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  • Ferret Shelter Woes

    It's just me, doing what I like to do.. Bitch.


    Anyways, I started my own non profit ferrets shelter back in June, I have taken in 12 ferrets that I intend to find homes for. I have 6 ferrets that are mine ( I have a total of 18 ferrets), I will not rehome them for anything.

    Problems that I have encountered:

    People wanting me to just give them the ferrets for free, I will not do this, I have a small adoption fee to help cover food, vet (I have a vet that does not charge me much at all to examine them) and other things that they need.. The adoption fee is 50$, which is not much considering that they are 150$ at a pet store.

    People wanting me to let them adopt my own personal ferrets.. Especially since I tell them that only the ferrets I let out of the cage to play in the play area are the ones up for adoption.. They don't understand why they can't have Jill, I tell them that not only is she mine and is 5 years old she also has adrenal diesease with a Melatonin implant to arrest the diesease. Most people also want Cinnamon (He has the quite rare cinnamon coloring, kinda reddish) Cinnamon is my own personal ferret. Yes, I know Hobs is cute with the stripe on his head.. He is also my own personal ferret and he is also deaf and Jills "mate" he is 5 years old. bottom line, they seem to go right for my ferrets that I keep in the cage that I say are not up for adoption.. The ones in the play area are the ones up for adoption.. Choose one of them.

    People freaking out when they break into their War Dance (ferrets while dance around as if to say "Come on, let's play!") and people think they are getting ready to attack.

    No, they do not come with cages.. I need all the cages I have.

    No, you can not feed them cheap cat food, ferrets can not handle grains such as corn.. There are only 3 ferret foods that I approve of and those are meat based ones.. Yes, I know they are expensive, but that comes with the whole ferret territory.

    No, that are not rodents, they are mustilids, same family as the weasle and otter.. I don't care what you say.. They are NOT rodents, I know they look like large rats, but trust me, they aren't.

    No, they can't stay in their cage all the time, they need a lot of outside the cage playtime.

    No, they aren't lap animals.

    Yes, they do need yearly vet exams and yearly shots and yes you must provide a vet refference.

    If you have 3 kids under 4, I will not let you adopt one of my ferrets.. You already have your hands full with the kids.. I don't care if your kids begged for a ferret for Christmas.. I am very leary of letting anyone adopt a ferret for a Christmas present, but I will make exceptions if you answer all my questions to my liking.

    Don't like it? Go buy your own damn ferrets and woe betide you if I find out you aren't taking care of them.

    While none of the ferrets have ever bitten me, remember, if it has a mouth, it can bite.

    Don't get all pissy with me because I won't let you adopt a ferret because you can't answer the simplest questions about them.

    Yes, they do like to steal stuff.. In fact Ferret means "thief".

    Don't call me up at 4 in the morning to come get a ferret that I let you adopt because it "won't stop banging the water bottle" it's only doing that because the bottle is empty and it's thirsty.. I will not only put you on my blacklist, but every blacklist in a 200 mile radius.. Plus it makes me feel like an ass that I trusted you.

    If you do not want or can not care for your ferret anymore I will not buy it from you.. I am a shelter, in addition if you adopt a ferret and wait past the 3 days I allow to return the ferrets with no questions asked, I will not give you the adoption fee back.

    Yes, it is like having a 2 year old for a few years.. Plus you have to ferret proof your home, which is 10 times worse than baby proofing as ferrets are much smaller and can squeeze into much smaller spaces.

    I have them color coded with collars. The same color collars means that they are cage mates and can't be seperated.. Doing so will cause them severe emotional trauma and they will probably die from depression. I will not split cage mates up.

    Yes, they do stink even when they are descented.. Bathing them more often than every 6 weeks will cause them to stink even more.


    Ok, I am done bitching on this subject.
    http://www.customerssuck.com/?m=20080203

    My destiny is not pretty, but it's what my cutie mark is telling me.

  • #2
    Quoth HappyFun Ball View Post

    Yes, they do stink even when they are descented.. Bathing them more often than every 6 weeks will cause them to stink even more.
    Just out of curiosity, why is this the case?

    Yes I did look at ferrets some time ago, but there's no way in hell I'd be able to adopt one.
    The best professors are mad scientists! -Zoom

    Now queen of USSR-Land...

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    • #3
      If you bathe them more often, their scent/oil glands will go into overdrive causing them to stink more.
      http://www.customerssuck.com/?m=20080203

      My destiny is not pretty, but it's what my cutie mark is telling me.

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      • #4
        People are just so damn stupid. I'm glad you're taking such good care of the ferrets
        "I was only LOOKING, I didn't mean to enter my card's CVV and actually ORDER! REFUND ME RIGHT NOW!!"

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        • #5
          I'm just curious as to why you only allow "returns" up to 3 days after adoption? And what do you do if someone who adopts a ferret comes to you a week later and says they no longer want it? Do you not take it back, and let them do what the will to it? I only ask, because some (probably a lot) of people don't know what they're getting into when they adopt an animal, let alone a ferret. Clearly you have guidelines and questions so you try to weed out the truly clueless ones, but what happens if someone gets one and tries to take care of it for a week or three, and decides they just can't handle it? Or the ferret doesn't get along with an existing pet or child?

