Lisa Silverstein never met a ferret she didn't want to keep.

"As you can see, our house is a ferret kingdom," said Silverstein, of Whitehall, owner of Silver Lining Ferret Sanctuary.

Several large cages covered in blankets and furnished with bedding and toys as well as food and water line one wall of the living room. The dining room is cordoned off and filled with ferret cages. Some ferrets lounge in cages while others play on the floor. Upstairs, several more rooms are filled with ferrets and ferret supplies.

The ferrets downstairs are the ones who can "handle it," said Silverstein. She specializes in those with behavior problems and in terminal cases, calling her rescue a "hospice."

Silverstein has always been interested in animals and animal welfare. Her attention turned to ferrets about six years ago when her husband, Dave, decided he wanted some.

Naturally, her daughter, Shoshana, now 19, would tell others about their pets. As a result, people wanting to reliquish their ferrets were attracted to Silverstein. The ferret sanctuary grew from there.

"They're just irresistible," she said of the little creatures who actually are not rodents but rather members of the mustelidae family. "My weak spot is definitely the ones who are needy."

After two years of unofficial rescue, Silverstein moved to Whitehall and registered with the American Ferret Association and other groups. She has now been an official sanctuary with the association for four years.

Among the 36 residents of the sanctuary are Destiny and Hope, who were found in a house in foreclosure.

"They were abandoned in a house, left to die," said Silverstein.

Hope had a tumor and had to have risky surgery.

"You should see her now. She did fantastic. She has a full coat of fur again," Silverstein said.

Hope and Destiny like to stay close to each other and will become anxious when separated until they know the other one is OK, Silverstein said.

Like Destiny and Hope, many of the ferrets in Silverstein's care are hard luck cases, and most either have medical or behavioral problems.

Tink, for example, loves people but becomes aggressive with any ferret other than Allie, who Silverstein calls his "girlfriend." She has to keep the two of them in their own room.

Ferrets live six to 10 years. They require at least four hours a day outside the cage for play and interaction. Bedding should be cleaned once a week and litter should be cleaned daily.

Silverstein estimates she spends six hours a day – three in the morning and three in the evening – cleaning cages and bedding and making sure everyone has fresh water and food.

"Having a ferret is like having a toddler with ADD [Attention Deficit Disoder]," writes Silverstein on an information sheet she gives out to people making inquiries. "Don't expect them to be like a dog or a cat."

Silverstein is willing to work with owners whose ferrets are experiencing medical or behavioral problems. She stressed she is not a vet but she can help a ferret owner cope and make the best decisions until the ferret can be taken to a vet.

Most ferrets do not bite. Occasionally, one will and it usually is due to fear, she said, adding she does not recommend ferrets as pets for young children or even families with young children.

Whenever there's a problem, she recommends getting help, not abandoning the animal, which she describes as being sensitive.

"They get very broken hearted. They often go into shleter shock just from moving," she said. "They have a psychology all their own. They know that we love them or we don't."

Silverstein actively tries to avoid taking in adoptable ferrets.

"I don't let them come here because I know what will happen. I'll fall in love," she said. "I didn't want to be an adopting shelter."

She directs those interested in relinquishing adoptable ferrets to the Pennsylvania Ferret Club, though she said she would never turn anyone away.

"Do not ever be afraid to surrender your ferret to a safe place," she writes on the information sheet. "We do not criticize or judge your safe decision."

She goes on to say that "handing them to just anybody," such as someone through Craigslist, is irresponsible.

"Just come to me. Don't leave them outside. Don't leave them in a[n abandoned] house. I won't yell at you," she said.

For more information on Silver Lining Ferret Sanctuary, call 610-509-2201 or email silverliningferrets@gmail.com.