vkp23
Going Natural
Posts: 192
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Post by vkp23 on Jan 7, 2011 22:33:53 GMT -5
That's it I give up! I have called and called, E-mailed, posted on the shelter forums and anything and everything you can think of to get in proper contact with the shelter owners. Short of showing up at the shelter which would be hard for me to do since I live 100 miles away from the nearest shelter. I can't afford (with gas prices going up) to go back and forth to shelters just to find out they charge as much as pet stores. Which I was told they do by a person who E-mailed me about adopting from her shelter. She offered 2 ferrets to me for free that are being given up by the owner. But only on the stipulation they are in the condition she was told they are in. I'd only have to come there and pick them up. If they are worse off than what she was told or not the age she was told they are, then I'm not going for it. Since she doesn't know anything about them I'd be taking a risk with them and may end up putting Miko at risk too. You never know. But I have tried to E-mail her today to get more info from her and she isn't responding. Sooooooo...It seems I'm going to be stuck getting a friend for Miko from the pet store I don't get it. People push and push to adopt (for ANY animal) and then either no one talks to you or they charge outrageous prices. With today's economy you'd think they would try harder to find homes for them by charging lower prices than the pet stores. I'm so frustrated by this whole thing! I just wanna pull my hair out!
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Post by Heather on Jan 7, 2011 22:59:52 GMT -5
I realize you're frustrated and if you're looking for guaranteed health and age and temperament then as much as I hate to say it, perhaps a purchased pet store ferret is indeed what you need, though that's no guarantee (they've been known to lie about ages too ). What about craigslist or some of the other add lists? There have been a number of people who've purchased/rescued ferrets off there. I know that a number of people who run shelters on a list I"m on have been complaining about the number of ferrets they have in their shelters. I really understand about being busy, not enough hands to help clean litter boxes and care for sick ferrets, no one to answer the phones but I'm sorry...when you start taking in that many ferrets that's a business too, you have to make time for the phones or at least to answer messages and emails. The only way you can continue to rescue is to place. Either that or you set a limit and you close your doors until you have space again. The only way you can continue to rescue and bring in ferrets is to place ferrets. If you don't contact the public, you don't return their calls and emails they will turn their back on you. I'm disappointed in what I've been hearing here. Especially after hearing the complaints on another list where they don't know what they're going to do as so many are coming in and none are going out. Something is indeed wrong....I'm not sure what anyone can do to make it better. Have you tried your vet or any of the local vets...they often have a great ear to what's coming and going. Often clients state that they're looking to rehome their fuzzes, if not to the vet the admin there. Is this a specific local, a certain state, county, province that isn't responding? or are you all finding this across the country? ciao
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Post by miamiferret2 on Jan 7, 2011 23:11:47 GMT -5
I got my ferret from a pet store but only because I took one look at his beautiful sweet face and I could not leave him there. he was tiny, skinny, malnourished, taken from his mama too soon, he had snoogers coming out of his nose and there were other big bully ferrets in there terrorizing him. His milk teeth were not even out yet. I have his baby teeth. Every time one would fall the toof fairy left him a treat. The ferrets at the petshops are not always so healthy. And, even if you get one from a pet store you should quarantine him for a few weeks to make sure he's ok. But, I understand where you are coming from. It is very hard to bring a pet home only to have short-lived excitement bc he is sick.
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vkp23
Going Natural
Posts: 192
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Post by vkp23 on Jan 8, 2011 2:46:57 GMT -5
As I said before I really don't have a problem with a sick/older ferret. I mean they need love too. I just didn't think it would be fair to the ferret for me to take on one with an illness and I know little to nothing about the illnesses yet. As far as an older one goes the only thing I worried most about that, was for Miko. She's so young and I'd hate for her furry friends to die on her and her sink into a depression. Otherwise I would have NO problem with a senior. The lady with the two ferrets in AL DID finally E-mail me. She forwarded the E-mails the lady sent her and they sound like they are in great health. The female sounds a little older than 2 years but that's ok since the male sounds younger. And she said their names are Timmy (Tim for short) and Zip. Which is kinda cool since my fave pet I had as a kid was a wiener dog named Tiny Tim. If all goes well I'll be picking them up Sunday. Providing the snow storms we're supposed to be getting don't roll in sooner than Sunday night. I don't know about around the country but I know all the ferret shelters here in GA are not bothering to talk to people. I even left a message on the shelters forum that if some one could tell me what the price was for the adoption so I'd know whether or not to bother any more this charade of calling to talk to some one. And still one one answered. I did try craigslist and nothing. I even checked with animal control and the humane society. Nothing. Hopefully this will work out with the two fur baby's that need a home. Wish me luck!
