by debferret

Another use for Duck Tape……………

As a shelter mom for over 15 years, I sometimes puff out my chest and brag to my ferrets that I have outsmarted them and everything is ferret proofed! Ha Ha I snort at them.

God has a way of taking you down a peg even if it is only ferrets you are being smug with!

In my defense, I have a sinus headache today, but, really, that is no excuse for letting my guard down.

My mornings start with letting certain ferrets out to play. The old ones come out first as they do a couple of tours and then find the most comfy spot to curl up and go to sleep. Everyone joins me in the kitchen for some Ferretone. *Ferretone discontinued in 2020, shelter is now using Salmon Oil cut with canola Oil.

The Ferretone bottle always leaks at little after you puncture that titsy bitsy tiny pin hole in the cap. Ferretone does a lovely job of staining your clothes, so I have taken to wrapping a folded paper towel around the bottle; securing the paper towel with an elastic. I have done so for years.

New Ferretone Bottle

drip containment tools!

Ferretone bottle ready for use

so, as I was saying, I have my seniors group out playing. Molly, Weasel, Finny, Mariko, Star, Rosie, Jnyx, JJ, and Bee or 9 fuzzbutts crowding around to have some Ferretone. After an hour, everyone got put back to bed and I let out Dwight and his harem. They came bouncing into the kitchen and I reached for the Ferretone bottle to give them all a treat.

The paper towel slid down the bottle; elastic gone!!! No,no, no elastic causes blockages! Oh my God, 9 ferrets, which one ate it. Calm down, don’t panic!!! Scoop Dwight and his women and put them in the bedroom for now.

I am now back in the kitchen on hands and knees inspecting the floor. Please God, let me find the elastic, all of it or I will be dosing 9 ferrets with hairball laxative and praying over litter boxes.

Far corner, under the cabinet, eureka! The elastic and it’s all there; the broken ends match up! Deep breath, a few tears of relief and one heart attack avoided!

heart attack avoided, elastic is all there

I use the Ferretone bottle 10 times a day at least. How am I doing to handle the bottle without getting Ferretone all over me and my clothes? Light bulb comes on, secure the paper towel with something safer!!

Ferretone bottle duct taped up the wazoo

The duct tape worked for a short while and then one day, slowly slid down! Damn, the oil loosened the tape.

Plan B, paper towel, elastic and then duct tape the bottle. The whole thing will stay on longer and when it does start to let go, the elastic is inside and can’t drop off without me knowing.

paper towel, elastic and duct tape over it all. Take that you drippy bottle

So, yes, I used duct tape. I wonder if the company would like to know about my latest use of their product!

I went and kissed all my seniors and thanked them for not eating the elastic. Mommy owes them big time!

10.28.14

by debferret

The Long Way Home

As a shelter mom, I hope that every adoption is perfect and that the ferret(s) are going into their forever home.

In reality, life can throw us curve balls and the adoption breaks down. The MFA has a clause in the adoption form which states in part that the ferret(s) must be returned to the shelter if the person can no longer look after them. I check out Kijiji regularly for ferrets up for sale, I am checking to see if one of my adopted ferrets has shown up on Kijiji.

Approximately 2 years ago, two very special girls that I had adopted to a good home showed up on Kijiji.

Numerous attempts were made to the ferret owner to get him to comply with the legal adoption form he had signed. I was finally told the ferrets were going to a family member. Even my offer of a full refund fell on deaf ears. I was heartbroken and dearly hoped that they were in fact going to a family member and would be well cared for. I confess that it ate at me and I kept my eye open for them on Kijiji but I am not on the site every day.

About two weeks ago I was on Kijiji and I noticed two ferrets for sale. The ad caught my attention because these two girls were described as spayed but not descented! The pictures took my breath away. They were my two special girls and they were back on Kijiji again! My heart broke to think how many times they had been passed from hand to hand.

To make a long story short, I contacted the ad and through e-mails I was able to prove that these special girls had come from my shelter and that I in fact had their mothers, these two girls were replicas of their mothers. The couple had acquired them off of Kijiji but the girls had not settled in as they had hoped and they were looking to re-home them. This wonderful couple was gracious enough to give them back to me. I made a donation in their name and purchased them to show that I would never re-home them. These special girls were going to live out their lives with me and their mothers. This couple was rewarded with two year free membership for their kindness, for being true ferret people and saying what was best for the girls was the most important thing!

There seemed to be some recognition when the mothers and daughters met. However, one of the daughter’s Rico was not in good health. I suspected Cardiomyopathy and started her on Lasix. The other ferret Yippy was a plump girl, bright eyes, good coat but she would come out and do the “flat” ferret. Clearly all this re-homing over the last month had taken it’s toll on her.

Today Yippy is back to being a normal ferret in that she will run through the tubes and hide the stuffies. She will not go far from Rico and when Rico puts herself to bed, Yippy will drop everything to go and cuddle up next to her. Because of Rico’s heart issue I could not follow through with my plan to have the mothers and daughters in the same cage. That is my long range plan once I have Rico stable. I do let them all out together for short periods of time to interact. I am very worried that should I loose Rico to heart failure, Yippy may follow with a broken heart! I really want her to have a strong connection with her Mom and Aunty.

