Thank you so much Donna, for teaching us last what to do in case a ferret
dissapears last year.  Because of your detailed advice on the FML, I
found my Dippy who got out last night.  I almost had the worst Christmas
of my life.  I lost my Jubilee before she was one last year to cancer...
Dippy is my baby, I just couldn't loose another right now.
 
We all think we know what to do when a ferret gets lost outside.  But as
Donna pointed out, it's the most tiny detailed of actions that could make
a difference in finding your lost fuzzy.  I want to share with you guys
what I did "right" that resulted in a ferret not being out in 45 degree
pouring rain weather today.
 
The key action that saved her was asking for help.  I don't mean an hour
after you have ripped apart your house and accepted the fact that your
ferret is lost outside.  I mean right at the start knocking on strangers
doors and asking for help.  Nobody else in my home did this as they had
not read about Donna and Eppy last year and her advice.  I did.  I ran
over and told my elderly neighbor what happened right off the bat.  I
didn't have to ask him to help us, he grabbed a flashlight and went
searching outside on his own accord.  It was this old man that found my
ferret in the woods, not us.
 
I'd like to tell you what I did wrong in addition to what we did right.
Loosing a ferret within a large family and among other animals is a
whole different ball of wax than if you live alone, or don't have other
animals.  aaaa Dippy came up missing, I took action and tried to direct
my family as to what to do.  Paniced and upset... they often did not
listen.  This resulted in absolute chaos, delaying an effective search.
Extra people and extra animals also resulted in noise.  Absolute quiet
is needed to "listen" for your ferret when you are searching.  Even one
other person merely walking about your home, or animals running about can
hinder your search.  So what I've learned is we all need to sit down now
(and now that this happened they will listen) and make an action plan for
anyone that is mia.  Each person in a family needs to assume a role and
do it promptly when a little one is missing.  I'll be working that all
out and deligating responsibilities and procedures to each family member
today.  For example one persons immediate reaction should be to round up
all animals into an area (so their noise and rumaging does not mess up
the search).  Another person should begin to "walk the grid" (begin in
one room, one area, and go outward from there).  Yet another individual
should immediately look outside ... and so on, and so on.
 
If you think you don't need to sit down with anyone living with you and
rehearse a plan, think again.  Believe me things get muddled in an
emergency.  This needs to be done in every home.  We were doing all the
right things, but when you do them in a disorganized way... chaos ensues
and that is counterproductive.
 
I am taking Donna's advice and I'm making sure this man knows that his
help was so much appreciated (I think our big mushy hugs helped
demonstrate that).  He is a hero to me this Christmas.  He didn't know a
ferret from Adam, and yet he not only helped to find her, he quickly
scooped her up so she would not get away!
 
One last important thing.  Something Donna has not mentioned, I dont
think.  Ferrets are very curious, they gravitate towards curious places
and most of all... curious animals.  So if you are seeking a ferret....
if there are animals close by... look there right away.  We found Dippy
under leaves playing pop goes the weasil and trying to bite a group of
stray kitties toes!  She ignored squeaky toys, our voices, whistles, and
all our bright xmas lights that we turned on,,,, so that she could play
with the kitties.  That is how strong the draw was.
 
I'm going off to try my damnedest to find some sort of humor in this to
write a fun story or post.  Wish me luck...
 
Wolfy
 
Wolfy's site has MOVED to:
http://wolfysluv.jacksnet.com/
[Posted in FML issue 3993]