This is our
shelter’s experience, but it applies to all shelters, everywhere. There isn’t a shelter in existence that
hasn’t been through it.
This
is about Bert, Malcolm and Fergy. They
are representative of thousands of ferrets across the country.
Bert and
Malcolm were recently returned to Little Dude’s after they had been adopted
several months ago. Fergy lived with
them but was not originally adopted from Little Dude’s. She was bought from Petco. Bert is adjusting. Fergy and Malcolm are not.
They have stopped eating, are depressed and very sick. We are doing everything we can to help them
through their adjustment. It is now
touch and go depending on their will to live.
Staff
at Little Dude’s has always been more outspoken and brutally truthful than most
shelters when counseling potential families interested in adopting a ferret.
Ferrets
are expensive. They WILL get
sick. Not if, but WHEN. It WILL happen. Don’t think it won’t
happen to yours. Be sure you have at
least $1,000 - $3,000 available for your ferret over its lifetime because you
will need it for surgery and medication when he’s old and sick. Plan on spending lots of time making duck
soup and hand feeding your elderly ferret.
They
are A LOT of work. And I mean A
LOT. Don’t kid yourself. You can’t take vacations without taking them
with your or boarding them and you have to leave them with someone who knows
how to care for them. You have to come
home every day to let them out for exercise and play time. You will clean up after them constantly and
always be replacing things they destroy.
Like carpeting.
I
even ask what your plans are for the future.
Going to have kids? Getting
married? What if the new spouse doesn’t
like ferrets? What are you going to do
with the ferret then? The SPOUSE must
go, not the ferret. And I’m
serious. The spouse can take care of
himself/herself. The ferret can’t. If you don’t agree, don’t adopt. It’s a 7 – 10 year commitment.
I
never adopt out to children. Most
children lose interest when they get their driver’s license, find
boyfriends/girlfriends or go away to college.
It MUST be a family decision with everyone involved. Mom and Dad must love and care for the
ferret too.
I
prefer to adopt to older people because they have lived their life, settled
down and are more likely to keep and care for their ferret properly – AND have
the finances to do it. Not always, but
usually. It doesn’t mean I won’t adopt
to “young” people but I WILL be hanging on to your every word finding a reason
to NOT adopt to you. Why? Because I have very little time to get to
know you. I get one or two
conversations with you to figure out if you are a really good con artist. Discriminatory? Yeah – probably. But it’s
the life of a ferret. I don’t
care. Don’t adopt. Wait until you’re ready.
That
said – you would think that I would never have ferrets returned – or scare most
everyone away. But I do have adoptions
and I do get them returned. Not often,
but I do. It’s heartbreaking and here’s
why:
Ø
The
ferret that was adopted at a young age is now probably middle aged (that is
about 3 years old) or older and has little to no chance of being adopted
again. He lost out on a forever home. That ferret will live out the rest of his
life in a shelter. That is where he
will die. YOU have to share your time
with 1 or two ferrets. WE have to share
our time with 30 or more. Quality of
life isn’t much better here. They are
safe and their belly is full but they must learn to entertain themselves. They get a kiss and a hug now and then if
they are the lucky one who happens to cross my path as I’m cleaning or walking
through their area. Sometimes I have foster homes with room for another. “Room” meaning less ferrets than we have at
the shelter and willing to take in another.
Ø
That
ferrets life is turned upside down. He
will get sick, stop eating, get depressed and sometimes die.
Ø
The
shelter adds one more permanent expense when we are already constantly on the
edge financially. The stress and worry
of whether we will have enough money is always there. Eating away at the stomach lining.
Ø
That
ferret takes up space that could be used for one that really needs it.
PEOPLE…PLEASE. Don’t be impulsive and don’t stand in
denial. Think it through. If you aren’t SURE, then don’t do
it. We all understand that things
happen, BUT excuses such as:
they
are too much work
we
are moving and pets aren’t allowed
not
enough time
too
expensive
got
another pet who doesn’t get along
had
a baby
got
married and spouse doesn’t like it
just
aren’t acceptable!
And remember,
when you surrender your ferret, it might be out of YOUR sight and mind,
but it’s not out of ours. The solution
is not to adopt unless you are really, really ready. Do the research and think it through.
THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES BEFORE YOU ADOPT
TAKE THE INFORMATION YOU ARE GETTING CRAMMED DOWN YOUR
THROAT SERIOUSLY