Hi Everyone,
 
To Paige, well, I am so delighted to hear how you worked with your feral
group.  Feral animals can be so tough (I have dealt with feral cats).  I
think they are harder in some ways cause they have no idea exactly how to
be wild animals (meaning their wild cousins have better survival instincts)
yet they aren't socialized to humans at all.  And such a constant state of
fear for them.
 
It goes to show how far love and patience can go with these guys.
 
To Rochelle who wrote:
>But hey, I admit it, I'm just too much of a wimp to really push my luck...)
 
I had to laugh.  You haven't seen me cringe when I feel a wet nose on my
feet and I know Miss Natash aka Mazel Tov, is running around.  hehe.
Actually, most of the time I get nailed is from doing exactly what you did,
act like you are dealing with any other ferret.  Just that momentary lapse.
But I also firmly believe that it is exactly this sort of thing that builds
the most trust.  Why?  Because the ferret doesn't get hurt afterwards.  So
it reduces the level of anxiety.
 
As for ferret whispering, Brandon you are on track.  Paying attention to the
animal, trying to communicate in a manner that isn't as confusing to them is
the best thing any one can do.  I have seen vets who can't do this, they
have no empathy for the animals at all.  And I have seen vets who had such
empathy that they were excellent diagnosticians, and I mean pre tests.  Just
a knowing.
 
I have a great gift of knowing when something is serious or when it doesn't
mean a trip to the emergency clinic.  Some of it is instinct, some is just
plain experience.
 
I think everyone can do it.  It isn't easy for a lot of folks.  I honestly
believe it is how much you are willing to open yourself up emotionally to
the animal.  And the more you interact and observe them, the more you can
tell about individuals.  But the empathy needs to be there for animals in
general.
 
I treat my animals the same way emotionally as children.  And by that I
assume that they have a greater understanding than most give them credit
for.  I truly believe that we are all interconnected.  But I also believe
you have to respect the nature of the animal too.  Do I spoil mine?  Yes,
no doubt.  Do I coddle them?  Yes, some.  But I also make sure and treat
them like ferrets a lot of the time too.  Ferrets poop on the floor, they
sometimes nip too hard in play, they get into absolutely everything and if
I forget to put something up, then it is my fault for not accounting for
ferret nature.  Not theirs.
 
I think they are very sturdy little critters.  But we are guardians over
them.  Not owners, and they cannot, because of our past intervention, be
turned lose and treated like wild animals either.  We have purposely muted
their instincts for our benefit.  We now have to acknowledge that and take
responsibility for it.  And being responsible is not assuming they can
handle things they can't, nor is it assuming they can't handle things they
can.
 
Margaret in Mid Mo
[Posted in FML issue 2399]