This is taking everything I have to write, but I think a point can be made
and a few lessons learned.  I had my first accidental death this weekend -
after 17 years and way over 400 ferrets - I can't believe I let his hazard
slip by.  I also thought I'd share a couple close calls that have happened
throughout the years.
 
We had a hammock that was like a puffed out square and it suspended from
one fairly large loop.  It got put in the cage as a sleep sack.  One of the
shelter ferrets got in the loop and must have freaked and twisted it around
his middle - strangling himself.  I'm now reevaluating whether any loops or
strings should even be in the cage.  I don't want to see this happen again,
so I am purging all the hammocks with strings.  I am also purging all
hammocks where the fleece is worn thin.  I did have a ferret dig the worn
fleece and make a hole and get stuck between the fleece and material.
Thank God I was there.
 
I believe I wrote about this one that happened awhile ago.  I have a really
big sleep sack shaped like a bottle (the neck is narrow) and two of my
ferrets got inside it but 6 others piled on top of it.  The fellows inside
couldn't get out and started panting.  The ones inside were one of my old
guys who couldn't budge them and I guess the younger one couldn't move the
ferrets off the top either.  Again thank God I was home.
 
Also latches on cages start to give over the years.  They start to allow
some play in the door.  I had one ferret get his head through the slack,
but the door sprang back on his neck pinning him there.  He was gasping for
air and would have died had I not been there.  So now we put extra clip
type hardware on so they can't get their head through.  Check your cage,
can a ferret push on it and possibly get his head through?
 
I kills me to learn a lesson from a senseless death, I feel like I let
poor Heath down as I am here to protect them.  Please this week clean out
your hammocks - do an inspection on them.  Don't hang on to worn items
that may cause harm.  Please don't learn the hard way like I did.
 
Faith
Ferrets R #1 Shelter & Rescue
[Posted in FML issue 3503]