I have a shelter and most of my ferrets are very sweet.....However, I
have two biters.  One is doing much better, and I think will eventually
give up making me bleed.  The other one........Wallace, oh Wallace.
She's just plain mean.  She was making progress, a little progress.
Then.  It was ear cleaning day...
 
My son had her by the scruff, supporting her heinie, while I gently
pulled up the tip of her ear to clean.  OMG!  Somehow the little monkey
turned her head and bit me three times before I could even react.  The
last bite was so hard she went down to the bone (my finger swelled to
twice it's normal size).
 
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO????  My husband hates her....the children are
terrified of her, and I am at a loss.  Sometimes she doesn't bite, but
that is a rarity.  I know she must be biting out of fear, or something,
and I feel bad for her.
 
My son accidentally left a cage door unlocked and she made her way into a
different cage......My poor Mouse (a ferret)!!!!!!  He had cuts and bites
bleeding all over him....the attack only lasted about 20 seconds (I was
nearby) and she mangled him.  She doesn't attack her cagemate, but that
is the only creature that escapes.
 
Please, I need help with her.  Time out doesn't work.  No doesn't work
(and heaven help you if you hold her and tell her no).  She doesn't bite
if you are giving her treats (until it's gone, then you better not still
be holding her or even nearby, for that matter).
 
She acts like a mink.  OMG, she's scary.  No-one is brave enough to go
into the kitchen when she's having her playtime (she gets 2 2hr playtimes
everyday).
 
I have never, ever had an animal (either personal or a shelter animal)
that is so aggressive.
 
There is no way I can place her (unless I find some miraculous person
that she won't bite, or is exceedingly familiar with dealing with
aggresive biters), so she's here forever, and I'm definetly willing to
take care of her.  I just wish there was some way of helping her to get
over this.  Sorry for the rambling.....but this girl has me spooked.
 
Jacci
[Posted in FML issue 4115]