MAPLE CITY -- A Maple City couple has a full house over the holidays, accommodating an additional 25 guests in their modest home.
Lori Cole, her partner, Michelle DeVos, and their daughter, Cassi Cole, 14, opened their home and wallets to create northern Michigan's only ferret rescue.
The three have owned ferrets for four years and have six as pets. The remaining 19 are quartered in Warm Fuzzies Ferret Rescue and Shelter, a nonprofit they established two years ago after finding a ferret they dubbed KoKo trekking through their front yard.
"When we saw the ferret running through our front yard, we thought someone was trying to tell us something," Lori said.
Lori said many people don't understand they need to devote about two hours each day to ferret care. And costs can run high.
"Of course people think ferrets are cute," Lori said. "But ferrets are a high-maintenance pet; they crave the human contact, they are very social creatures."
The family annually spends about $5,000 to purchase 150 pounds of ferret food a month, bags of cat litter and to pay a constant stream of veterinary bills.
Ferret upkeep chores are daunting: cleaning cages daily; vacuuming and mopping several times a week; and monthly carpet shampooing. But that doesn't dissuade the trio.
"We love them," Lori said. "Just listen to our slogan, 'Be an organ donor ... Give your heart to a ferret.'"
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