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Post by whipple on Jul 25, 2008 2:28:00 GMT -5
Ok, so a lady emailed me telling me that she has 4 ferts that she cannot keep much longer. She did not give me a time frame. Anyhow, the first three are nuetered, but the last one is not. Tomorrow I am going to see what the price is to nueter a male. Anyhow, I simply emailed her back asking if she was in desperate need of a new home for the ferts or if she could keep them until a new home is found (which I could help her do).
See, I would love to take them and rehome them. And I *could*. The only issue is...money. Right now it's tight. I'm on Mat leave for a year, so we are on one income for awhile. I would advise her to take them to another rescue, but she doesn't want to. It's exactly why she asked me if I knew of any *homes*.
So should I take them? Or take them and place them in a rescue myself, or what? I have a feeling these ferts aren't too happy. She says that the one boy is alone in a cage while in heat, due obviously, to an aggressive mood.
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Post by josiesmom on Jul 25, 2008 5:36:57 GMT -5
It might help to know where the ferrets are that need rehoming. If you bring them into your home can you keep an unaltered male separate from your other ferrets for at least the few months it may take for his hormones to filter OUT of his system? A neuter doesn't make an instantly calm non aggressive male. Depending on his age- he may have already developed strong male pattern behaviors. Will the original owner be willing to defray the cost of surgery if you take the ferrets in? I'd think getting him into a home by himself during and after the surgery might offer the least impact on other ferrets.
Cheers,
Kim
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Post by Heather on Jul 25, 2008 10:11:21 GMT -5
What Kim says is true. I found myself taking in two unaltered males, 2 yrs ago. They are aggressive until they come out of season, particularly to my altered boys, though Odin did indeed get a real passion for Lady B (my alpha female) and my pillows  ewww. Now in my case both boys (when they're not in rut) are lovebugs. I was able to place both right into my business after the alter. I did have one advantage with this rescue in that I had cared for both these boys when their owner first lost her husband and needed some breathing space. So, I knew these boys when they weren't in rut as well (both were rescued by this woman from another source) I also think that Odin was coming to the end of his rut. Thor, this was his first rut (he was only 1 yr old). Odin was at least 5 yrs old when I got him. I think he was probably someones stud male who escaped. We don't get a lot of unaltered ferrets up here. Breeders are not common and if we want breeder type ferrets we usually have to make arrangements to bring them across the border. Having limited funds could present you with a problem as alter prices seem to vary greatly from place to place. Having limited funds and ferrets can be a real pain too  I agree with Kim, see if you can make arrangements to have the woman either foot the alter bill, for taking the ferrets or at least foot some of the bill. You are after all doing her a favour and some rescues do ask you to pay a fee for drop offs. I don't I'm a sap  When I got Odin, part of the problem was the woman couldn't pay for his alter. The attitudes that she was having problems with were easily solved by the alter. I had to take on the whole price of that rescue. The joys of rescue  I wouldn't stop doing it anyway. I love my furbabies. ciao |
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Post by whipple on Jul 25, 2008 16:26:22 GMT -5
So she tells me in the email that she cannot afford the $500 to nueter the fert. Now I know that it does not cost that much, and if a vet is trying to charge that, better start searching.
Anyhow, I have yet to make those phone calls, but I also have not got an email back yet. So I should get on those calls. Besides I gotta do some more pricing for vets in my area.
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Post by cristina on Jul 25, 2008 19:18:09 GMT -5
What area do you live in...I would be willing to take in a ferret or 2, in my area it only costs around $200, so I dont know what vet is trying to charge $500, thats outrageous! I mean Im guessing you dont live anywhere near me lol, I havent met alot of ferret people in Michigan, but in case your close like Illinois, Indiana or Ohio I would be willing to make the drive for these babies. Let me know!
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Post by whipple on Jul 26, 2008 2:10:38 GMT -5
Actually I'm north of the border. I live just west of Toronto, ON. And unfortunately I do not drive.
I did finally recieve an email back from her, this was her response:
"i just have so much going on at my place, with kids and work, and i feel i am not being fair to them, they are not getting out like they should, and they are getting costly, my unnetered male is a trouble maker and just needs more attention, it is not fair that i have to keep him seperate most times"
I am not sure how to respond. I do have someone offering me a cage and some supplies in the case I do take in some rescues, so thats not an issue. But I could use food to tide them over for a couple weeks at least. Otherwise I could very likely take them in. As for neutering the boy, that I could figure out in time. I do have to take my two in for testing, and depending on the costs I could likely take them too.
I think I will ask her their health histories first.
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Post by Heather on Jul 26, 2008 23:21:51 GMT -5
If you're really stuck get in touch with Randy Belair at Ferret Aid. She may know where you can get some decent vets for a fair price. You actually have more good vets out your way than we have east of the city. My vet charges the same as she would to alter a cat $150.
I would guess the boy will be coming out of rut shortly. I think they're basically finished come Aug/Sept. and don't get lusty again until Feb/March?? I don't know for sure as I've never had to hold one over their season. I'd offer to help you out but I'm east of the city. I really love my 2 late alters they're real sweethearts.
ciao
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Post by suds on Jul 27, 2008 9:45:35 GMT -5
I dont know about Canada and most staes in the US but here in delaware county . Pa the SPCA will help you get all pets spayed or nueterd , {even ferrets I asked ) if its a rescue they will pay the whole thing if its not a rescue they will pay up to a $100 towards it . there feeling is it would cost them 3X's as much if they had to border them so in the long run its cheaper. i dont know if you have something similar up there but it never hurts to call and ask  |
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Post by aleronferrets on Jul 27, 2008 11:09:30 GMT -5
Intact male ferrets are very misunderstood creatures for sure, probably because most people have little to no hands on experience with them. While most intact males (but not all) have to be housed separately during breeding season, they do not become crazed aggressive killers do to being intact. Mine are separated right now mostly because they will pester the girls, spayed or not with non-stop "flirting". Although I have had intact males who could live with another intact males year round, that is not considered the norm and most will fight with other males during breeding season. The intact male behaviors you are talking about (I am assuming you mean marking, flirting and fighting?) not only go away when the ferret is altered, they also go away when breeding season is over. My intact males have always been able to live in the group for at least part of the year.
Are you taking these ferrets to rehome? If so, there are options for the neutering. You could have the adopters sign a contract to neuter him within X days of taking him home or he will be returned (known as neuter contract). Or you could have them pay for his neuter as an adoption fee prior to taking him home.
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ferretmaster
Going Natural
Ferretopia Ferret Forum[/color]
Ferret Slave
Posts: 120
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Post by ferretmaster on Jul 27, 2008 11:40:55 GMT -5
Hi, If you could provide some more info on the location and the ferrets ages, color, and with permission i will cross post this message on my site, we have some members from up north that might be able to help.
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Post by whipple on Jul 27, 2008 15:00:11 GMT -5
She still has not got back to my last email, so I still am not sure where this is going. I only asked that she provide me with enough food to cover a couple weeks, and thats all I wanted from her. I will take them, and figure what to do from there. You have all given me great tips and resources. I am not a fan of Sundays since nothing is open for me to phone around. But I did find out that there is a ferret vet in my town (Brampton) and he's just up the street. Walking distance for someone who has mroe energy than me. I'd take the bus. But its great knowing one is so close.
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