>From:    Angela <[log in to unmask]>
>
>I have a dilemma and need some advice.  A woman I work with has a female
>roomate that owns two ferrets.  At first she just had one, with no cage,
>and allowed to roam free in the house 24/7.  A couple months later she
>got another ferret, I don't know how old either one is.
>
>They now have a cage, BUT....they have absolutely NO toys.  She says her
>dog is their toy, a doxie.  They have no litter pan in their cage.  She
>lets them poop and pee in the bottom of the cage and cleans it about
>ONCE A WEEK...OMG..I would die. ...
>
>The only thing I can think of is to go there with the girl I work with
>and while the roomate is out take them, and tell her they got out of the
>house.  It's happened before, they've escaped.  I don't think she'd be
>heartbroken.  However, I can't keep them, AND she'd probably go get more
>ferrets to replace them.
>
>WHAT SHOULD I DO??????  HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
 
Angela,
 
Maybe instead of simply removing the ferrets (which wouldn't be the best
way to handle it and could get you in to some trouble) you could go out
and get a water bottle for her ferrets and stick it in their cage along
with some better food and put a litter pan (with litter) in the bottom
of the cage to give her a hint!  lol Who knows?  Maybe it will shame her
into taking better care of them.  I don't think it's neccesarily wrong
for her to let them roam free a lot as long as they are kept safe, but I
agree with you that she should make sure they have plenty of water, good
food and litter.  I don't know how she can stand the smell for a solid
week like that.  *yuck*
 
I wouldn't just remove the ferrets, but I would have a talk with her in
a tactful way about things.  Animal control cannot even just remove an
animal usually unless under extreme circumstances.  Normally they have
to leave the person a notice first if they aren't home or have a search
warrant to enter the premises.  It's unlikely that they would just take
the ferrets while she's away and you could get in to trouble for doing
that, so I would advise against it for that reason.  Maybe if she comes
home from work to see them happily playing with toys and everything is
in better order she will be shamed in to doing things differently.  You
never know.  Might be worth a try, that is if you don't mind spending a
little of your own money to make a point.
[Posted in FML issue 4004]