Message Number: YG11305 | New FHL Archives Search
From: fhbythesea@aol.com
Date: 2002-02-21 00:00:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Ferret Psychology

In a message dated 2/20/02 8:00:22 PM Eastern Standard Time,
katharine@n... writes:

<< 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. >>

Katharine

In my opinion, you should keep him through the two week period. The biggest
reason is exposure to disease - as you say, he was a stray and could be
incubating god knows what. The next reason would be to hold him through his
distemper series.

In my opinion, the best thing you can do is hold him, test him for disease
(giardia and coccidia top that list, as well as ADV), get him vaccinated then
worry about placement. Since he is so settled in your home, that is a good
place to stay while his former owners possibly try to find him.

Lisa Leidig, Head Ferret
The Ferret Haven "By-the-Sea"
www.ferrethaven.org