***   fad no more
>From:    Catherine Shaffer <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Ferret population explosion, "abused" ferrets
>I think we need to remember that ferrets are an extreme fad pet right now
>and that this fashion will inevitably slow down.  Until then, we can expect
>the number of abandoned ferrets to remain steady or increase.
 
Ferrets were a fad pet in the 80's in the United States.  Now, maybe in
several of the newly legalized states, ferrets may still be "a fad", but
generally speaking, ferrets are here to stay, unlike the pot bellied pig and
hedgehog fads.
 
Some reasons why there seem to be more abandoned ferrets?
 
1. Newly legalized states.
2. better forms of communication (Internet, Ferret magazines, more local and
   national clubs...)
3. better record keeping by private and humane groups on all animals
4. More products on the market boost impulse buying (implication that this
   pet would be easy, then reality of the true upkeep hits).
 
Cures for this pattern?
 
1. Education - EVERYONE can educate one pet shop manager, one ferret owner,
  or one veterinarian, you have accomplished a lot for ferrets down the line.
2. Support - if more shelters, clubs, breeders, and private owners would
   say, "let me work with you on this before taking in your animal as the
   last resort", we might be able to keep more ferrets in present homes than
   just the easier "take and replace".
3. Restraint - if people would refrain from "rescueing" ferrets from bad pet
   shop and breeder situations, it would make the sellers think twice about
   ordering / breeding another batch of furry pirahnas to sell.  Mary Van
   Dahm (FAIR in IL) told me last week that she just had 10 kits dropped off
   at her shelter from a pet shop that didn't handle them, they grew too
   large, and even at under $50 eash, could not be sold.  The pet shop has
   decided now to only order ferrets if a customer specifically asks.  If
   these ferrets had been purchased by well meaning club members in order to
   "rescue" them, then this pet shop would probably continue to order and
   neglect ferrets far into the future.
 
Think abot it - what have you done today to further the cause of helping to
keep ferrets OUT of the over-population problem?
 
***   Shelter and FML
>How many of the shelters on those listings are monitoring the fml?
 
Actually, with STAR* (me) monitoring the FML, quite a few shelters know what
is going on even though they don't have internet access.  STAR* Ferrets is
subscribed to by more than half the clubs and shelters that are known to me,
and the rest are onthe STAR* listing for FML and other Internet browsers to
find.  I reprint tidbits from the FML in STAR*, and I'm always happy to post
things for other clubs or shelters on the FML.
 
>The shelters we consider the best in the country are not on this list very
>much but are kept up to date mostly through us.
 
Careful Bill...  ;>)
 
Pam Grant
[Posted in FML issue 1760]