Author: Barb Carlson

• If you find a ferret outside, immediately catch it. Ferrets are not considered a vector for rabies — they die before the virus would get into the saliva — so it’s unlikely it has rabies. Most ferrets want to be saved but might nip if frightened. You can also put a blanket inside a cat carrier and coax the ferret into the carrier.
• Put the ferret in a secure cage or cat carrier. Wire dog crates will NOT contain a ferret. [Read the pamphlet Ferret proofing your home for an idea of what ferrets can do.]
• Give the ferret a bowl of water and food. Good quality kitten food can work in a pinch. It should have little or no grain and lots of meat-based protein. Walmart’s 8in1 Ferret Food is awful (30% protein, 8% fat). Ferrets need at least 38% protein and 18% fat. More is better. Make sure the ferret is eating and pooping. If the ferret is debilitated take it to the vet asap. If it won’t eat, you can try warming chicken babyfood (no veggies, just meat), add a little water and force feed with a syringe. Usually they like it and suck it right down. They need to eat at least one or two whole jars of the meat babyfood per day.
• Treat the ferret with Frontline or the generic (Fipronil). DO NOT bathe 2 days before or 2 days after applying Frontline, otherwise it won’t work. Frontline will kill fleas and ticks, usually within 24 hours. If the ferret has ticks, it needs to be treated with an antibiotic to prevent Lyme Disease. DO NOT use anything made by Hartz on the ferret [Search for articles on the internet “hartz complaints”.] Revolution is okay, but doesn’t kill ticks and I don’t think it works as well against fleas. It does kill ear mites, though.
• DO NOT put the found ferret with your own ferrets or around your other pets until you are sure it is free from fleas/ticks and intestinal parasites (at least a week).
• If the ferret has diarrhea, get it to the vet or call the ferret shelter for advice. One funky poop is okay. Three in a row is bad. Watery poop is bad. Ferrets become dehydrated quickly and dehydration kills. Fleas also kill (they suck the ferret’s blood).
• Take the ferret to a vet, no-kill animal shelter or local ferret shelter for help and advice.

One of the NLS* girls, Melody is playful, lively, likes to play with people, curious and healthy. She is also a bit nippy (she was accidentally trained to nip when she wanted to be put down) but getting better every day. She does not like other ferrets.

Melody has an estimated birth date of 03/10/2010, and is probably just over 2 years old. She has a somewhat sad story … she was found abandoned in a house when the owners moved. She was found with another ferret and both were turned into the Humane Society. The HS euthanized the other ferret (probably the only ferret Melody would get along with) because it had tumors. She nipped someone at the Humane Society, so they automatically called us. They do not adopt out nippy ferrets. Either we take them or they put them to sleep.

So we are Melody’s second chance … first she was left to starve to death, then she was spared from euthanasia. Hopefully someone can open their hearts to this feisty little girl and give her the love she needs to trust people again.

*Nippy Little S@#$

My youngest son, Aaron, was in a terrible accident March 22. He wasn’t expected to live, but he did! He was in Allegheny General Hospital for 11 weeks and has now moved to rehab. He is paralyzed and I’m spending a lot of time with him, and learning how to help him take care of himself.

As a result, I haven’t been as available to adopt ferrets out. Now I have way too many ferrets, and virtually no applications. It didn’t help that the guy from Romania stole my old website. I’m pretty sure a lot of people are ending up there, wondering why nothing works on my website 🙁 I’m not Internet savvy enough to know how to fix that, so I’ve just been limping along with fewer applications and a lot more difficult schedule.

I have some very nice ferrets here that I just haven’t had time to photograph, upload and describe. I even have some young ones. Of course, I have the usual set of nippy little @#$# as well.

If I can’t find homes for these ferrets, I will be forced to send them away to other shelters, and I’d rather not do that. So for now, except for ferrets under a year old, I will entertain offers. What are you willing to pay for a nippy little @#$# who is young, healthy, happy, playful, likes people, but who isn’t reliable with children? (Selena, Melody). How about a few older ferrets who are sweet, playful, loving, don’t bite but who have a health issue? They deserve a loving home, too.

I am feeling very guilty for not being able to find the time to market the ferrets, but at this point my son has to be my main priority. Please let me know if anyone has any suggestions, wants to foster, would like another ferret or is willing to take on one of the NLS (nippy little @#$#) ferrets.

Here is Chantilly Lace, who was found dancing around in the middle of an intersection. She is very playful, gorgeous and nice, but is afraid of other ferrets, so she needs a separate playtime.

This is Selena, one of the NLS girls. She would be fine in a house with experienced ferret owners, but isn’t safe for children. Her nipping has cut way back, but she is VERY aggressive to other ferrets and would need a separate play time. She’s fun, but you’ll probably want to wear shoes and pants when she is out. If you keep her distracted (like with a fishing pole toy) she doesn’t bother you, but when she wants attention, she’ll nip your ankle.

The application can be found here: Adoption application. I have more ferrets than those listed, too. Help!

My first experience with ferrets came a lil over a year ago, when all of a sudden my girlfriend has 3 ferrets. So from helping her raise her 3 young ferrets I found I like ferrets.

I heard about the Hide e Hole rescue from a friend and decided if I was ever going to get a ferret I would adopt. I came across a ferret named Haddock on the Hide-E-Hole site, loved his
picture, I had to have him.

So I stopped by the shelter to meet Haddock and knew I was going to have to get 2 ferrets. Haddock is a very social ferret; he would be bored and sad if he were alone. Barb paired him up with Simon, who was dropped off the same time at the Humane Society (who gave the ferrets to Barb).

Simon had previously had some surgery on his tail and his fur was thin and he was underweight at 1 lb 4 oz. Knowing all that, I felt they were still a good pair. I decide to adopt them. The ferrets were checked over, ears cleaned, nails clipped, and ready to go by Barb.

The process was simple. Barb wants to know her kids are going to good homes so she asks a lot of important questions to see if a ferret is right for you and your home. I am happy with my selection of 2 older ferrets. They get along great, being older they’re a lot more chill to have around.

In the 3 months I’ve had them, Simon has gained 1 lb 1 oz and Haddock is as big as ever. Being older, they sleep a lot but they still have about 5 hours out of cage time if they want to play, which is perfect for my schedule and theirs.

After adoption you are never forgotten by the shelter. They are there to answer your questions and guide you in raising your ferret the right way. I suggest joining the Three Rivers Ferret Council for great info, great deals on food and toys and good ferret loving friends.

Adopt — it’s the right thing to do…

[Photos by Joe R.]