Hi again!
I need to write because after my post of the well deserved praising to all
the wonderful people at the ferretshow, I realized that I am turning my
head on something I think is wrong.
 
I was going to post annon.  but i realized that would be hiding and in not
standing up for what I believe in.  Please, if you feel the need to bash
me, don't waste space on the list.  Direct it to me.  I am just stating
what I saw without naming names and asking WHY.
 
I have owned my ferrets for 4 years now and I feel that I will do anything
for them and only give them the best care I know how to.  Sometimes, as
bill killian told me, i need to let the ferret just be a ferret--i probably
worry too much about them.  Yet I don't feel that I EVER knowingly but made
them feel pain or hurt them.  This is why I am confused.
 
With this "disclaimer" stated, i will go on :)
 
I saw so mamy people loving their ferrets and doing what they felt was
right for them.....but at two different tables I saw what I considered to
be harmful to the ferrets.  I am not saying I am right and they are wrong,
but after two days of thinking about how I didn't say something to these
people I have to ask if they were right or not.  Or I ask that if that
person is reading the list to explain why they were doing what they were
doing.
 
First, you may ask why I didn't say something: basically, I felt that they
knew so much more than me b/c they were shelters/breeders and I was not--
I have owned ferrets for 4 years.  They are probably much more educated
than me.
 
At one table, I saw someone nip training a ferret.  He was playing with the
ferret in his hands, then when the ferret bit he would tap on the nose (not
the tip, the top of it--if that makes sense).  True, they didn't hit hard.
then they held the ferret close to the face and said "no" loud and stern.
I have been very careful with my ferrets, and have even stressed that I am
not doing the right thing b/c I don't want to hurt them in anyway what so
ever.  When i first got ferrets 4 years ago, it accepted to hit ferrets or
punish them.
 
As soon as i realized that this could be bad, I stopped.  I never liked
it in the first place...that is why I find the FML and other lists so
informative.  So i don't understand why this table was doing so when it is
known in the ferret community that thumping is not necessary to teach a kit
not to nip!  ??  The ferret wasn't biting hard and although i didn't see
the whole training--i did feel that a simple NO and SCRUFF would have been
good.
 
The second table is one that I know many people didn't agree with.  I am
not involved in the ferret groups other than donating to shelters so I have
no clue who this woman was.  Or if I should fear her.  From those I have
asked, they agree that she shouldn't be treating the ferrets as she
did--but no one truely spoke up from what I saw.
 
This woman was scruffing the ferret but with a twist.  The ferret was
CRYING.  I know there are vocal ferrets, esp.  Kits...but after watching
what was being done to these ferrets they were not just "struggling" and
"crying" b/c they don't like being scruffed (as she explained).  I didn't
stand close enough to hear b/c I was horrified at what I was seeing.  Since
she acted like she knew what she was doing, I walked away.  I am kicking
myself that i did.
 
I heard people say "you're hurting him!" or "why is he crying like that" as
the ferret twitched in her grip and cried at being held.  It was not just
me that felt this way.  There were many more experienced owners I heard
say the same thing.
 
I don't know who she was, or why she felt the need to continue to do that
when there was a group of being around--but it was done.  I am so confused.
I have heard that she is one of the more respected people around--this
makes me more confused.
 
Can someone please tell me if this was proper handling of the ferret?
I've had two kits in my life and I have owned up to four.  I know many
more ferrets that I have held and scruffed like she did--none of them EVER
screamed like that.  Not even my Nico was hated it more than anything in
the world.  Or haggis who acts like he is about to be placed in a pot of
boiled water when I have sruffed and held him--none has ever cried or
squirmed like that.
 
I wonder how much it has to do with the fact that they merely being
scruffed-but the scruff was twisted too.
 
Others has said she bit them.  I bite mine too when training them, or
clipping nails.  According to the source, this ferret cried too.  I didn't
see that so I can't say that as fact.  yet, I have to wonder if it is true.
 
Please, someone explain to me what I saw.  As wonderful as the show was,
this table was very disturbing to me.
 
Thank you.
My email is [log in to unmask]
 
Meagan Quinn
[Posted in FML issue 2754]