Guys.
 
I've been reading the "bickering" going back and forth between everyone
the last few days about the blind ferrets-if I recall correctly, one was
put to sleep from some sort of pet store or shelter (though I think it's
more likely a store) and another was a pet that the owner decided to put
down.
 
How can ANYONE flame this owner for putting down a blind ferret?  The
owner was going by her own decision and assisted by a vet.  If I was a
first time ferret owner and mine was blind, I likely would have done the
same thing.  If she didn't have the information that I now know, trust
me, my decision would have been the same.  How can a ferret have quality
of life when they are blind?
 
I'll tell you guys how!  LOL, you all knew that one was coming.  I have
three ferrets to count this morning (getting #4 this afternoon, I am
rescuing him from a pet store...whole different story!).  I bought my
first, an albino, at a pet store.  I then discovered shelters.  I wholly
support shelters, one (ferret shelter) in particular, but I support them.
They do amazing work.  They make an unadoptable pet adoptable again (work
with them to retrain them properly), and work to make sure that you have
the right pet for you so that the critter won't have to go to another home
sometime down the road.  Anyway, I adopted Dante, my albino, from a store.
My second is Toby, whom I adopted from the shelter.  He is fantastic.
The whitest mitts I've ever seen!  When I went to the shelter and Shelter
Mom was introducing ferrets one by one to my Dante she brought out Toby,
and there was Paul as well.  Paul was Toby's playmate.  He is 8 years old,
blind AND deaf as well.  You know what?  He gives the two younger ones a
serious run for their money.  He plays, runs around like a madman, dooks
(I have heard him...has anyone ever heard a deaf ferret dook?  LOL),
tackles, pounces, and climbs just as well as the other two.  He really HAS
NO IDEA of his "handicap" (it is funny to watch when he is so into playing
with the other two, forgets where he is, turn around and bump into a wall
though LOL).  Shelter Mom told me that the MSPCA in Boston had Paul to
begin with and he had been found ABANDONDED IN A TRASH CAN.  Now, there is
no quality of life being abandonded in a trash can!  Paul and Toby had
bonded and I didn't have the heart to seperate them.
 
Ferrets are crafty little critters as we have all found out.  They are
good at figuring things out.  Same thing with blind or deaf (or blind AND
deaf!) guys.  Put them in a somewhat limited area (I have a four room
apartment and they have plenty of space to roam, and Paul does extremely
well) and they learn the territory.  Once secure in their home, they are
fine.  Had I not been educated about ferrets I would have made the choice
about putting mine down also .... but now we know better!
 
Thanks for letting me ramble on guys!
Sue
 
Dante "Ma! Froot Loops! Now!"
Toby "Pinned Ya!"
Paul "Wait...I'm OLD ? I'm DEAF? I'm BLIND TOO?? I don't believe you...
and I'm gonna go kick Dante and Toby's butt just to prove it!"
[Posted in FML issue 3562]