleek ferret named Weasel.
Weasel has the run of the house, said Murphy. He sleeps in the clothes hamper, is bathed in the kitchen sink, and loves to eat raisins. Even four cats don't slow Weasel down, said Murphy. "The cats think Weasel is just a nuisance," she said.
Murphy said she was thrilled to find out that lurking in the hinterlands were other ferret owners, that she was not alone. Indeed, the crowd in the waiting room had all the fervor of a support group. Owners were exchanging tips and stories about their pets like doting grandparents.
"My kids love this guy," said Judy Truman of Lincoln University, who was holding a frisky little ferret named Rupert. "He steals their toys and hides them. They take him for rides in the baby buggy."
Benson predicted ferrets would continue to grow in popularity. They are clean, have no interest in going outside, and can be litter-trained, she said. Neutered and de-scented ferrets can be purchased for around $100 at local pet stores.
"They are the anmal of the future," said Benson, who in her spare time is a judge at regional ferret shows.
