I am often approached by people wanting to give me free ferrets. I usually must decline because, to take on more, would be to jeopardize all of them (it's a financial thing). One friend tried for a whole year to give me his two ferrets, and I really did want them, but I just couldn't.

But, it was recently mentioned that free ferrets were hard to find in certain areas. So, I have been thinking about that. I know that there is a national ferret transportation network, which takes ferrets from place to place. It's been a while since I looked in on them (except the other day just to see if they still existed), but as I recall, all they wanted was gas money. That might all have changed by now, what with the economy the way it is, but they are still at it (it's been years since I reviewed their structure and function).

So, that being said, if there is anyone out there, who IS a fit potential ferret owner, I would consider using that ferret transportation network to re-home local ferrets I encounter. I find them at the shelter, in the local free "Trader" paper and person-to-person (lots of people know I'm a ferret person).

In this day and age of recycling, there's no reason to not recycle ferrets as well.

Gary

I've contacted the FAA ("Ferrets Across America") network and got a reply: The service is free as it's made up of volunteers (but I'm sure they wouldn't turn down some gas money). The ferrets would need current Vaccinations, an ADV test and "Health Certificate". I've never needed a health certificate, so I don't know what's involved, but I'm sure it comes from the vet.

If someone were intent on giving their ferret up, these costs should come out of their pocket (God knows *I* can't afford it), or the one receiving it, or a compromise somewhere in the middle.

She wanted to know what ferrets, from where to where, but I informed her that it's just speculation right now; none specific. Maybe I'll start a ferret adoption agency or something.

Later,
Gary

if I didnt live in one bedroom apartment with 3 ferrets i would love to help you out! maybe I could one day help... (my plan is to buy a house and have the basement be my ferret room)

sounds like a grand idea for sure!

Sounds great to me Josh. & if I could afford more ferrets Gary I would help. But 5 is all I can afford right now. But man It's hard to sat No . That I know.

I know, it's hard to refuse. Maybe that's why the shelter won't let any volunteers adopt animals for 90 days. I don't understand the logic in this though. Unless a person proves themselves to be an "adopt anything and everything" type of person, what's their problem? And, if a ferret comes in for adoption, but I'm new, so I can't adopt for 90 days, and he goes out to an unsuited owner in 30 days, that's not right (is it?).

I can understand that they have had people who couldn't resist adopting everything that comes through, but it should be pretty clear to them, having had much experience in such matters, just who will and won't do such.

In the meantime, I continue to watch the local "Trader" free paper for ferrets. Ironically, since I decide to try to place them when I find them, none have been available for a long time. That's good with me, because that means that buying new ones is okay; as long as there's not a surplus of "used" ferrets needing homes, it's acceptable.

I'd still like only one more ferret, but I must remember that even one, represents THOUSANDS of dollars cost in the long run, not to mention, ultimately, another broken heart.

Gary

Hear hear Gary! Well said!

A friend of mine is president of WAFFS (WA Ferret & Ferreting Society) - I got to know her well ever since we got our first ferret 16 years ago and was on the committee with her. She'd easily have 40-odd ferrets in her house regularly, both running around inside and caged outside. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

Her backyard has been specially adapted by her husband to have big cages on top of the lawn and specially placed pipes underneath the lawn so that when she lets her ferrets out of the cage, they get to run around both on top and underneath - it's amazing to see!

She'll find homes for the healthy ones but keeps the older, more infirm ones herself. As she says, she has to keep working to keep funding the ferrets. She's one heck of a lady and I tip my hat to her ... I don't know where she gets the energy, as she's only a couple of years younger than me (I'm 62)!

Most of the committee members are committed to ferrets and do everything they can to make sure they find good homes for the ones who've been turned in but I've heard too many horror stories of what people have done to ferrets before they get turned into the society. Heartbreaking stories.

Thank God for ladies like those who care for all those ferrets and try to give them all a better life.

If I could, I'd do nothing but ferrets, but there's no way to make a living on them, so, like those ladies, I'd have to work as well.

Yes, I know of some of those horror stories. I have pics in my ferret folder of a burned ferret; not easy to look upon.

Gary

I have three friends who have a ferret shelter Gary and they all work...
One of them started a pet shop (online) besides his own job and all money that comes in
goes into his shelter. The manufacturers of the food he sells gives him a great discount
and he has to rely on donations.
He has a few kids and his wife works too..

The other is married as well and both she and her husband work, all her money goes
into the shelter.

The third started a small shelter and still lives with her mom, she has health issues so she
can't work so she started to make her own ferret beds and other goodies to fund her
shelter.

I am selling a whole bunch of my own cd's for them. Cd's I once bought and don't remember why LOL!
Some of them I got more than once because I am a Japanese CD release freak, specially when they
are in those cardboard covers and look like LP's (is my age showing?)

If you are serious about starting a shelter, become friends with a good vet
They often give discount if you come with multiple patients at least most of them here do.
Become friends with food suppliers... let them know what you do, for what and why..
sometimes it can bring you nice surprises.

Also a website may help, ya know.. the usual

No, I don't really have ambitions to start a shelter, just maybe to foster a few ferrets or help find homes for them.

It's ironic, but since I started that thread, free ferrets in the local free paper have disappeared. That's partly from Petco working with the shelter to find homes for them. Actually, I'm glad when I don't see any ferrets in there, as it means people are taking advantage of the surplus of "used ferrets", and NOT buying new ferrets from breeders.

Gary

Ah ok, I misunderstood... sorry!

But still, being a "fretster/ferret parent" is a good thing!
Maybe if I stop working and get to spend 24/7 at home I will do that too.
I am 46 now and don't plan to work until I am too old to do anything fun so...

shelters can always use help and some ferrets just need to grow up or be in
a place where they can learn to live with people and other animals.

Good for you!

As for breeders and those shops that sell pets... I hope this change will spread
worldwide because here it is still very sad.
You have seen the pic of Snoop in his cage at the store in the saw dust and own
poop.. the day before it was even worse. He had no water and the temp was
around 30ºC/86F. He was sleeping they said but I think he was just tired and hot
from no water.

That has to stop! I am tired of watching pets being treated like this. 50 birds in a
very small glass fishtank... with those temps it's no wonder so many die a horrible
death. I am getting steam out of my ears when I type this and remember the image
of that. I phoned animal protection and they checked his store out. The man already
has a bad reputation for selling a stolen Wallaby baby
They stole the little right out his mommies safe pocket, of course when they were
put back together mom did not accept the little one.
Not long after that someone very angry trashed his store... left the animals alone but
trashed anything else to hurt him financially.

I went to that shop with the ferret shelter and we took Snoop with us. He was threatening
us but we were stronger and with 5 people, plus we'd held our phones to phone the police
to report him for being a bad boy again. Snoop came home with me and I never saw a
ferret go so wacko when we took him out of the carrier!
8 weeks old and he already had a previous owner/slave who did not want him because he
was so... wild

Uhm all 5 of us sort of had to pick our chins from the floor after he said this baby already
had a previous slave.... he was only 8 weeks old!

Now that is something we really have to fight against!

Gary, you'll be a great foster ferret dad