vkp23
Going Natural
Posts: 192
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Post by vkp23 on Jan 3, 2011 9:39:37 GMT -5
I'm at the point of wanting to pull my hair out!! Over the past few days I have called and called and called the ferret shelters here and NONE of them will call or e-mail me back! I have offered to take on ferrets who need new homes from other sources and no one will respond. I have one female I got from the pet store and she needs a friend. I originally wanted to adopt from a shelter but they are SO hard to find. I wasn't able to find one until after I got my little Miko. Plus I paid almost $200 for my little female and IMHO that's steep. I don't like the idea of getting another ferret from the pet store because #1 I don't like the idea of encouraging breeding mills. And #2 there are so many homeless fur baby's that need a home. WHY WONT THEY CALL ME BACK OR ANSWER THEIR PHONES!! I'm sorry I just needed a rant.
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Post by Heather on Jan 3, 2011 11:47:33 GMT -5
That's ok...rant. It is an unfortunate part of rescue. I don't understand it though. They're up to their ears in ferrets (I used to be on their forum, until I discovered I don't do anything the way they do )Since the economic downturn, shelters are overloaded with fuzzes and some of these are kits. There have been a couple of kritter dumps from breeders too. I'm not a shelter I'm a hospice Anyway, that doesn't help you right now, sorry. One of the things you might try doing is seeing who is the head of the shelter and contact them directly. Unfortunately, shelters like ferret breeders don't seem to be big on returning calls and I don't know why. I always return calls even if it's to say I don't have any one. You don't mention where you're from (you don't have to be specific), there are some people on here with contacts so somebody may know somebody....if you know what I mean Good luck with your search, the shelters are full so it's not for the lack of fuzzes ciao
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Post by angelfish on Jan 3, 2011 12:19:17 GMT -5
I had the same problem when I was looking. I filled out several applications and calls and nothing. The least they could do was to was let me know that they didn't want to adopt out to me. I ended up scouring Craigslist and found my 3 babies that way.
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Post by jacksmomma on Jan 3, 2011 12:25:52 GMT -5
Same here. Waited and waited and waited for some of the local shelters to adopt out a ferret. I waited about a year, gave up and bought one at the petstore. Even applications to be a volunteer go ignored; they seem to never have a problem cashing my checks (donations) quickly though
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Post by sunnyberra on Jan 3, 2011 15:46:44 GMT -5
Sympathies - I tried shelters/rescues, too, and had no luck, myself. It worked out, though, because I wouldn't have gotten my sweet lil girl (in icon), and then, well. Craig's List :-\
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vkp23
Going Natural
Posts: 192
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Post by vkp23 on Jan 3, 2011 16:44:19 GMT -5
Thanks much guys! I have tried craigs list and the only person who had a ferret for adopt was too far from me and wanted crazy tons of money too since he/she was selling the cage and what not with it. I am in NE Georgia (Athens area). sorry I didn't mention that before. Yeah if any of you have a shelter or know some one who does 100 miles or less away from Athens let me know. OR if any one needs a home for a ferret and is in the same distance or can meet half way let me know. I want to start Miko on a raw soon and I'd prefer to start both (or more) on the switch at the same time. Not start one on the switch and have to take steps back to start the other too. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one though. You'd think they would want to find homes for the ferrets.
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Post by rarnold18 on Jan 3, 2011 17:02:23 GMT -5
I understand you frustrations, I know that my local rescues won't adopt out to families with small kids and I have 1 that is under 5 so that leaves me out. Almost all of my Fuzz were adopted off of Craigslist, some were free others were not...The only one not from Craigslist was Gypsy and I adopted her from Animal Control
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Post by sherrylynne on Jan 4, 2011 1:21:05 GMT -5
Playing the "devil's advocate" here. From what I understand(from reading FML, etc), yes, the shelters are overcrowded. But also, because of that, they have less and less time to answer phones, emails, etc, because the ferrets are simply taking all the time they have. And it can be a few days before they can physically manage to get around to doing so, simply because they have SO many to care for, and so few volunteers. Many of them have 50- 100 ferrets they are trying to look after, frequently with just the help of family members when it's available. Please give it a couple of weeks, and just keep calling/emailing, and if you know the physical address of the shelter, ring the doorbell. The worst that can happen is they tell you they don't have time for you right now, but if you are offering a helping hand, I'd be surprised at that.
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Post by Jackie on Jan 4, 2011 2:04:55 GMT -5
I was going to suggest the same thing as sherrylynne - visiting in person is sometimes the easiest way to get in touch with a shelter.
