marie i. schatz wrote:
>Hi all - a couple of days someone posted about canadian ferrets ...
>(so who is Hagen?).
 
Hagen is Rolf C. Hagen, a *large* Canadian pet and pet supply distributor.
Ferrets are not their only game: they have a strong presence in the aquarium
and bird trades as well.  They distribute small mammals, birds, fish and
reptiles, kits, food, supplies, and books under their own label.  Yes, they
do have a large farm in Canada.
 
>I was wondering if any Canadians out there could amplify on the situation
>in Canada.  she has a large "x" tatoo'ed on her right ear (a very amateur
>looking tatoo).
 
That's certainly no guarantee of Canadian origin...and not an indicator of a
Hagen ferret.  There is no law here stipulating that ferrets must be
tattooed.
 
>Or does this one big farm to this like the MF dots?
 
Hagen ferrets have about a dozen small dots in their ears that together form
a sideways "H".  All Hagen ferrets are also spayed/neutered and descented
(at about 6 weeks), and given their first shots (at about 7 weeks).  They
hit the stores at 7-8 weeks.
 
>What is the name of the farm?
 
I'm not positive, but I expect it's "Hagen"...just like the company.  I *do*
know that it is located in the province of Manitoba.  For some bizzare
reason, Manitoba seems to be the ferret-farming hotbed of Canada (i.e. there
are many other farms in that province).  My educated guess is that that
stong fur trade in that province may have something to do with it.  (Lots of
weasel-breeding facilities ready-made and ready to move into.)
 
>(Seems like I've heard of a big farm named "Path" but I'm not sure).
 
I have two Manitobian ferrets, of which one is Hagen.  (The other guy has no
tattoos, and a much more mischievious additude.  He's also *bigger* (a
summer weight of nearly 5 lbs...the other guy is down from 5 to just under 4
this season.) The big, evil, one can open the fully-loaded pots and pans
drawer under the stove, the dishwasher, and a few of the doors that don't
have good catches.  Yesterday he pulled a strip of door trim right off the
wall (3" wide x 1/2" thick x 7') in an attempt to get in a closet.  He
scruffs the cat, and pulls all the sofa cushions off the sofa every evening.
There seems to be a corelation between a reduction in visitors to my home
and his increasing body size.  Are you sure you're in the market for a
raccoon?  Anybody want to *buy* a raccoon?) As I mentioned, there are a
*lot* of breeding operations out there.  Unfortunately, I can't remember the
other's farm-of-origin at the moment...(But I think it had the word "Satan"
in it.) I do have it on his first vaccination certificate someplace.
 
> Do they ship to the states frequently?  I live in Michigan so I guess
>Windsor isn't that far but neither is New York.
 
They have a US branch now (Head offices of the mother company are in
Quebec.) The US toll-free number is 1-800-724-2436.  (Keep in mind that you
are calling a distributor...they won't sell directly to you, but can tell
you where to get a Hagen ferret.  Your store-of-choice can order one
in...here, they take less that a week to arrive.)
 
Hagen ferrets retail for CDN $200, give or take a few dollars.  In my
experience touring the pet stores, I have found them to be, very generally,
pretty sappy in temperament.  Of course, there is never any guarantee as to
what you're going to get, and that goes for size, as well.  (Though the
local pet store currently has a mellow, licky 4 month old 4 pounder named
Frankie up for adoption.... ;-) )
[Posted in FML issue 1673]
[Posted in FML issue 1673]