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Post by Heather on Jan 8, 2011 2:55:26 GMT -5
Fingers are crossed and 12 little ones have paws crossed in hopes that more little ferrets find their forever homes Good luck ciao
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vkp23
Going Natural
Posts: 192
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Post by vkp23 on Jan 9, 2011 19:13:27 GMT -5
Well I picked up my new babies today. And let me tell you I'm mad as all get out! These baby's are the sweetest ferrets that have obviously been SO badly neglected! The shelter lady had just got them yesterday afternoon so it's not her fault. It's the previous owner. They are SO STARVED for affection it's sickening. Their bellies are red and their coat feels tacky with filth which tells me they were kept in squallier. And they are SO THIN! I mean I know you're supposed to be able to feel the ribs a little but the boy's ribs are poking out! The owner said all they would eat is this high end stuff. which Yeah it's good to feed high end stuff but I wouldn't think to the point they were starving! I haven't read on a single switching thread anything about letting them get skinny for the sake of switching. Miko has her slim normal weight but these guys are are just so thin. Her ribs don't poke out like these guys. Also the boy had runny yellowish seedy poo (like baby poo) and there wasn't much of it. Is this something I need to be worried about or is it possibly from being in poor conditions and/or stress? Should I get some pedialite?
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Post by miamiferret2 on Jan 9, 2011 21:50:02 GMT -5
oh those poor babies. do half pedialyte half water and give it to them with a big dropper. are they eating? it could be from stress. intestinal upset sometimes causes the yellow mucousy poop. they have been through hell. so much stress being schlepped around. and now they are finally home and they will have a great life!!
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Post by Heather on Jan 9, 2011 23:15:33 GMT -5
Not eating will also give those types of poops. Stress can indeed give those types of poops but be aware too that it sounds to me that they've not had food for a few days, prior to being dumped. The sticky coat isn't necessarily caused by filth, it's caused by starvation. It's grosse and it doesn't matter what you feed they're going to have stomach upset. Watch them closely, give rescue remedy in their water and on their ears. I would almost be tempted to switch them right away, only because no matter what you do you're going to have stomach upset. Watch for dehydration, when they're in this state it happens sooo fast. I use a chicken broth as an electrolyte balancer. It's really easy to make and they love it (you often have to fight with them to take pedialyte.) The recipe is 2 litres of broth (no gravy mixes pure chicken broth), 1 tbsp of sugar or honey (I use honey) and half a tsp of salt. Stir into boiling broth and cool. Good luck and keep us posted ciao
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vkp23
Going Natural
Posts: 192
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Post by vkp23 on Jan 10, 2011 0:22:29 GMT -5
They are eating good. The little boy is actually laying on the floor of the cage stuffing his face. They are both drinking really well. The problem I have right now with going out to get chicken broth or pedialite is it started snowing here like crazy and is already a couple inches think. Our drive way is crud and our car isn't built for snow trekking. Basically I'm stuck until our drive way lets us out. So, in the mean time is there anything I can do with what I've got to make sure he doesn't dehydrate? Like Heather, you mention chicken broth salt and honey. Can I dissolve some salt and sugar in water? These guys are so sweet and just want you to love and love on them. The little boy (Timmy) is a cuddle bug! Which is a nice change since Miko is a baby and isn't interested in a cuddle all she wants to do is play. And boy does Miko love her new play mates. I KNEW she needed some ferret buddies.
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Post by Heather on Jan 10, 2011 2:58:16 GMT -5
Yes, you can use sugar...sorry. The original recipe says either sugar or honey...I just use honey that's all I'm glad that they're settling in so well. I hope that the transitions move very smoothly for you. Thank you for taking these little lost souls in, they will thank you ciao
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vkp23
Going Natural
Posts: 192
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Post by vkp23 on Jan 10, 2011 3:19:10 GMT -5
OK yeah thank you! I'm going to do that then and get him to drink some with an eye dropper just to be safe. He'll probably be fine cause the shelter lady said it's normal when their brought into a new home, but better safe than sorry. And his poo is already getting a little firmer. But still I don't want him getting even a little dehydrated. They are all sleeping in mine and my husbands room buried in the baby blankets folded in the organizer we keep the kids clothes in. (the kids clothes are folded on the top where the ferrets can't get to them, but the blankets are on the bottom.)
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candiceboggs
Going Natural
Ferrets are nature's anti-depressant.
Posts: 187
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Post by candiceboggs on Jan 10, 2011 3:42:31 GMT -5
Congrats vkp23!
I totally understand what you're going through with the shelters. Even mention raw/natural rearing to them here and they won't say a word, even if you don't the network near me said "oh, someone will contact you shortly" then nothing. I'm so glad you found a couple babies!
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