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rahrah
Going Natural
Posts: 134
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Post by rahrah on Jan 4, 2011 13:45:17 GMT -5
Yeah, I've had a hard time getting a hold of shelters too. I've found it with not only ferrets but rabbits and rats I've tried to adopt. There are several small animal shelters in my area and none seem to want to talk to me They must be really busy
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vkp23
Going Natural
Posts: 192
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Post by vkp23 on Jan 4, 2011 21:23:07 GMT -5
Well I found a yahoo group for one of the rescues and posted there. I did hear back from a couple of the people and they said the main shelter owner has been out of town. Makes since now. One of the lady's kind of put me off a little though. When I mentioned in my original post that I would prefer a ferret with no health problems due to lack of experience and the fact I'm busy with two kids (one about to start home school in a month or so) and being I'm about to start on the switch to raw that I already have a hard time remembering to take my own meds (I have clinical depression, under active thyroid and an insulin resistance that has caused PCOS) And feel it would be unfair for me to take on a ferret with a health issue when I know little about them yet. She says I shouldn't get any more ferrets. OK well I don't want Miko being alone too much longer (she needs ferret buds who "speak her language". Humans can't give ALL the proper interaction a fert needs cause we ain't ferts! LOL) while I learn about the illnesses and how to handle them. And having a healthy one will give me time to learn. I'm a research freak and can answer any question about mental illness (since I have depression and my mother is Bi-polar and has border line personality disorder) human development during pregnancy, child birth, C-sections, VBAC and a countless number of other things since I research the crap out of stuff. I did my home work before I got Miko and am well aware of the fact they can and do get sick. I just haven't learned the specifics of these illnesses yet. And I feel it would be unfair to the ferret for me to take it on when I know little about these illnesses and don't have the time right at the moment to do all the other things coming up all at once in my life AND try and properly treat an ill animal. It's not fair to the fur baby. Just cause I don't know how to deal with it RIGHT THIS moment doesn't mean I shouldn't have one, right? I mean, I'm learning which is why I wanna go raw. I highly doubt Miko will suddenly tomorrow come down with an illness (not that is CAN'T happen, just not likely) and even IF she or any other ferret did, it's not like I wouldn't take it to the vet. Sheesh!! I may be young but I'm NOT stupid! what do you guys think?? Should I NOT get another because I don't think at this moment in time it would be fair to the fert for me to take on a sick one??? If you ask me I'm being responsible.
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Post by miamiferret2 on Jan 4, 2011 22:01:26 GMT -5
That is incredible. You'd think that being as overrun ad they are that they'd call you right back. Geez. Do you have petco in Georgia? The petcos in Miami all have animals in the back that they adopt out. Little known fact. Actually our closest petco if you go in there to buy a hamster, etc., they usually try their best to convince you to adopt one from the back. They make their money on petfood anyway. Sometimes they have ferrets because so many idiots buy ferrets and then try to get rid of them. They also have shelters that go to petco certain days to do adoptions. Our local ferret shelter does adoptions at petco. Also, call your regular pet shelter. When people find a ferret, they often don't know what to do with it or where to take it. The ferret will then get surrendered to a cat and dog shelter. Unfortunately, the shelters won't go out of their way for a ferret and they usually are euthanized fast. My friend is a vet at one of the shelters and he sometimes sees ferrets that are turned in. But he usually tips me off whenever they get one. So far they've all been adopted out.
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candiceboggs
Going Natural
Ferrets are nature's anti-depressant.
Posts: 187
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Post by candiceboggs on Jan 5, 2011 4:05:03 GMT -5
She says I shouldn't get any more ferrets. OK well I don't want Miko being alone too much longer (she needs ferret buds who "speak her language". Humans can't give ALL the proper interaction a fert needs cause we ain't ferts! LOL) I'm a research freak and can answer any question about mental illness (since I have depression and my mother is Bi-polar and has border line personality disorder) human development during pregnancy, child birth, C-sections, VBAC and a countless number of other things since I research the crap out of stuff. I did my home work before I got Miko and am well aware of the fact they can and do get sick. I just haven't learned the specifics of these illnesses yet. And I feel it would be unfair to the ferret for me to take it on when I know little about these illnesses and don't have the time right at the moment to do all the other things coming up all at once in my life AND try and properly treat an ill animal. It's not fair to the fur baby. Just cause I don't know how to deal with it RIGHT THIS moment doesn't mean I shouldn't have one, right? I mean, I'm learning which is why I wanna go raw. I highly doubt Miko will suddenly tomorrow come down with an illness (not that is CAN'T happen, just not likely) and even IF she or any other ferret did, it's not like I wouldn't take it to the vet. Sheesh!! I may be young but I'm NOT stupid! what do you guys think?? Should I NOT get another because I don't think at this moment in time it would be fair to the fert for me to take on a sick one??? If you ask me I'm being responsible. From one research freak to another I think it's great you want another ferret. Just remember that some ferrets DON'T like other ferrets and are better off as single ferrets; ferrets are not colonial or pack animals, so you are not damaging a ferret mentally if it is an only ferret. Some will bond to one another and lose the will to live when its friend dies, it's true. I believe in these instances ferrets are very exceptional animals because they can be as flexible or as complicated as a pet enthusiast would like to make them. A single ferret does require a lot of time though - and not all people can give that as hurricanekatt points out in her single ferret post; in that situation two makes it a lot easier for the owner and easier on the ferret. I really feel it just depends on your situation and the ferret. As for for this lady, who does she think she is to make judgments like that about you? First off, this is your decision and only you know your limitations. You seem very reasonable and the fact that you're so research-minded shows this. Gah. Don't feel bad; the legitimate ferret shelters/networks in my area will only adopt out to people who feed a veterinarian approved/recommended commercial diet and vaccinate according to their standards yearly as well, which sort of leaves me stuck. It seems as though a lot of ferret shelters are either bad situations out adopting with odd people working there, or they enforce a lot of things that should be a personal, conscious decision and instead turns into an invasion of privacy and judgment. Sending good luck your way!
