The Killians write:
>It is not a large problem.  Really.  With millions of ferrets we have only
>hundreds to maybe a thousand or so ferrets in shelters.  We do not have to
>put down ferrets because of population like we have to for dogs and cats.
 
I'd like to dispute these numbers.  I took a very quick look through the
most recent FML Shelter list and came up with on the order of 1500 ferrets
in the US shelters.  And this includes only those shelters who are on the
FML.  In Ohio, only 5 of 8 shelters that I am aware of are listed.  There
was also another shelter in the state that no longer takes in ferrets.  I
would not be surprised if there were others.  The 1500 ferrets in the FML
shelters are certainly only the tip of the iceberg.
 
While ferrets are not being slaughtered in the large numbers that dogs and
cats are, they are undeniably being killed because they have no homes.  In
areas not covered by ferret shelters (or simply because people may be
unaware of their existence) ferrets are turned loose to die, or are taken
to the general animal shelter, where in many cases they are immediately put
to sleep without any attempts made to find homes.
 
I do believe we have overpopulation of ferrets in some geographic areas
that comes mostly from overbreeding.  In Ohio and MI, unaltered ferrets
are readily available, and many seem to think ferret breeding is easy and
profitable.  In Ohio, there seem to be lots of small backyard breeders,
with a pair or two or three.  Eventually they run out of people to sell
or give the kits to, and the parents, often with a litter of unsocialized
kits, get dumped at a shelter.  Ohio also has one very large breeder that
gives me great concern.
 
Let me preface the next paragraph by saying I am not talking about any one
breeder in MI, I am generalizing from several situations I have seen in the
last year or so.  I believe this is an important local issue that needs
addressing and am not chastising any particular person or group.
 
In MI, ferrets were legalized just a few years ago.  There was an initial
great demand, and many larger breeding operations were built up to meet
that demand.  Once the initial demand has been met, which may have already
happened, the large breeders still have their stock and no place for them
to go.  Our shelter recently dealt with a very small part of this problem.
The rest I fear is a disaster waiting to happen.  The existing shelter
system just won't be able to deal with the large numbers of ferrets
involved.
 
I guess my main point is: Do not be complacent about the amount of breeding
that goes on.  The problems are not caused by the generally smaller
breeders that are on the FML.  I believe the vast majority of those are
responsible, careful breeders.  Sam's wonderful post certainly explains
why they do it.  But there is much breeding that goes on that can result in
perhaps catastrophic overpopulation problems.
 
Any suggestions on what we as members of the ferret community can do?
 
Linda Iroff
Raisin Retreat Ferret Shelter
Oberlin, OH
http://www.oberlin.edu/~liroff/ncfs.html
 
To help in raisin' funds for the Raisin Retreat, go here
http://www.iGive.com/html/ssi.cfm?cid=3585&mid=30146
[Posted in FML issue 2570]