From:
Dan Muldoon
Date: 2002-05-09 14:53:00 UTC
Subject: Re: want to adopt a 3 year old ferret in am
I cannot speak for all adopted ferrets or all health problems, but two of my
three ferrets were adopted and I'd do it again. Sidney, the first, was had
cardiomyopathy; she had been turned in to a shelter because her owner
couldn't (?) keep her. Her health was so bad that we thought that she might
only live a couple more months. Instead, she lived nearly 2-1/2 years until
the age of 6. Ironically, her heart never got much worse and lymphoma was
what eventually claimed her life. The extra attention and the hand feeding
Sidney needed only strengthened the special bond I had with her. She had to
be one of the sweetest and gentlest ferrets I've ever encountered.
Oscar, my second adoptee, was found by a police officer in someone's garage
and turned over to an animal shelter. (Did someone think the baby ferret was
a vicious animal and call "911?") He's now about 2 y/o, in very good health,
and his only behavioral anomaly is that he likes to suck on pillowcases (You
can read more about that if you search the FHL archives for
"pillowcase-sucking weasel"). This fellow is also a sweet soul and he loves
to play.
These two ferrets never gave me any nipping problems. Oscar occasionally
"play nips" but you practically have to provoke him; the only time Sid
nipped me was when she mistook my hand for Oscar who was harassing her. On
the other hand, Felix, my little boy from the pet store needed pretty
intensive nip training.
Depending on the individual an adopted ferret can be just as much a loving
pet as one from a store. My S.O., as well as friends, have adoptees that
have made wonderful pets and there is something indescribably rewarding
about giving an "unwanted" animal a home from which s/he will never be
turned away.
You can see pictures of Sidney, Oscar and Felix and read more about them at
www.creighton.edu/~dmuldoon/ferrets.html. The website is out of date but is
still "running" at present.
> Date: Wed, 08 May 2002 02:50:29 -0000
> From: "snuggliepets" <janieg@s...>
> Subject: want to adopt a 3 year old ferret in am
<snip>
> I am thinking of adopting a 3 year old male ferret in the morning
> from my local shelter. The difficulty is that he has a tumor above
> his eye and that was the reason he was given up.
<snip>
> Also does anyone have an opinion on adopted ferrets. Are they
> trustworthy if you treat them well and love them up! My ferret
> recently died and we would love to give a homeless one a second
> chance.
<snip>