What percentage of ferrets (from good homes) wind up in shelters?

[Jandasdad]

I've been collecting ferret magazines and books ("Ferrets for Dummies" too) for about ten years now. I've lived in California all my life, and chosen not to own a ferret here with the risks so high.

But sometimes even dreams come true. In a couple of weeks, my family will make a permanent move to Indiana, where ferrets are legal. We'll be within comfortable distance to ferret shelters, veterinarians, and clubs. One of the first "fun things" we're looking forward to is some volunteer time at a shelter south of Indianapolis.

On ferret fansites, nearly everyone recommends adopting from shelters. I can see lots of reasons to. Our first, or a bonded pair, will probably come from one.

- What percentage of ferrets from well-prepared homes/families wind up in shelters?

- How do we know if we'll be suitable ferret-parents?

We have ferret vet and surgery money stashed away, a basement we will be converting to ferret-proofed living space (for them and for us), time and love to share, and serious interest.

I am hoping that ferrets in shelters DON'T tend to be from people who put a lot of time and energy into their pets (before and after they adopt them). I am hoping that ferrets in shelters tend to be mostly a problem of lack of education and the way they're sold in petstores (The "Hamster Factor").

I watched the shelter slideshow/video (link is in the "A loving home for every ferret" area) with my family last night. It had us all in tears. My oldest daughter (8) and I routinely surf shelter sites, and have a big heart for the lost ones.

If ferrets in general tend to wind up in shelters even when they're from well-prepared homes/families, it's something else for my family and I to consider seriously before adopting.

Thanks so much for your help.

-- J&A's Dad

[KokosDaddy]

First, welcome here.. We hope that you find the site useful and informative, as well as fun. We also hope that you return here after your move.

Getting on to your questions, you'll never know what kind of parent you'll be to a ferret or a hooman kid until you take the plunge and do it for yourself. If you have collected magazines and informed yourself for as long as you have - then you already have a pretty good idea of what its going to take. As far as what percentage of good homes give up furkids, I would hope that that number is very low but I would imagine that determining such a value would be impossible.

We've rescued kids from decent homes that no longer wanted them, and from horrible homes that were mistreating them. In either case, there is an element of neglect there, either from not caring for them adequately, or not caring enough to provide a home that will cherish them for their whole lives. Good kids are a result of positive upbringing and positive reinforcement whether the kid is covered with fur or not.

If you do become a ferret owner, and make the commitment to care for furkids.... make sure that its a commitment that you are willing to live with for the lifetime of the ferret. They have no choice as to who cares for them. But in my opinion, how you treat others (including animals) will make a vast difference in your well being, karma, ever after, etc.

Again, welcome here! Please feel free to make this community your own.

[Phil]

welcome! u sound like u would be a wonderful ferret parent. i used to live in california myself and i now live in a small town in southwest va with my wife, a ferret, and a few other pets,most of which are ILLEGAL in california!

welcome to the community! let us all know when u get your ferret...we'll all be very happy for you! :)

[JuniorsMommy]

Hello Jandasdad,and welcome to loving ferrets!It sounds to me like you would make a great ferret parent.(in my opinion). i also hope that after you move you would come back to this site and give us an update on your soon to be fuzzy family!we all love to talk to each other and share pics of our babies! If you have questions about your fuzzies this is a great place to get answers!i don't know about the the percentage that end up in shelters.I have not had the chance to rescue a fuzzy baby yet...i do hope to rescue one some day soon though.

[ferretmommy]

Welcome Jandasdad (and hooman family)!! I agree with everyone- from your posting I have no doubt that you and your family would be a fantastic and loving family for fuzzies! The fact that you are parents shows your committment, dedication, and heart for parenting fuzzies. What's even more wonderful is the fuzzies will have your kids to love, play, and cherish them too!:D

[Loving Ferrets]

How do we know if we'll be suitable ferret-parents?
Signs that might be a suitable ferret-parent:

- You collect ferret magazines even though you don't own a ferret.
- You own "Ferrets for Dummies" even though you don't own a ferret.
- You join a ferret community on the internet, and you don't own a ferret.
- Before moving to a new state, you already know where the shelters, clubs and veterinarians are.
- Your idea of "fun" is volunteering at a ferret shelter.
- You surf ferret shelter sites with your daughter, even though you aren't planning to get one - yet.

LoL - My god, has there ever been anybody MORE suitable to being a ferret-parent than you, Jandasdad? I don't think so.

Congratulations on your future move, and I am so happy that somebody like you and your family will give a loving home to some shelter ferrets. :D

[Jandasdad]

/laughing!

Thanks everyone! Your encouragement is sooo much fun for us to read today. We're right in the middle of packing/sorting/throwing out hy00ge piles of stuff we have accumulated over 14 years. The moving Pod comes Tuesday so it's go go GO! around here.

We're about to lose web access until the 27th, so here's a story of how we survived being ferretless in California.

I got hooked on ferrets before we had kids, and collected books and other ferret stuff instead. One Father's day my wife grinningly gave me a black-eyed-white ferret plush toy. That's as close as you get until our kids are bigger and we leave California, she said.

Today, my daughters (8 and 6) carry that toy around on a purple leash - H harness and everything. Wherever we go, they're babysitting it. It has different names and personalities depending on who has control of it. It's Tickle, Starbucks, Dookdook, or Took.

The girls practice holding it, responding correctly when it steals their things or needs to find a corner, and Jessie (8) reads the magazines and books with it. She's too young to be a primary caregiver (my responsibility), but she and her sister are gentle and calm, and will make great ferret-playmates.

-- J&A's Dad