For the person traveling to Arkansas, I don't know which direction you are
coming from or what route you are taking... but I am in Tulsa Oklahoma,
about 45 minutes from the Arkansas border.  You can email me at:
[log in to unmask]
 
As for ferrets lifespans... I think the very reason most of us CAN be
proud of our ferrets is because... well speaking strictly for myself, when
choosing breeders, I spent a lot of time talking to other breedeers, asking
about their bloodlines, health ratios and lifespans.  Although having the
*exotic* colors, patterns etc is neat, those things are secondary... what
we look for in choosing a ferret that will be bred is Healthy bloodlines,
longevity (which those two usually go hand in hand), Temperment,
Personality, Intelligence and then Color & Pattern... IN THAT ORDER.
 
One of the breeders I got a majority of my ferrets from... most of her
ferrets have an average lifespan of 10-13 years and she has less than a 10%
ratio of things like Adrenal Gland Disease, Insulinoma and Cancers.  For
example, one of my beloved girls... Callidora... I just learned from this
breeder that her father died recently... at the age of 15 1/2 years old.
 
There have been studies that *suggest* NOT proven mind you, but suggested,
that part of the reason for the difference in cancer, adrenal etc rates
could be linked to the age a kit is altered... when they are altered while
too young, it affects the growth hormones and development therefore, could
also affect the development in some vital organs.  Then there is also
factors such as care, feeding, being careful in your breeding lines not
crossing (in other words inbreeding) and other factors.  For example, we
all know that mills, farms etc... alter kits by the time they are 5 weeks
old.... most private breeders do not allow alteration until 5-6 months old.
 
As a private breeder, I AM very proud of the quality of my ferrets... yes I
have some pretty colors and all, but I am most proud of my level of health,
their temperments and personality and those factors far more.
 
As a rescue shelter... I find it interesting that I have a few of my
*private line* ferrets that are hitting that 4-5 year old mark, and all
healthy as can be, still active etc.... yet we have three 4-5 year old
*mill* ferrets in the shelter and all are sick and in bad shape... 2 of
them we are pretty sure have Adrenal Gland Disease but are not strong
enough yet to withstand the tests.
 
Just my 2 cents.
 
Susan Malone
Ferrets Unlimted Rescue of Tulsa
Fanciful Ferrets By Pegasus
[Posted in FML issue 2869]