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Post by 40andcounting on May 15, 2010 15:47:36 GMT -5
Hello! My name is Sadie and I'm from the UK. I'm 21 years old this August and I have 40 Ferrets at present, all outdoors all on raw food and all happy and well! I also have 9 Jack Russell Terriers, a German Shepherd Dog and a Goldfish  My interest in Ferrets began 11 years ago when I went to a local shelter in search of a new pet after the loss of my Cat Snoop. Insted of finding another Cat, there I found Cosmo my very first Ferret. My Grandad used to have Ferrets so I knew a fair bit about them already, I fell comepletely in love with the little devil and now I have 40 of them. Why 40? Most of them are from Rescues which had very little room left in them, and some are from people who didn't want them anymore because they didn't know how to look after them. None of them are for sale, or for adoption. ALL of them are mine now, theres many which are deaf, or have 1 eye and I love each and every one of them equally. Is it exspensive? Ha, ofcourse it is but I wouldn't have them if I couldn't afford them. They each get alot of care and attention, my boyfriend helps out alot, as does my family who love them to bits! It's great to be here, I've not actually joined anything like this before but it looks like fun!! I've got to go out now and check on the Fuzzies before settling down to my own dinner at almost 10Pm! From Sadie, and Family + Ruby, Riley, Rico and Daisy, Penny Holly and Taz, Caleb Woody and Toby. (Those are just the dogs!) + Rolly, Ben and Bert, Prince, Stanley and Lola. Those are 6 of the Fuzzies currently indoors, making a right noise atm.  |
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Post by Heather on May 15, 2010 18:55:22 GMT -5
Hello Sadie and welcome to the forum 40!! Wow....I can't even imagine What a rip. My 13 keep me more than hopping I can't even imagine 40 of them. You're a sweetie for taking these poor wee foundlings in. I can't allow my guys to live outside but they do have a play area where they can go and play weather permitting. Do any of your little ones hunt? I run a small (especially compared to you) private rescue/hospice and like you none are for sale or up for adoption. They've found their forever home here with me Please feel free to prowl, read threads, ask questions and post information. We are a friendly lot here and enjoy sharing various methods of caring for our little fuzzies and always enjoy hearing about some of the differences between how we raise and care for our little ones. I hope that you will enjoy chatting and sharing information and that I will be seeing you around the forum. Please feel free to post pics of your little furbabies....we really love pics  ciao |
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Post by 40andcounting on May 15, 2010 19:13:43 GMT -5
Hey! I'm up late as one of the little doggies is sick tonight so it's going to be a long night! - I don't take them out hunting no, but some of the little fuzz monsters who came to me unwanted do hunt by themselves when they're outside freely playing and running about - I've got a very secure patch of land they play in, living out in the countryside helps - I often find them with mice and rats! They mix well with my dogs, otherwise I wouldn't have them if they didn't!! My dogs hunt naturally, as I said like the fuzzies I don't "take them out" to hunt purposely, they do it anyway... it's a bit hard trying to control 9 Jack Russell Terriers on open land full of Rabbits and Fox, and it's instinct anyway, and I'm not going to try and stop them or take away their natural behaviours. All the dogs live inside, tomorrow 40 Ferrets is turning into 43 as I'm going to pick up 3 unwanted boys from a family who thought Ferrets would be the ideal pet for their children.. hmm, sorry I'm not judging but it just bugs me a bit when people don't do their research. 3 of my Jack Russell Terriers are from unwanted homes, and came from "deathrow" at the pound, apparently 1 of them snapped at their 3 year old because she pulled his ears, he was 12 months old when I got him, he's a darling to my younger brothers and sisters, he LOVES kids and the fuzzies. Some of the stories behind the unwanted pets I have here I have to say "hmm" at them, some just don't add up as the personalities of some of these animals are just not the same as described by the owners that were getting rid of them, I wonder if the real reasons are that they are too lazy to do all the work required. All the fuzzies are named They each have their names on the outdoor enclosures...as I'm sure you'll understand it's quite difficult to keep up, but I love all these guys equally and animals are a big part of my life and always will be, they have helped me through some very tough times and continue to do so. Sorry for writing so much, I'm just so passionate about animals, I tend to just keep talking/typing alot, lol. Thanks for replying! |
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Post by sherrylynne on May 15, 2010 19:47:33 GMT -5
Wow. 40. Just....wow!  I've got my hands full with 9! But all of mine are indoors. Welcome, and I'm looking forward to hearing about all your fur family! |
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Post by Heather on May 15, 2010 22:01:09 GMT -5
I really wonder as to why some people get pets or even the pets that they choose. It's heartbreaking the real reasons why people surrender their furbabies. You will find a lot of really caring people here It's great that your little ones get to run around and be "real" ferrets. Like Sherrylynne, my guys spend most of their time inside. They have done a bit of hunting outside, mostly worms  though. Most of the small furry rodent types avoid their pen though I've had a few chipmunks go missing ciao |
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Post by 40andcounting on May 16, 2010 12:37:16 GMT -5
Sometimes it's absolute chaos but it's chaos I couldn't live without! I absolutely love all of them, and look forward to waking up every morning and going outside to greet them all.
