I have a young friend who has gotten in a bit over her head... decided to
get one of her own... came back with ferret #2 & 3... We also spent some
time explaining to her how medical bills can add up unexpectantly and you
have to consider their care before you get too many ferrets... came back
with #4... now 2 have to go.
 
Everyone who has been here for a long time has seen this sort of thing where
the ferret-person-peer-pressure or cutesy factors lead to lapsed judgement.
We've also seen collectors who just keep adding and adding more ferrets
rather than properly caring for those they have.  Some people can care for
very large number of ferrets but the abilities, experience, and knowledge
needed are certainly not common possessions.
 
Adding too many ferrets too rapidly by newbies is one of the worst mistakes
for their ferrets.  Let's face facts:
1. Each individual needs and deserves your attention,
2. You must be able to monitor for health changes and this means that you
have to have the time, the ability, the knowledge, and the experience to
watch for changes in both individual behavior and group dynamics,
3. Health care can get expensive.  Surgeries can run $300 to $800 and
supportive care can run those costs up higher, sometimes much higher.
Ultrasounds can be $250 up.  Chemo for lympho which is maintained for over
a year can run $2,500.  Just not ferret-proofing right so that your ferret
swallows some rubber, or plastic, or whatever can run you a sudden $400
because delay of veterinary care for even a day might kill a ferret with a
bad blockage.
4. You need to have enough time to tend to basics such as litter changes.
5. The ferrets need enough room to live and play well.
 
Yep.  It is wonderful being able to have new kits cupped in your hands, and
tottering around on their four feet with big baby bellies touching down now
and then for added stability, but is it fair to your other ferrets?  Numbers
of ferrets in a household alone don't tell much about whether the people
involved can provide the care needed, or even know what the heck they are
doing, let alone whether the home is a good one.  PLEASE, aim for having
the happiest family you can rather than the largest.  You might think you
suffer if you fail the math test, but your ferrets suffer far more.
 
Sukie
[Posted in FML issue 2287]