Autumn Adventures

I tool Ivy for a long walk yesterday. She loves walking, so we measure long in terms of hours. She had a nice four-hour excursion, a combination of walking, riding in my arms, and resting in her carrier on the 'L' and on the bus. First we walked through my neighborhood, and Ivy got her first experience watching leaves being raked. She loves fallen leaves, especially when they blow around, because then she can pounce on them. If it is very windy and there are enough leaves, she can get a bit crazy jumping here and there and everywhere, not quite sure where she should pounce next. So she watched this man with his rake for a bit, not quite sure of the sound. But then she saw the bag. Ivy loves bags. If I could fill a room entirely with bags and let Ivy loose in it, I think it would be some sort of ferret paradise for her. When she saw the bag, she bounded over to it, and then she stood up on her hind legs, just begging to get into the bag. When she understood she was not going to be able to get into the bag, she amused herself burrowing through the leaves while I talked to my neighbor.

One thing about walking a ferret is that you don't get anywhere in a hurry. The ferret, of course, might run quickly for a half-block, a block, but then stop for five minutes inspecting a fallen branch. However, the really time-consuming part about walking a ferret is answering all the questions you'll get about the ferret. These can range from simple questions about the price of the ferret or requests to pet it all the way to complex ones about history, physiology, and behavior. Most people haven't ever seen a live ferret, much less touched one, and many of them still have the perception that ferrets are bitey, nippy, nasty, ill-tempered little critters. In a way, you and your ferret(s) will be ferret "ambassadors", maybe the only ferret a person will ever meet. You will certainly be the public "face" of ferret owners, out and about where everyone can see you.

We finally got to the train, Ivy and I, and I put her in her carrier. I know there are people who "smuggle" their ferrets onto public transportation in their coats, but please, please don't do this. First of all, it is hard for the ferret to stay still and in your arms for this long of a time, and if they get down they risk being stepped on or sat upon. Besides this, rails and other things your ferret might sniff, nose, or lick are generally very germy, and your ferret is more likely to be exposed to colds and flu than if the ferret was in a carrier. Also, animals out of carriers aren't allowed on public transportation in most cities, and could get you thrown off the bus/train and/or fined. Lastly, it makes ferret owners with ferrets in carriers less welcome. At any rate, Ivy decided to jump around in her carrier for the two stops it takes to get to the bank, where I had to deposit a check. There is a teller there who absolutely adores Ivy and gives me a hard time if I don't bring her. Pets are welcome at this bank, so I bring Ivy almost every time I stop in. I've included a picture of Ivy with the teller. Ivy was trying to get down so that she could infiltrate the bank computer. Again.

Once we were done at the bank, Ivy and I walked back to the train, and she went back into her carrier for a train trip downtown. She didn't really want to stay in her carrier. She likes being able to sit in my lap or arms, like she is allowed at times when we're riding in cars. Still, she had fun looking at all the people, and then we were downtown. She loves all the people, and there are a lot of buildings to walk along. Ferrets like to walk along borders, boundaries, and walls, so it's actually pretty easy to walk with them down a crowded street. She's still learning to stay still for pictures; Ivy prefers to investigate camera lenses and people's bags and clothes and things. We're working on keeping attention with finger-snapping, but it's hit-or-miss right now. She does get her picture taken a lot, though, when I walk her downtown. Tourists seem to think she's some sort of attraction that needs a photo. Someone even said they were putting her picture on Facebook.

We walked around for quite a bit, because the darling just wasn't tiring out. She wanted to keep exploring, exploring, so we walked all the way from the Daley Center Plaza to the Art Institute. She walked a couple of blocks further, after checking out the lions, of course. But finally, as the sun was setting, she decided it was time to catch a ride in mom's arms. She enjoys this, because she can still look at everything while getting scritches and snuggles and kisses. At last we got onto the bus, and I slipped her into her carrier. She snuggled under her towel, and was fast asleep in under a minute. She got some lovely foot-rubs, and actually slept all the way home, including during the walk from the bus to my house, when she usually wakes up. It was a fun afternoon for her, but she was glad to get home.