FERRET-SEARCH@LISTSERV.FERRETMAILINGLIST.ORG
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Tue, 7 Aug 2001 12:17:26 EDT |
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This is taking everything I have to write, but I think a point can be made
and a few lessons learned. I had my first accidental death this weekend -
after 17 years and way over 400 ferrets - I can't believe I let his hazard
slip by. I also thought I'd share a couple close calls that have happened
throughout the years.
We had a hammock that was like a puffed out square and it suspended from
one fairly large loop. It got put in the cage as a sleep sack. One of the
shelter ferrets got in the loop and must have freaked and twisted it around
his middle - strangling himself. I'm now reevaluating whether any loops or
strings should even be in the cage. I don't want to see this happen again,
so I am purging all the hammocks with strings. I am also purging all
hammocks where the fleece is worn thin. I did have a ferret dig the worn
fleece and make a hole and get stuck between the fleece and material.
Thank God I was there.
I believe I wrote about this one that happened awhile ago. I have a really
big sleep sack shaped like a bottle (the neck is narrow) and two of my
ferrets got inside it but 6 others piled on top of it. The fellows inside
couldn't get out and started panting. The ones inside were one of my old
guys who couldn't budge them and I guess the younger one couldn't move the
ferrets off the top either. Again thank God I was home.
Also latches on cages start to give over the years. They start to allow
some play in the door. I had one ferret get his head through the slack,
but the door sprang back on his neck pinning him there. He was gasping for
air and would have died had I not been there. So now we put extra clip
type hardware on so they can't get their head through. Check your cage,
can a ferret push on it and possibly get his head through?
I kills me to learn a lesson from a senseless death, I feel like I let
poor Heath down as I am here to protect them. Please this week clean out
your hammocks - do an inspection on them. Don't hang on to worn items
that may cause harm. Please don't learn the hard way like I did.
Faith
Ferrets R #1 Shelter & Rescue
[Posted in FML issue 3503]
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