Why rescue?

Recently, I found a question posed to both myself and a friend who does ferret rescue in the lower mainland. Paraphrased, the question is essentially this: Why do we choose to invest countless hours, resources and dollars to rescue ferrets?

This is how I view the question: Why do we choose to step in when nobody else will? Why do we choose to give a second chance to an animal who has never been treated well, never loved and never taken care of by the people who purchased it, often on impulse, without a thought for its needs? Why do we take in a damaged animal and give it the help that it needs when so many others would leave it to die? Why do we spend hours teaching animals that, despite what may have happend before, some humans can be trusted, what happiness feels like, what freedom feels like, and above all, what it is like to be truly loved and cared about? Why do we take in broken animals and pay to have them fixed, pay to give them the opportunity to experience what life can offer, what it is like to live without pain, pay to let them live the life that they should have been given the chance to live, had they only been lucky enough to find themselves with an owner that cared rather than the owner that they wound up with?

Why do we do this?

Because nobody else will.

And above all, because we know what it is like to see an animal experience life, love and simple pleasures for the first time. The first dook and kiss of an abused and frightened ferret, the first time the the ferret gets a toy, a cuddle, a kiss, a gentle hand, a treat, and enough food to eat, warm, soft bedding and love.

The first time that the ferret gets used to the idea that he or she does not have to be in pain, does not have to suffer, and will not be forced to live out its life alone in a small cage, forgotten by the family that was so eager to buy it only months before. We can see what others may not be able to see when they look down at a rescued ferret. They may see damaged goods, but we see an animal ready to live life and love, if only they are given the chance.


Why do we choose to rescue, despite the long hours, hard work, the expense, the frustration and the heartbreak?


Because we can see what others can't - we can see potential, and we know that if everyone could see the world as we do, it would be a much better place. This is why we choose to rescue.

Ferret Cards!

So, when it comes to this time of year, people tend to send cards... Christmas Cards, Holiday Cards, Thank you cards... you get the idea.

Why not send some handmade ferret cards?

You can choose either to have us use pictures of our volunteer's ferrets, or have us make the cards using photos of YOUR OWN pets! And, to make things even more exiting, you can have us fill out the cards with the greeting of your choice - it can be as simple as a Merry Christmas, or as complex as a poem of your own composition!

 Cards are $3.50 each or 5 for $15 (before shipping).


To make this fundraiser even MORE lucrative, if you are a busy person, we will even ship the card directly to a third party at your request.





Cards are made after the order is placed. To order please e-mail info@ferretsnorth.org and specify number etc. A paypal invoice will be sent to you following the placement of the order and construction of the cards will begin once payment is cleared.

Thank you for your support.

Ferrets North Information and Rescue Society.

It is that time of year - the Ferrets North Information and Rescue Society 2012 Fundraiser Calendar is now available for purchase!!! The ferrets in this calendar are real, live ferrets from around the world and not professional ferret models. Cute, fun and fuzzy, the calendar is just waiting to be ordered! All proceeds go to helping ferrets in need. 

Ferret Games!

While at the pet store the other day, I stopped to play with a young ferret. One passer-by commented on how playful this ferret was and mentioned how their ferrets NEVER played with them. They told me that their ferrets were free roam and claimed that the animals were well treated, so this got me wondering why their ferrets did not play.  All of the ferrets that have passed through the society like to play, and all of my ferrets love to play with me, my significant other, guests and with our house sitter, but then I was thinking - this may be because we show people how to play with the ferrets and perhaps these other people simply did not know HOW to play with their ferrets.

Dogs like to play fetch, cats like to bat at dangling string... but what do FERRETS like to do? This is a question that many first time ferret owners face. Their new ferrets may bounce about, dook and WANT to interact with their new owners, but the new owners need to know a few ferret games! Here are some favourites to start first time ferrents off with:

MAGIC CARPET
For this game, you need:
1 towel, carpet, sweater or some sort of fabric
1 or more ferrets
the ability to drag the material across on the floor.

Here's how you play: Simply drag the towel (or whatever piece of fabric that you choose to use) along behind you, allowing your ferret to jump on and ride the fabric or chase the fabric as he or she chooses. Be careful not to go too fast or to go around corners too rapidly - after all, you don't want your game ending with a scared or injured pet - but be sure to go a little faster than a snail's pace too, after all, you don't want your ferret to get board THAT quickly! Most ferrets will figure out this game before long, but you can always begin by gently placing your pet in the middle of the towel before starting to drag the towel to encourage them to participate in this game.

FERRET BOWLING

For this game you need:
A smooth, flat, sliver-free floor such as a hardwood, linoleum, smooth tile or laminate floor
1 or more ferrets

Here's how to play: Tickle your ferret and place him or her on his or her back or side. GENTLY slide the ferret across the floor being careful not to send them sliding into walls or obstacles. This gentle sliding of the ferret over a smooth surface is known as "bowling." Some ferrets really enjoy this game and will run back for more, while other find it baffling and would rather not participate. Generally when a ferret has had enough, he or she will bounce off in a different direction as opposed to running directly back at you.

