After much deliberation I have come to a sad acceptance with regards to my
four wonderful fuzzies.  In all honesty and fairness, I am just not able to
provide the level of care that I feel they deserve.  I have decided to try
for better homes for my ferrets.
 
I've had Jack about 1 1/2 years, Shawnee about 6 months.  Zeppelin and Spaz
about 3 months.  I got Jack to keep me company and adopted the others as
time went by.  I thought that I could take good care of them.  I've tried
the best that I can.  I love them all.  BUT... my apartment is too small,
my schedule is too full, my kids are too rough.
 
The fuzzies spend a lot of time in their cage (which is not small, but not
huge) simply because I'm not home much, except when the kids are visiting
(I'm a part-time father).  So, when the lil ones do get to come out, they
get "played" with (hard).  I try to keep an eye on them but I always seem
to come across one or the other in the over-eager hands of one of my
children.  The ferrets can be in their cage all day and come out and pee
and poop on the floor right next to a litter box.  Clean that area and they
move down the wall a couple of feet the next time.  I've tried many, many
of the tricks found here.  I have four boxes (1 in the cage and 3 about the
house), sometime they get used and sometimes not.  I'm told that they are
just upset with me.  I don't see this situation getting better anytime
soon.
 
The ferrets are all healthy, although Shawnee has weak back legs and acts
old ( he's only 4).  No diseases or illnesses.  They all have sweet
dispositions, with the exception of an occasional nip from Spaz when she
gets wound up by the kids.
 
Someday, I hope to be in a place where I can dedicate a room or two for
ferret use and start again.  But until then, I need to find better
situations for them.  Of course, keeping them together would be ideal, but
I realize this may not be possible.  Spaz would do best in a home without
young children.  Jack and Zeppelin are VERY tolerant and playful.  And
Shawnee needs a home where he can be his quiet, "elderly" self.  All four
were very good at getting used to new ferrets.  In fact, I was able to cage
them together from day one that each came into the house.  After an initial
1 hour supervised greeting time, they all were like family.
 
I live in Southern Vermont and would be willing to drive up to an hour and
a half in any direction to facilitate their transportation to a new home.
I have two cages, 1 three-story and 1 two-story, 2 water bottles, food
dishes, and litter pans.  How this all gets divided up will be left to
"first come,first served"  Anyone interested in adopting any or all of
these sweeties, should be experienced and be able to provide better than I.
 
I can be reached at [log in to unmask]  Please, only serious inquiries.
Criticism and other such garbage will be promptly deleted with no effect
on the situation.  I'm only doing this out of fairness for the ferrets.
[Posted in FML issue 2513]