[Topic was:
"*sigh* Heloise dropped the ball when it comes to ferret ownership.]
Such as it is--This was my email to Heloise:
----- Original Message -----
From: zoosferretsanctuary
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 5:55 PM
Subject: LIFE OR DEATH!!!! (Incorrect ferret info)
Dear Heloise,
I have been a fan of yours for years :)
I am Cathy Strobach, the president of Zoo`s Ferret Sanctuary NFP. We
are a 501(C)(3) not for profit ferret rescue & sanctuary in Kirkland,
Illinois.
A couple of days ago, some emails came to our inbox with links to your
recent article on ferrets. A post also appeared on the FML (Ferret
Mailing List.) People were very concerned about some incorrect
statements made in that article--and advice which could actually kill
someone`s beloved fuzzy :(
Ferrets are obligate carnivores, and are not able to digest fruits &
vegetables. Their intestines are about as big around as the hole in a
piece of macaroni. Someone we knew lost his little boy on the table,
due to an intestinal obstruction. The blockage was due to a piece of
papaya, found in his ferret food. It couldn`t pass through. The surgery
was too late...People are buying this stuff because there is a cute
picture of a ferret on the box, or bag. They want to treat their ferret
to something fun. They do not know any better, because they hear & read
that you should feed your ferret fruit. Except for some (occasional!)
mashed banana, fruit is actually dangerous to ferrets! Often, it cannot
pass through!!!
Although ferrets love raisins, the fruit has been linked, in the past
few years, to kidney failure. Sadly, they have become a no-no.
Just three weeks ago, a little ferret girl in trouble was brought to us
for emergency surgery. She was in horriffic pain, and would have died
without surgical intervention. She almost didn`t make it. The blockages
(one in the intestine & one in the stomach) were thought to be the skin
of an apple...
A large number of ferrets die each year because the ferrets have
ingested foreign bodies i.e. balloon pieces, erasers, chewed pieces of
latex toys, buttons off of remote controls, etc. Children leave these
items lying around all the time--and so do their friends. We don`t
recommend ferrets as pets for children under the age of 10. The Greater
Chicago Ferret Association doesn`t advise families with kids under age
6 to get ferrets. When the ferret is in trouble because of negligence,
most parents "can`t afford" the surgery to correct the mistake---so the
ferret pays with its life...
The average lifespan of a ferret escaping outside is about three days.
Pet ferrets don`t know how to hunt, so they cannot survive in the wild,
like a cat or a dog could. They become prey, starve to death or die of
dehydration, or become roadkill. A couple of years ago, a man was
unnerved to discover he had hit one with his lawnmower. Kids leave
doors open. Ferrets are not the best pet for a young child...
They can be litterbox trained--but not 100% People are lead to expect
more...
Heloise, we have 70 ferrets here at our sanctuary. They all were
someone`s pets---until the novelty wore off--or until they became sick.
We are working hard to educate the public about these sweet little
creatures, and we need your help.
Many people take your word as gospel. Please help us to properly
educate these people, regarding ferrets. Little lives are depending
on it.
Thank you so much.
Cathy Strobach, President
Zoo`s Ferret Sanctuary, NFP
Kirkland, Illinois
www.zoosferretsanctuary.org
[Posted in FML 6443]
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