Hi,
>A few weeks ago one of our clubs shelters received 24 copies of a new
 
>ferret at no cost to us.  The name of the book is "The pet ferret owner's
>manual" by Judith A.  Bell, DVM, PhD.
 
I am familiar with this book, but it is not new.  It was published in 1995.
 
In October of 1995, I got my first ferret.  It was sort of a rescue (not an
intentional acquisition) and I was eager to learn all I could.  I found a
wonderful book (by D. Jeans) in a bookstore.  I bought it and agreed with
95% of what was in it - I still do.  I went to a ferret show a while after
getting my first ferret and saw the book, "The Pet Ferret Owner's Manual"
by Judith A.  Bell.  I didn't have time to browse through it as long as I
would have liked, so I bought it.
 
<snip>
 
>Have any of you read this book?  If you have, do you agree with me?  And
>what can we do so first time ferret owners do not buy this book and think
>it has the correct information?
 
Yes, I have read it.  Yes, I agree with you completely!!!  Besides
recommending (or at least not saying "no" to) the wrong litter, poor
feeding, and poor socialization advice, one of the most offensive parts is
on page 16: "You can discourage some ferrets...by snapping them hard on the
end of the nose."
 
My suggestion for your shelter (and any others) is to have a supply of
Deborah Jeans' book, "A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO FERRET CARE"
(ISBN# 0-9642589-1-9), Mary R.  Shefferman's book, "THE FERRET: AN OWNER'S
GUIDE TO A HAPPY HEALTHY PET" (ISBN# 0-87605-498-X), and some issues of
MODERN FERRET magazine available.  Single or double page "flyers" or
mini-brochures that emphasize the right way to care for ferrets - including
what not to do can be GIVEN away with the ferrets.  Another good "free"
sheet for those with internet access would include several important sites,
email lists, etc.
 
All the above is just my opinion.  I have no experience with ferret
shelters.  I am a wildlife rehabber and am asked questions about all types
of animals - wild and domestic.  I answer almost as many ferret questions
as cat questions.  Most of the ferret info I dispense comes from the above
sources, my experience, and the FML.
 
Kim and The Dynamic Duo
[Posted in FML issue 2425]