animal rescuers - resources - support

[Rook]

My Ferrets don't stink..hmph....They have a subtle Musky Aroma...
My boy, I got from a pet store, he was a few days from being sent to Humaine Society, nobody wanted him because he was a "Biter", and evidently the previous Owner that brought him back didn't have the patience to Teach....
He's never bitten me...

My girl, I got from petfinder.com, a shelter had her displayed, after a few Screenings, they actually haggled her price..
She is a young darling, feisty, and has her "Dainty" moments....I noticed immediately why they weren't set on a price, she was 'special needs' and they were understaffed..

Ferrets have a bad reputation, unjustly set on them, which quickly lands them in Shelters, and in Most cases, face unfair Euthanazia because someone didn't a} do their Research b} Didnt care enough c}Realized the Ferret was more than they bargained for...

A ferret is a huge commitment, their Temperament is close to that of a Cat, they can be Aloof, Inquisitive, shy, friendly...
They can live 10-12 years.
The more time you spend, the better you know them and they will Bond with you...
That some Bite? Yes, Why? It's instinct, Ferrets are carnivorous Predators in the wild [ Think Rikki Tikki Tavi, rather than kodo & podo ]
The Biting starts when they're babies, and they play hard...they don't realize Human skin is a lot more delicate than ferret skin...
Oftentimes their Bite is out of Fear/Aggression/Curiosity, you WILL know which is which....Play (they're hopping all over the fucking place "clucking" and throwing tender quick sharp nips, puffed up tail)..Fear ( The ferret is trying to stay away from you, and you insist on grabbing them no puffed up tail, and sometimes "toilet" issues).. Aggression ( The ferret stands ground, cornered, Puffed tail, they will spit/hiss a warning, the rest is your "stupidity").. Curiosity ( If you just ate a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, or a grilled cheese, or put on a Fruity perfume, Flower hand lotion, Their notorious Curiosity will get the better, and they will Instinctively say "YUM", you will not be amused at that moment)...
All but 2 are Fixable, with Patience...
and yes, you CAN teach an old Ferret new Manners...

Many Ferrets sadly wind up in a very Abusive home, and honestly? I think the Person is worthy of a few baseball bat strikes...
If you won't strike a child, or harm a dog..What does the person gain from terrorizing a tiny ferret, hitting them, torturing..?

Many ferrets in this circumstance wind up euthanized, Unless they are taken or dropped off at a No-Kill Ferret Shelter (there's a few out there, Badly in need of Donations, but they work it out), the shelter will keep them rather than Adopt them out, it's a lifelong Trauma for the lil guys....
Some get adopted to very Experienced Hoomans..

Oh, and as for the "smell"...
A Ferret will have a very Ripe cage, if you dont tend it often..
Think about the following..
A ferret has a high metabolism..Constantly active, they will eat almost every 4 hours until they're Full each time....
They require Vitamins sometimes if you give them Sub-Par Ferret food...
Premium Ferret food = not much waste...They absorb nutrients, and have fun...
The digested food has to go somewhere
Every 3-4 hours....
Whether it's pee [Boys will invariably smell stronger, a little less if they're Neutered, and if they're not, KEEP THEM BY THEMSELF, not-neutered male Rivalry can be dangerous, and Deadly, a non-receptive Female spayed or not, will suffer ferret "domestic violence", a weaker male can easily be killed.
Spaying + Neuter, is not an option, it's a Requirement..
Females in Heat will stay in heat until they're pregnant, if they dont get pregnant soon, they can develop aplastic anemia and die]
Or Poop.
It adds up.
The good side?
Ferrets are litter box trainable...
Once again...Patience....
And in some cases [ I dont do this ] They can learn cute tricks...
They also love toys if you surround them with it at an early age[ I pamper mine]..