This topic has brought some serious flame remarks.  Analyzed why so much
anger was generated.  Discovered that flaming remarks came from a hurt that
was caused to the reader, or a sensitive spot was touched.  Which caused
the negative responses.  The point was ignored all together.
 
Topic was Separating Two Ferrets.  STOP!-"Here she goes again the _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _." I hear you.  Before you use these words, read the following.
Put your feelings aside (I know it hurts), look at the logic of the points.
Have had inputs, discussions with others, and many good points were brought
out about the subject.  You need to reflect on and see how assumptions,
thoughts, can very.  Without all the pieces to a puzzle, a complete picture
will not form.
 
Note: shelter owners, this is not directed as an attack on the wonderful
service you give to ferrets/owners.  You are gods gift to fuzzy butts all
over the world.
 
Example 1: Shelters
I have been to many and noted as many as 30 ferrets at sleep, eating and
playing together.  They keep them as 2-5 or more in one cage.  Their
residence could be from 1 month to a year in this situation.  A customer
comes in and is advised they are able to adopt one.  The one he picks has
been a cage mate for many months.  Does the shelter advise this can cause
stress to the others?
 
1A: Cage mates can bond together in a short time.  How is this evaluated
at time of adoption?
 
Example 1: Private Owner
On board an owner showed how she was giving away seven ferrets and to
whom.  Can anyone explain how she came to this decision- 2 here-2 there
and balance elsewhere?
 
Example 2: Private Owner
Two rescued ferrets had been caged together for a year.  One ferret over
this length of time had scarred his cagemate to the point he required
medical assistance.  Imagine the pain the scarred one must have suffered
because original owner should have separated them along time ago.
 
Remarks Made: You are causing the ferrets to stress out in separating them.
Stress out is a condition where animals: sleep more, lose interest in
eating and drinking, may vomit and odd colored poops.
 
Stress doesn't always occur when you separate two animals.  Here are other
factors that cause stress.
 
1. kits separated from mother
2. after having a ferret neutered, spayed and descented
3. when it's taken to a new home/shelter
4. separated from cagemates and at times, the owner themselves
5. death of cagemate
 
Ferrets can overcome stress.  In many cases, duck soup is given to a non
eating ferret which contains Pedialyte and nourishment.  Doing a slow
introduction of new ferret to your 1-2-3 ferrets.  This can take time.
Example: A fast introduction caused not only my ferrets, but the new
ferrets a sign of stress in their poops.
 
Only short times together should be used and house the new one alone in his
cage for awhile.  In some cases the separation is needed for the benefit of
the ferret.  Selfish reasons and wants should be set aside.
 
Before you come back like gang busters, think about a stubbed toe, which
sends a message to your brain that it hurts/versus your brain says stub
your toe so it will hurt.  Look at everything objectively, then evaluate
the topic.
 
Look forward to pieces of information that will help me and others to put
together for a better picture in the end.
 
Debbie
[Posted in FML issue 2958]