From:
katharine
Date: 2002-02-20 19:38:00 UTC
Subject: Ferret Psychology
I thought someone on the List, possibly a shelter operator,
could help me figure out how to best handle a situation. I
picked up a little stray boy on Saturday. He had been
"rescued" from someone's garage on Friday. He doesn't appear
to have been out for long and appears well cared for. I am
making every effort to locate his owners. In the meantime, he
is with me.
He fit right into my household as if he had always lived here.
He hasn't shown the first bit of fear, discomfort, or
anything. It has truly been amazing. He immediatley ate the
soup I gave him and the kibble everyone eats. He gets along
great with my group of 6. I've really never seen so smooth a
transition.
However, I really didn't intend to keep him. My plan was to
place him with someone after a reasonable time (probably two
weeks) and only keep him if I couldn't find a home. I have 7
now and feel like that is just about my limit. I talked to a
ferret-owning friend tonight and she is going to take him if
his owners can't be located. He can also come back here if it
doesn't work out at her house. She and I have "rescued"
several ferrets together and I know he is going to a good
home.
Here's the dilemma. Should I hold him here for the full two
weeks, letting him get even more comfortable in my home? Or,
should I let her go ahead and take him, with the understanding
that she has to surrender him to his owners if they show up
within the two weeks (she's willing to do that)? If he goes
to her and then the owners show up, he will have been bounced
around to four places in the space of a couple of weeks (the
wildlife rehab facility where he started, my house, her house,
back to his owners). We really don't know what to do but want
to do what's best for him. Of course, if he fits into her
household as easily as he fit into mine, it will be a breeze
at any time. But, I can't help thinking that at some point he
will reach his limit and go ballistic on us.
I would love to get some opinions (with reasons, of course) so
that we can try to make the best decision for Little Boy
Ferret.
Katharine