From:
sunni_321@yahoo.com
Date: 2003-05-08 19:40:40 UTC
Subject: Pet Health Insurance and adoption questions
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <6144846.1052422840904.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I have two separate questions, for anyone that could help:
I am considering insuring my three ferrets, ages 22mo, 17mo, and 5mos, with the Veterinary Pet Insurance. It seems reasonable to me $12.35 per ferret, per month. Has anyone else done this? If so, would you say it's "worth it"? Of course, I realize, even based on my own health insurance, that it's there just in case, and that most of the time, I don't even use it. I don't mind that at all. I'm more interested in, well, if it's a big hassle or not. I don't want to submit something, only to find out that, surprise, that's not covered. So, assuming that one bases it on common health problems, does it work? My vet said they've never had a pet owner cover a ferret, but, that dog and cat owners seemed happy with it.
Secondly, I'm considering adopting a ferret from a ferret rescue. I know that if I do so, I would, of course, take it into my home and it would become "my baby" just like the rest. But, to be honest, until I realized that there were so many ferrets that needed homes, I hadn't considered getting another ferret (Tori just got done teething! I am still in recovery). Now, when I added each of my babies, I didn't really think whether it was a good idea or not, how would my other babies take it, etc. Now, I do consider these questions, as well as, if I did so, I want to take the gang to help find the perfect match... Now, please consider, 98% of my knowledge of ferrets comes from what I read, so far, my ferrets have been perfect little beings, not sick, no behavior issues, so, I don't have a little "when Maddie was going through... " database in my head. Three main concerns:
1) My current babies get ECE or fleas or ear mites from visiting a large group of sheltered ferrets. (I'm not saying that shelters don't take care of their pets, I'm SURE they do, just that if one came in with an illness, it might be easy for it to spread).
2) My current babies might not accept an adult ferret into "their" home. My mother brought her aged poodle over for me to babysit one day, the dog curled up in the ferret's "couch" and Howie tried to drag her out of it by the tail. Daniella got MAD, Howie got MAD, and when I intervened Daniella's tail was bleeding and Howie was lucky to come off with his head still attached. Also, what if the incoming ferret wasn't into all the young ferrets sharing his home?
3) Finally, if I were to adopt, say a 4-5 year old ferret, I assume it would die before mine would, just because it would take them longer to reach old age. How do ferrets react to the death of a housemate? I know that they will find out eventually, but, I read recently about a ferret grieving to death over the loss of a companion. Maybe with others to be with, it would be easier on them, but, I wouldn't want a 4-5 year old ferret to grieve so terribly and die.
I really want to help homeless ferrets, I guess I need to decide (and am looking for guidance/advise) as to whether I'd be better suited to help out monetarily or if I could handle bringing another baby into the house.