This is Susie Lee with The Ferret & Dove Sanctuary, Inc.
The ferret who has begun making it her routine to attack humans needs
her own cage, and own "time".
We've had several ferrets brought in as attacking-serious-biters. Here
is their routine at our Sanctuary.
First, they have their own large cages all for and to themselves. (Each
has had a cage large enough to hang two hammies in, plus a sleepsack.)
The time they spend in their cages is dark-room time, same as for all
the others, and a cover is put over about half their cage to keep
the overhead light out of their eyes for when the light is on in the
ferrets' rooms while their cages are each being cleaned. (the other
reason for the cage-covers, as seen in our commercial, is to keep any
drafts off of them).
For serious biters (such as Cleopatra Pearl used to be, or Gaeylin
Gator or, your own Rhea Raptor)they get their own out-and-about time
with no other ferrets, no cats, no humans. (they are, and were NEVER
scruffed.)They each get the run of the house for a full hour or until
they begin to tire, if older, by themselves. This is done on a routine
basis, close to the same times every day. Handle them initially with
heavy gloves and solid boots to protect yourself(ves), ONLY to take
them out of their cages and put them in the play-area(s)((then clean &
re-stock their cage and then remove yourself to the office-room or even
go outside and fix the doves' cages or whatever else...just remove
yourself from their even THINKING about going for a gnosh on humans'
flesh)) and later, putting them back. That's it. STICK TO THIS ROUTINE
for at least four to five months. By the second week or so, you will
be able to let the heavy gloves and heavy boots go back to just plain
hands and slippers (we did) as long as you STICK TO THE ROUTINE and
don't change it. By the time at least four months have passed along
with this regular routine, begin spending a little of the
formerly-biting ferrets' playtime in the same vicinity with them...JUST
to get them re-used to your non-threatening presence. If you stand up,
do not open your hands or raise your arms...think what ferrets or
ermines do when attacking a rabbit...and don't behave that way.
Project "peace-and-quiet" in your demeanor. Your environment should be
NATURALLY QUIET, not with a lot of folks loudly chattering, no radios
blasting, no television blareing. If anything, if you "must" have
noise, play (on LOW volume) very gentle lullabies, the slowest, most
beautiful adagios in classical music that can be gathered. Or let the
ferrets listen only to the doves' coo-ing. This is soothing to them
and has helped. (it's one of the main reasons why ferrets and doves
get along each on each their sides of the walls around here...even the
neighbors' dogs are quieted for the doves' coo-ing).
By the time six months or so have passed, you have very gradually,
after about the fourth month, gotten the formerly-biting ferret
accustomed to your being "around" while he-or-she is out. Not to mess
with, either way. You do not attempt to "play with" them, their little
brains interpreted your original playing motions as 'attack' and we
do not even "PRETEND"-"attack" any animals of any sort who have this
little interpretation-problem.
When it's time for them to return to their living-quarters, you may
gradually get them accustomed to being just-plain gently held for
longer periods of time.
After enough time has passed, gradually bring another human into their
presence. NOT "playing", not doing anything "to" the formerly biting
ferret but just simply "being there", and no threat in any manner.
By the 8th month, Gaelyn Gator ferret did NOT attack a stranger who
came in, not knowing he was a former serious biter. By the 9th month,
he was re-visited by his original rescuer whom he had initially
mistakenly bit very badly (because his rescuer, Jill, had NOT been his
original abuser, that was the person she rescued him *from*) and he
allowed her to hold him and cuddle him with no objections on his part
of any kind.
The basic routine was never changed for Gaelyn...when it was his turn
out, he always had the house-Sanctuary to himself along with a huge
trencher of soup to return several times to on his go-arounds about
the houses' rooms.
If the ferret can not have a house to themself WITH plenty of genuine
peace and quiet and WITH plenty of dark-room sleep-time...then possibly
you can find a way to bring her to The Ferret & Dove Sanctuary, Inc.
http://ferretanddovesanctuary.petfinder.com
[Posted in FML 5861]
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