Don't worry this is not hidden dirty secret or anything going on.  What
I have heard people wonder about, is the stress factor in shelter babies
however.  I've heard people wonder as you are, if the stress of bad lives
leave a ferret predisposed to stress related disease such as helicobacter
run a muck, adrenal, or even insolinoma and cancers.  Is the stress of
the poor histories, and then stress of fitting into yet two more homes
(the shelter and adoptees home) adding to poor health?  It sure sounds
like a good theory.  Makes sense, doesn't it?  But does the theory hold
true?  I dont know, but I sure would like this discussed here in depth as
you do.  What are the ages seen in shelters?  I want hard stats.
 
Do any shelters have anything that is not anecdotal?  Do they have it
figured up what average age is upon death in the shelter as well as the
number for ferrets adopted out?  What are the most common causes of
death?  My head is swimming with questions.  And what are private owners
seeing with their adoptees?  Even, you might want to seperate homes that
adopt who have high numbers of ferrets from those who have very low
numbers.  High numbers of ferrets can be stress in itself.  Who knows.
I'm new to adoption.  Maybe it would be interesting to just start here on
the FML.  You know, have people give reports on ferrets they've adopted.
 
Rocky - 6, healthy, possible adrenal starting
Smoke - Died age 7, no adrenal, no insolinoma, passed away from old age
        basically
Gizzie Goo - 6, insolinomic as of this year.  no ther health concerns.
I've owned 8 ferrets at the most.  Six right now.
 
So, I'm not seeing this phenomenon myself.  However, I'm very suspicious
from the little I hear from friends.  Most of my friends have many
ferrets however.
 
This is really a very complex issue.
 
Wolfy
http://wolfysluv.jacksnet.com
[Posted in FML issue 4804]