I received a generous reply from an FML'er on the subject of wheel
chairs for ferrets. He/she showed me a wheelchair option on the web
that I've never encountered before. He/she further offered their own
modifications for it. The device is very sound, looks cozy, and is
CHEAP to construct. This is much more feasible and accessible than
purchasing the Ferret Flyer it seems.

He/she located a site where a tinkerer/inventor has posted detailed
instructions on how to construct your own ferret wheel chair. The
article walks you through the process step by step and includes many
images as well as a video. It is reported that this can be done for
around $30 dollars. It doesn't' take a rocket scientist to build this.
In fact this FML'er reports that it was "fun".

Here is the link on how to do it:
http://www.instructables.com/id/The-FerretMobile-DIY-Ferret-Wheelchair

The FML'ers modifications are as follows:
"(used cross-bars of the same metal instead of the wooden platform;
used aluminum instead of metal, used a higher quality soccer pad for
the cradle because the Wilson brand has foam rubber padding=yikes!).
Don't let the initial photo scare you. There's stuff in there you
don't need.

There is a 12-second video at the end of the instructions that show
the inventor's ferret Merlin (of DMK) on his maiden voyage. It's also
on youtube under "odiekokee" and "ferret wheelchair"."

This FML'er and I are trying to contact this inventor. Ferrets are
in dire need of such a thing and most people can't afford the other
options out there on the web. Ferrets For Dummies directs many people
to my Physically Impaired Ferrets web page (as does Google), so I'd
love to get this info out to people. I'd love to supply more than a
link on my site. I want to do this because sometimes people don't click
on links and because I am paranoid about web pages and providers going
"bye bye" into cyberspace. This info would be lost. So I'd love to have
it on my page, but despite a "loud" paragraph preceding the info I'd
like to put on my page, I really should have permission before hand!
So, if anyone has any info, please contact me. (The FML'er who provided
the nice modifications and I have tried to message this person via the
web sites private messaging and via the comments below the article as
well as on Youtube. )

Wolfy
ps, if you have never seen the joy a ferret experiencing the freedom
of being able to run once again after being paralyzed, search youtube
for ferret wheelchair. There is on under Ferret Flyer wheelchair that
is hysterical. That ferret boogies!

[Posted in FML 7290]