Sue asked a very difficult and painful question:
>I have to step up and say something here.  David has had a number of
>"Vinnie da Rat" ferrets, and I have seen a number of posts over the
>years of David loosing his ferrets.  I know it is not kind to judge
>people, but I just have to ask the question.  Is Mr Owings meant to be
>a ferret daddy?
 
For the record: in 25 years with ferrets we have once thought that we had
an escape.  (Luckily, he was only playing mobile hide and seek.)  This
is mentioned because David seems to assume the escapes are common.  Does
that mean that we will never have an escape?  Of course not.  (We have
been lucky, but we have greatly helped our luck with a lot of ferret
proofing.)  Does it mean that ferret proofing is possible, even when one
family member was for a few years too mobility handicapped to go over a
barrier, in brace for 18 months, with a cane for a decent while, and for
a number of months barely able to walk from one room to another?  You bet
it does.  We were even prepared to put sequential half doors on hinges in
the hall and at the edge of our entranceway, but luckily did not need to.
There are ferret proofing tips for all sort of needs in the FML Archives.
They make for a LOT of reading but they are worth it.  The FML Archives
can be found by looking in the header of any day's FML.
 
Multiple reported escapes at one home over less than a 4 year period
is cause for justifiable concern on the list, I think, but it sure is
painful and frustrating for all, from David through to those reading.
 
I think that a better mode of interaction on the list would be to have
an on-going, long term Q and A about ferret proofing.  It would save so
many ferrets everywhere.
 
HOW ABOUT IT?  WHO WANTS TO POST FAVORITE FERRET PROOFING TIPS?
 
Meanwhile: Have a Heart traps, letting all who might become involved
locally know, and seeing what area ferret clubs or humane societies may
be able to help.  Ditto friends, neighbors, and relations.  There may be
a local youth service club (4H or Scouts) with members willing to become
involved if you have proof of timely rabies vaccines.  See, too, about
going there yourself during some of the times when the Visiting Nurse
Society, or County Nurse, or applicable health society spell you with
your brother's care.  If you are not on a list for that help ask your
brother's physician's office to make the calls.
 
If Vinnie is not deaf and has been trained to come to a certain sound
such as a squeaker or bell then so much the better.
 
The hunting report is highly unusual, though not impossible by any means.
 
-- Sukie (not a vet)
Ferret Health List co-moderator
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives fan
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
replacing
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
International Ferret Congress advisor
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 5115]