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vkp23
Going Natural
Posts: 192
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Post by vkp23 on Jan 5, 2011 8:25:08 GMT -5
She says I shouldn't get any more ferrets. OK well I don't want Miko being alone too much longer (she needs ferret buds who "speak her language". Humans can't give ALL the proper interaction a fert needs cause we ain't ferts! LOL) I'm a research freak and can answer any question about mental illness (since I have depression and my mother is Bi-polar and has border line personality disorder) human development during pregnancy, child birth, C-sections, VBAC and a countless number of other things since I research the crap out of stuff. I did my home work before I got Miko and am well aware of the fact they can and do get sick. I just haven't learned the specifics of these illnesses yet. And I feel it would be unfair to the ferret for me to take it on when I know little about these illnesses and don't have the time right at the moment to do all the other things coming up all at once in my life AND try and properly treat an ill animal. It's not fair to the fur baby. Just cause I don't know how to deal with it RIGHT THIS moment doesn't mean I shouldn't have one, right? I mean, I'm learning which is why I wanna go raw. I highly doubt Miko will suddenly tomorrow come down with an illness (not that is CAN'T happen, just not likely) and even IF she or any other ferret did, it's not like I wouldn't take it to the vet. Sheesh!! I may be young but I'm NOT stupid! what do you guys think?? Should I NOT get another because I don't think at this moment in time it would be fair to the fert for me to take on a sick one??? If you ask me I'm being responsible. From one research freak to another I think it's great you want another ferret. Just remember that some ferrets DON'T like other ferrets and are better off as single ferrets; ferrets are not colonial or pack animals, so you are not damaging a ferret mentally if it is an only ferret. Some will bond to one another and lose the will to live when its friend dies, it's true. I believe in these instances ferrets are very exceptional animals because they can be as flexible or as complicated as a pet enthusiast would like to make them. A single ferret does require a lot of time though - and not all people can give that as hurricanekatt points out in her single ferret post; in that situation two makes it a lot easier for the owner and easier on the ferret. I really feel it just depends on your situation and the ferret. As for for this lady, who does she think she is to make judgments like that about you? First off, this is your decision and only you know your limitations. You seem very reasonable and the fact that you're so research-minded shows this. Gah. Don't feel bad; the legitimate ferret shelters/networks in my area will only adopt out to people who feed a veterinarian approved/recommended commercial diet and vaccinate according to their standards yearly as well, which sort of leaves me stuck. It seems as though a lot of ferret shelters are either bad situations out adopting with odd people working there, or they enforce a lot of things that should be a personal, conscious decision and instead turns into an invasion of privacy and judgment. Sending good luck your way! And see that was EXACTLY the point I was trying to make with her. I CAN NOT take on more than I feel I can handle. With my depression I KNOW when I get overly stressed (usually when I forget to take my meds too many days in a row) I tend to be a lump of mud. Depression can really suck all the energy our of you, and when that happens I have a hard enough time making sure my children get the attention they need much less a sick ferret. It wouldn't be fair to the fert. Now Miko IS NOT neglected. She gets two 2-4 hour play times a day. Once with the kids, and once after the kids go to bed so she can play with out them up her butt. And she KNOWS when it's play time too. She'll come to the cage door and scratch when the kids get up, and when the hubby comes home she springs from her bed goes to the potty then looks at him like "Ok, it's kid free play time daddy!" And on the week end she basically isn't put in her cage til bed time since the hubs is around to keep an eye on her with me. But when I get in a depressive state I worry of not giving her the attention she needs on that day. Which is one of the reasons for wanting a play mate for her so she is NEVER lonely. And having a sick ferret would only add to the stress. But I mean it's not like I get in the non functional depression all the time. Just every once in a while. (At the MOST twice a month and last only a day) Like I said, if I didn't have a bunch of stuff happening at once (starting home school with a very head strong little girl, Tax time, having to make plans to keep our chickens safe cause somethings been eating them, starting Miko raw, etc) and knew more about how to deal with the illnesses and what not, I would have NO problem with a fert with an issue. But I just can't right now. IMO knowing when to say no to a pet because you don't think you could handle it is MORE humane than taking one on because some one said you should, for the heck of it, or to prove something. To save face. And I don't think people should be criticized for knowing their limits. I know mine, and I WILL NOT go past them.
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Post by miamiferret2 on Jan 5, 2011 8:28:01 GMT -5
I only have one ferret now and he's perfectly happy. he thinks he's human. Either that or he thinks that we are big hairless adrenal ferrets....lol. well, having only one ferret make it easier to figure out which one has the bad poop! Lol.
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