As of today Rico is holding her own. The fluid is gone from her abdomen but she is not eating much. I have started her on duck soup and that is not going well. I have to balance forcing the duck soup with her heart issue! Fortunately Rico loves Ferretvite and I am hoping the Ferretvite will stimulate her appetite. Rico is really not doing well so folks, please send your prayers her way.

Sadly, my Rico lost her battle before I could finish this post, rest in peace sweet baby. I got to hold you and love you – you came home.

Ginger & Snip, the moms

Yippy

10.27.14

by debferret

Lost Ferret Protocol! What to do when your ferret goes missing!

You can’t find your ferret! You have just spent the last hour or two looking in every nook and cranny in your house or apartment! Your ferret was asleep behind the TV or so you thought when your company was leaving! Your ferret was asleep in the bedroom when you took out the garbageor when you opened the door for just a second!

Before starting your search outdoors, you will need the following:

Pictures of your ferret: the more recent the better it and who doesn’t have tons of pictures of their fur babies on their phone or laptop
Squeaky toy: that you have used to train your ferret to come to you with.
Treat bag: that you normally shake and he comes running for his treat
Flashlight: if it is after dark

Step One:

Leave the front door ajar slightly – in the off chance that your ferret will come home while you are out looking. Do this only if you have someone home to watch the door. I have gone looking outside; positive the ferret had escaped only to be greeted by said ferret at the door when I came home. You don’t want your ferret leaving the house while you are out looking! Stranger things have happened!
Call your ferret, squeak that toy, shake that bag of treats. Your neighbours will hear you even if your ferret doesn’t and you can alert them to the fact that you are looking for your lost ferret.
Check the perimeter of the house/apartment block. Ferrets instinctively avoid being out in the open
Check under bushes and shrubs.
Ask permission to check out garages that have their doors open
Check under decks, asking permission if you must go on someone else’s property.
Check in woodpiles, asking permission if you must go on someone else’s property.
Alert all your neighbours in a two or three block radius, north, east, south and west.
Enlist the neighbourhood children ages 7 or 8 and up to help you look. Show them a picture of your ferret. Tell them not to try and pick up the ferret but to call for help. Offer a small reward. Children know all the best hiding spots from playing hide and seek.
If you have multiple ferrets, take the lost ferret’s cage mate out on a leash and walk the neighbourhood. The scent of the cage mate you are walking may guide your lost ferret home.

Step Two:

Print up lost ferret notices and drop them in every mail box for 4 or 8 blocks in every direction. Yes, ferrets can travel that far!
Drop off a poster of your lost ferret to every pet store in the area
Drop off a poster of your lost ferret to every vet clinic in the area.
Call the Humane Society and alert them to your lost ferret
Call the MFA and alert them to your lost ferret (didn’t think I should have to put this one in, but, for those who were to upset to think, just a gentle reminder that folks will often call us to come capture or pick up a lost ferret.)
Call the local radio station that does lost alerts
Use social media to alert them of your lost ferret. Lost Dog Alert will post regarding lost ferrets. use every lost alert facebook page you can reach

Step Three:

Take your ferret’s carrier (with food, water and blanket) or cage if possible and set it outside by the door. The smell of food and his blanket just might help guide him home.
Some folks will offer a reward and this is something to consider
Retrace your steps, checking the same areas several times. A friend of mine was following her ferret’s paw prints in the snow. They went around the house and back and around again. She stopped and looked behind her to see her ferret had been following her. So, your ferret may be following your scent.

09.20.14

by debferret

When a surrender breaks my heart – there are no winners here.

Today I had to pick up two ferrets. Their human mom felt she had no choice. Her tears were genuine. Out of respect for her privacy I will give only general details. An unplanned pregnancy, a relationship breakdown and not being able to find affordable and safe housing that allows pets.

This is where I get on my soapbox. Yes pets can cause damage. Fish tanks break, cats and dogs have accidents, carpets can be scratched at, birds sit on door frames and poop. Why can’t landlords charge an additional “pet damage” fee to cover any possible damage. Perhaps my personal experiences are one sided; but I have washed walls and cupboards, scrubbed fridges and stoves and shampooed carpets in apartments myself and family members have vacated and never once got the damage deposit back. I left those apartments in better shape than when I moved in!

So, these landlords would get the regular damage deposit in addition to keeping these extra Pet damage funds, what a cash grab it could be for them! For every one irresponsible pet owner, there will be at least 2 that will repair any damage themselves.

Instead I have a mom who had to chose between her furry babies and her human baby and herself. I understand her heartache, I couldn’t imagine having to make that choice and I will not judge her. By the grace of God I can afford to live in my home and enjoy the companionship of my two dogs, five birds, an aquarium with fish and of course my furries.

We never turn away ferrets needing shelter. There are times I have to admit that I bite my tongue at the “reasons” given for surrendering the ferrets. When I have a surrender like today, my heart hurts and the only comfort I can give is to promise that I will find a good home for the furries.