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          • #6
            Quoth MaggieTheCat View Post
            I'm just curious as to why you only allow "returns" up to 3 days after adoption? And what do you do if someone who adopts a ferret comes to you a week later and says they no longer want it? Do you not take it back, and let them do what the will to it? I only ask, because some (probably a lot) of people don't know what they're getting into when they adopt an animal, let alone a ferret. Clearly you have guidelines and questions so you try to weed out the truly clueless ones, but what happens if someone gets one and tries to take care of it for a week or three, and decides they just can't handle it? Or the ferret doesn't get along with an existing pet or child?
            I think 'returns' meaning paying back the adoption fee within three days, and otherwise you're just giving it back to the shelter as if you're surrendering any other animal? That was how I read it but I might be wrong.

            Anyway, it's good of you to do this and to be so picky about who would make a good home. Ferrets are difficult to take care of if you haven't had one before, especially when it comes to ferret-proofing your home.

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            • #7
              The few times I've seen ferrets, they've looked like wonderful, playful, adorable creatures. Like land-otters. (I LOVE watching the otters at the zoo.)

              But there's no way I'd be a suitable ferret-carer. I need a critter who is happy with someone who can only play for short times, and otherwise wants a companion to lounge with or on. Or fish. I could keep fish.
              Seshat's self-help guide:
              1. Would you rather be right, or get the result you want?
              2. If you're consistently getting results you don't want, change what you do.
              3. Deal with the situation you have now, however it occurred.
              4. Accept the consequences of your decisions.

              "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools." - Anders, Dragon Age.

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              • #8
                I will take a ferret Ive adopted out back at anytime.. They just won't get the adoption fee back if they wait more than 3 days, plus I won't black list them if they return a ferret within 3 days, some people are just not ready for pet ferrets as they thought they were.


                A lot of people are so excited about experiencing a new pet that while they've read all the books and know a lot of things about the animal that I can tell them about the cons of owning a ferret and it'll fall on deaf ears. I even give them a print out on the personality on the particular ferret(s) they are adopting. But their judgement is so clouded by excitement that they don't listen.
                Last edited by HappyFun Ball; 12-02-2011, 10:27 PM.
                http://www.customerssuck.com/?m=20080203

                My destiny is not pretty, but it's what my cutie mark is telling me.

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                • #9
                  <silly>

                  hey, can you move your ferret shelter to somewhere near me so I can come and play with the ferrets when I'm feeling well?

                  <end silly>
                  Seshat's self-help guide:
                  1. Would you rather be right, or get the result you want?
                  2. If you're consistently getting results you don't want, change what you do.
                  3. Deal with the situation you have now, however it occurred.
                  4. Accept the consequences of your decisions.

                  "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools." - Anders, Dragon Age.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    People have misconceptions about ferrets, the rodent thing gets my goat the most though. Some people refuse to listen when I talk about my 5 babies (maybe I talk about them a bit too much...) and say they are not rodents. They make comments like 'Ewww, I hate rats, therefore I hate ferrets'!!

                    It sounds like you have a wonderful environment for your ferrets, both pets and temporary family members. Probably a good thing you live thousands of miles away. I'm still not sure how I ended up with 5 ferrets, but I would never dream of splitting up cage mates.

                    ETA - the war dance is amazing, and the clucking noise makes my heart melt every time. I even have 2 boys that frequently wag their tails!

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                    • #11
                      Don't call me up at 4 in the morning to come get a ferret that I let you adopt because it "won't stop banging the water bottle" it's only doing that because the bottle is empty and it's thirsty..
                      Really?

                      I would throttle them... They can't be assed to fill a damn water bottle? Even hamsters will make noise on their bottle if they need water and don't have it, and they're the quietest critters I've owned.

                      "When your deepest thoughts are broken, keep on dreaming, boy; when you stop dreaming it's time to die" -- Blind Melon

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                      • #12
                        They dance? I didn't know this! I think they're adorable and fascinating. I wish people would take the time to really learn about an animal before they decide to get one. You rock for taking such good care of them and helping them to find good homes!
                        When you start at zero, everything's progress.

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                        • #13
                          Go to You Tube and search for Ferret War Dance..

                          They also cluck or in Ferretese "dook" when excited.
                          http://www.customerssuck.com/?m=20080203

                          My destiny is not pretty, but it's what my cutie mark is telling me.

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                          • #14
                            I ended researching ferrets for a story. I knew they were cute, but they're so interesting! I kind of want a couple, except getting one is not a reasonable option (first of all, I live in California...)
                            Curiously Lydean - curious interests of a curious person.

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                            • #15
                              Quoth HappyFun Ball View Post
                              Go to You Tube and search for Ferret War Dance..

                              They also cluck or in Ferretese "dook" when excited.
                              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9AVvoQozzU

                              For some reason this one is set to Footloose
                              The best professors are mad scientists! -Zoom

                              Now queen of USSR-Land...

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