I believe an important aspects of adding a ferret to a family is to
consider that this should be a forever home.  Ferrets bond very closely
to their caretakers and other companions and a separation from them could
be devastating.
 
Ferrets from bad situations - kept in filthy cages, not fed regularly,
not let out of cages, may suffer depression when removed from these
horrible situations.  Sadly, many unwanted ferrets end up with people
that shouldn't have them because they don't put forth the effort to keep
cages clean, don't make time to let the little ones out of cages, don't
spend money on proper and needed vet care, nutrition, etc.  Some of these
people collect ferrets from their area and surrounding states.  They
sound knowledgeable and caring but a visit to their home tells a sad and
often deadly story.  Some of these people start out with good intentions
then something snaps and it is the ferrets that suffer, caged for days,
weeks, months with inadequate care, filthy cages and bedding, never
getting out to exercise or play or for love.  There are far too many
cases like this and I hear too often (and have been guilty myself) people
saying these people have good hearts - well they don't because if they
did they wouldn't sentence the ferrets to such a painful and shallow
existance.
 
If you ever need to find a home for a ferret, if you care even a tiny bit
about what happens to them, please be sure to visit the new home you've
chosen and keep tabs on what goes on.  Please don't let someone you don't
know and haven't visited inside their home take your little one away to
barely exist in a filthy cage for the rest of their short life.  Don't
take someone elses word that it's a good home unless they've been there
and seen with their own eyes.  Don't think because someone is associated
with someone who is good, that they are good as well.  THINK how you will
feel if you find out you allowed this horrible existance for your little
one - the pain, the suffering, the torture... their silent cries, wasting
away.... only to suffer and die a lonely and painful death.
 
I have nightmares about those little ones that suffer in these horrible
situations.  Please don't let it happen to yours....
 
hugs. tle
Troy Lynn Eckart, F.B.S.
Ferret Family Services
http://www.ferretfamilyservices.org
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~sprite/ffs.html
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/5481/
Please sign up to support our efforts
http://www.iGive.com/FFS
[Posted in FML issue 4532]