-> The point I would like to point out about MF is that they may not
-> sell inferior animals, but when they do sell to the pet stores they
-> evidently provide no instruction on the care and maintenance of the
-> ferrets to the buyers.  I live in Tennessee and every pet store I have
-> seen with ferrets keeps them in wood shavings of some sort.  I have
-> talked to several store managers concerning this and they treat me like
-> an overconcerned idiot.
 
-> If MF is so respectable why don't they at least  issue some guidelines on
 -> -> the care of the animals that they are making  such a profit on.  Of
 -> course this could be the fault of the management of  these pet stores,
 
Management..yes...that is exactly what I said above...MF sends out two facts
sheets. The first is some info about ferrets and what they eat etc. Very
very basic. The second is about spay/neuter. Also basic, but pretty okay.
 
My pet store (the one down the street) Hands out the sheets....sells a cage
(not large enough), seels ferretone :((( Saying a tsp a day...and
then...oh...corn husk shavings instead of wood...
 
HOWEVER: NADA is sad as far as what they are really like. For
instance..."You CAN train them to use a litterbox...and you CAN let them out
and train them...NOT they NEED to be allowed out, they are very bright and
inquisative little animals...and very intelligent. IOW They are NOT guinea
pigs! They sell them like guinea pigs. My Winnie is the saddest thing you
have ever seen...
 
She is this as a rail. She isn't ill. But she was abandoned IN her cage..seh
apparently was never let out. When I brought her home...she was OH! I cried
all the way home. She clung to me...she looked right into my eyes...I cried
alot. She wasn't even afraid of the car.
 
When I got her home...she was really curious about the other ferrets..shs
just went in the cage..and started sniffing everyone! They didn't even hiss
at her... later Foxy showed her who's head mama around hee..but it was very
brief and normal...
 
Well, now she plays with Bigfoot...who grabs her neck...and she sounds like
she's in major pain...but he walks away, and she turns around and pounces on
him again. <G> Normal.
 
She is also so sweet. Now she'll walk in front of me...and when I stop...she
tries to leap up into my arms!! <G> She's SO cute!!
 
But her previous owner abandoned her. I say it's because he was not educated
at all. The pet store wanted the bucks...and that was that. I know a billion
times what they do...and I've only been a ferret mom for 9 months! But I
learned it from here...(thanks)..:)  That's why I still go to visit. And why
I do buy fuzzies there when I se one....like Winnie..who was abandoned.
 
As far as health....the pet store sells Sunthing Special. IMO it is the
worst stuff I've ever seen. I used it on my first one and she did okay, but
she wouldn't grow. The store tells each customer that they MUST use ONLY
ferret food, and don't let anyone tell you you can use cat food...etc.etc..
and the linatone, which has already been discussed.
 
Well, Winnie was apparently brought up on ferret food from this store. She
still looks like a concentration camp victim. She is in a way. She's so so
thin...and Foxy and Nonni, also brought up on SS are also on the thin side,
and their fur is rough etc... Winnie's fur is really in bad shape. It's as
short as if she's gotten a 'butch' haircut...like maybe an 1/4 inch long at
most. She's tiny. You can tell she is tinier than she should be by looking
at her eyes etc...if you know what I mean..<g>  She's miniature.
 
But now she's on IAMS and has a new energy! She bounces all over the place!
She's doing very very very well. :)
 
So...no matter where a ferret comes from...it still needs love and good
care. My main problem is with the pet stores. MF is not going to stop
breeding ferrets...and thier best chance in life is if we can educate the
new buyers...and some pet store owners would be fine if they were educated
too. :)  And I try. I take little things when ever I can...stuff from here
etc...(No names!)
 
All I know...is MF ferrets need love too...no matter where a ferret comes
from.......
 
 
                        ........................
 
 
-> Meanwhile, (unknown to me) boyfriend and weasels ran to another
-> security check point.  When asked about the weasels, my boyfriend
-> nonchalantly told them that they weren't actually going on the
-> plane...they were just coming to meet me at the airport and welcome me
-> home.  And they let him through (go figure!).  He raced up to me we
-> pulled a quick ferret transfer behind a phone booth and I took  them
-> home. They slept the whole way home.
 
AWESOME!! Give that boyfriend a big smooch!! And a hug from me too!! YAAAYY!
 
                      You just made my day! :D
 
 
                        ........................
 
 
Whoever had the ferrets who hated socks on the feet...we have one
too...hehehe!
 
And whoever said they had a female that, even after being chewed on by the
male...still went back for more....we have one too. Heheh! Our new one,
Winnie. <g> Strange, huh? <G>
                Daisy Lin...
                ...and Bigfoot, Nonni, Foxy, Coco, and Winifred...
 
 
[Posted in FML issue 0659]