I have a question for the list. I have had ferrets for only about 4
years now. So expert, I am not. My daughter adopted 2 from The Ferret
Dream House and I adopted 2 others a few months later. So now I have 4.
They are addictive and a lot of fun to have as pets! After reading all
these posts about the Ohio rescue and posts from all the shelters
across the country, my question is this. Where do all the ferrets come
from that are sitting in the shelters right now waiting for homes?
Other than the DMK ferrets that is. Are they from private breeders or
large breeding farms? I am in "all pet rescue" where I live. And I know
there may be the situations that arise where a family needs to find a
home for an animal due to a life change such as divorce or death,
moving into a retirement home, allergies, etc. But from my experience
that is a small number. Most dogs and cats sitting in kill shelters are
due to irresponsible breeding, impulse buying, or abuse and neglect.
Now I believe that the ferrets coming from the large breeders such as
Marshalls or Path Valley are neutered. At least the little guys I see
at our local national pet store are. That is one saving grace here.
Right? Those little ones are not making more ferrets! So why are there
so many shelters overflowing with ferrets? I mean up to the eyeballs in
ferrets. Is this because people buy the ferrets and then decide after
a few months that they are too much trouble? They smell? They make
messes? They get bored with them? So they surrender them at the local
ferret shelter? But the breeders large and small just keep on pumping
out the little guys?

I know we live in a free market society, supply and demand and all
that. I know the breeders are just trying to make a living, right?
But how can they turn a blind eye to the shelters that have ferrets
overflowing that will never see a home and will live out their lives
there. These are living and breathing creatures that feel pain. I visit
the pet store every couple of weeks to see the little ferrets waiting
to find a home. And I think, wow you guys are sure cute as buttons.
And then I wonder how many will end up being surrendered before they
hit their first birthday. And then a drive home, crying quietly for
the little ones, knowing there is nothing I can do about it. Is there
anything that can be done? I don't know. What do you shelters have
to say about the breeders? What are your feelings? Can there be a
moratorium on breeding until the shelters have been cleared out. I
suppose not. I mean look at the dog racing and horse racing business.
Here are industries that for the sake of entertainment, breed and race
animals that will need to go "elsewhere" when they are done racing.
Where is elsewhere? Well for some that is out for adoption. But there
is no way all these animals find homes. So many are put down. So, I ask
again, what, if anything can be done? Have the shelters ever tried to
slow down the breeders? Because this is just heart braking for me and
I am sure it is for a lot of people. Thanks for reading and enlighten
me on the ferret breeding industry. I really want to understand.

[Posted in FML 5841]