Picked up 3 today, the conditions they were being kept in were disgusting and inhumane.. the kids were pulling at them and being so rough with them no wonder they got bit.
I've not named them yet, and they need to be handled quite a lot as they're not used to being handle correctly and without being thrown around or hurt.
They're going to be staying inside until they adjust properly, I have a few FN's for new guys - these will be going up for adoption once they're ready.
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Post by Heather on May 16, 2010 12:47:21 GMT -5
Poor wee things  . You will be placing these little ones then? At least they will know what lovins are before they leave and hopefully in their new forever home . ciao |
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Post by 40andcounting on May 16, 2010 16:54:46 GMT -5
Yeah, unfortunately my brain has started thinkin maybe 40+ is a bit too much now, I'm really not wanting to let them go but they'll get the best home and yeah before they leave they'll know real love.
They are a bit unsettled at the moment, getting used to their new surroundings and don't quite know what to make of all the space in the FN and are not entirely sure what to do with hammocks, poor boys are totally confused but atleast it's much better from what they came from, dark dirty cold shed outdoors covered in muck cramped up in a small hamster cage, I was almost sick.
One of them is sick unfortunately so I've seperated him from the other two and done all I can for now, he's off to the vets tommorrow with the other two, but him more urgently that is if he makes it through the night. The family who had them had said he'd been sick for a few days, they could have atleast taken him to the vet, but yeah...
I hope he makes it, I'll keep you updated and post pics when I can get a minute to take them!
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Post by Heather on May 16, 2010 17:13:45 GMT -5
A healing candle will be lit for the poor wee one. Positive thoughts are going out his way
ciao
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Post by sherrylynne on May 16, 2010 17:56:16 GMT -5
Oh, those poor babies! People do make me so angry! Good luck, and good wishes for the poor mite.
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Post by mamapanda20 on May 17, 2010 12:25:52 GMT -5
Wow I'm sure you have a lot you could teach those of us that are new at this. I too can't understand why so many people get animals just to put them in a shelter months later sometimes it makes you wonder who's in control the parents or the kids. My kids have been bugging me about getting pets for two years now and I kept telling them no until recently. Why change my mind now? because my life had calmed down to the point that I could devote some time to pets because I knew my kids weren't really going to take care of them at least not completely I am trying to get them to show some responsibility for them but I would never bring pets into my house unless I was prepared for the work. Parents need to expect that they will be taking care of the pet then be pleasantly surprised if the child ends up doing the work I wish I could do what you do I have always been a great animal lover and it makes me sad to see how many pets make it from the pet store to the shelters in such a short time. there are 4 ferrets in a shelter close to me that are less than 10 weeks old that lasted a long time  makes me want to go snatch them up but I don't have time or space for more |
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Post by 40andcounting on May 17, 2010 19:29:42 GMT -5
It's very unfortunate, it goes for ALL animals. People see them on TV and think they can handle it, wrong!
Unfortunately I'm bringing some bad news, it's 1:24AM here and the little Ferret who was not doing so great unfortunately passed away at the vets. I'd taken him in this morning, explained the conditions he'd been kept in, he was awfully thin, his fur had patches missing, it was terrible. The vet promised they would do everything they could to save him, but lack of water and food and being handled like he was killed him, he was so small and thin, I can't stop thinking about him. It's going to be a long night ahead, I'll not be able to sleep now. Other two Ferrets are now in the same condition as he was, they got bad over night but aren't as thin as he was, I've done my best and I hope they make it.
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Post by nwheather on May 17, 2010 19:41:41 GMT -5
I am so sorry to hear about the little guy & I hope the other two pull through!
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Post by Heather on May 17, 2010 22:11:10 GMT -5
Poor wee souls. Candles are lit for healing and a travelling candle for the little one who has decided to make the trip to the bridge How can people be so cruel? What does it take to give an animal some water and food? What does it take to hold a little one and give something of oneself? How heartbreaking. Please know that we're thinking of you and your little rescues. Good luck, please keep us posted. Heartbreak is eased when shared ciao |
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Post by carnivorouszoo on May 19, 2010 12:54:07 GMT -5
I am so sorry for your loss. I know he was a recent rescue but still. For those of us who really care ALL loss is hard. I thank goodness I got to my two before they got that bad :*(
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