TAG!

For this game you need:
One or more ferrets

Here's how to play: Tag your ferret and shuffle (this is safer than running as it prevents you from accidentally stepping on your pet, and has the added bonus of making more noise, which excites your pet) in the opposite direction. If the ferret runs after you and jumps at you, you are it and it is now YOUR turn to chase the ferret and tag him. Some ferrets take a bit longer than others to get into this game and need to be tagged (and have you shuffle off) a few times to get it. Others love it, but never want to admit that they are "it" - in other words, you get to chase and tag them all the time.

PEEK A BOO

 For this game you need: something to put between you and your pet - either to cover your pet with or to hide behind.
One or more ferrets.

Here's how to play: Tickle your ferret, and, once he or she is excited, duck behind a chair arm or cover the ferret (again, gently) with a pillow, towel, blanket or similar item, or hide behind said item yourself. Pop out or remove the items and, in an excited voice (similar to the one that you would use when playing this game with a small child) exclaim "Boo!" Many ferrets will react to your sudden re-appearance with a surprised and delighted look - they will open their mouths and begin to dance when you magically reappear. Some ferrets will go as far as to come looking for you, or to flat ferret when you 'disappear' only to become extremely over joyed by your magically re-appearance.

PARACHUTE

For this game, you need:
A blanket, towel, shirt or other fabric that you can use to cover your ferret
One or more ferrets.

Here's how to play: Place the fabric gently over top of your pet and then lift it up as you would when playing "parachute" in elementary school. Flap the piece of fabric up and down above your ferret to let them attempt to catch the fabric. They will generally jump up and grasp the material and may even begin to war dance when they see the fabric jumping around above their heads.

FERRET FISHING

For this game, you need:
A cat teaser toy or similar (toy on a string, attached to a child's fishing rod etc)
One or more ferrets

This is similar to playing "catch the toy" with a cat. You simply take the teaser toy and dangle it for the ferret - watch as they leap about and run around chasing the toy and attempting to stash it when they finally get a hold of it!

TUG

For this game you need:
A toy that your ferret likes
One or more ferrets

This game operates much like "tug" when played with dogs - let the ferret grab one end of the toy, and you grab the other and play a gentle game of tug of war. Be sure to let your pet win - after all, beating them is not exactly a challenge for YOU.

'FETCH'

For this game you need:
Ferret toys
One or more ferrets

In this game, you toss toys for your hyper pet and watch him or her chase the toys. The ferret will most likely NOT return the toy to you, but instead with pounce after them, dooking, and may even stash them in their favourite hiding spot. If your ferret regularly stashes the toys that you toss, you can take this a step further and trick non-ferret savy friends into thinking that your pet is extremely well trained to clean up their toys. To use this game as a ruse, simply say something to the effect of "clean up" when you toss the toy, and watch the expression on your guest's face when your ferret proceeds to take the toy and put it away.  

"TOILET TAG"

For this game you need:
1 or more ferrets
1 unsuspecting victim

Not REALLY a game, but a favourite ferret activity. In this 'game,' the ferrets sneak up on someone using the toilet who has their pants around their ankles. The ferrets jump into the pants and act as though they have just jumped into the most amazing circus tent ever while some take it a step farther and occasionally nip the victims toes, legs or ankles. The victim, of course, can do little about this as they are preoccupied with other activities at the time and unable to remove the ferret from the room.


This is only a list of a few of some of our favourite ferret games - there are many more out there and feel free to invent your own, just be sure that they are safe for both you and your fuzzy!

2012 Ferret Calendar

WHAT??!!
We had such fun putting together a calendar contest last year that we've decided to do one again this year!!!

WHY??!!
We are going to make a calendar which interested parties can order online... the company from which the calendar is ordered takes a cut (approximately 20% of each sale) and gives us the rest. We make the calendar using our time and photos, they deal with making and shipping. This reduces the amount of money and time that we need to invest in order to see this through; as a relatively new (and very small) society, we don't have a lot of spare capital or extra time for fund raising!

HELP!!!
So - we need pictures!!! Cute, funny, fuzzy ferret pictures!!! Beginning Monday, October 3, 2011, we would like you to send your favourite 3 ferret pictures to contest@ferretsnorth.org. October 10 we will repost them on facebook where people will have a chance to take a look at the pictures and choose their favourites!

Top 12 will be awarded their own month in the calendar, with honourable mentions being placed in smaller pictures throughout the calendar. The person who submits the picture that receives the most votes will receive a free calendar!

Fuzzy Love - How to tell that your ferret loves you

A ferret will not jump on you, wagging its tail and yipping, it will not sit on your lap and purr... so how you know that your ferret loves you? Well, ferrets are individuals - each one has its own way to show you just how special you are to them, so I asked a myriad of ferret owners how they can tell that their fuzzy loves them. Here is what they said:


1) Boy, am I glad to see you! 
 The ferret runs to you when you enter the room. This happens most often with free roam ferrets as the animal is not simply looking to get out of their area to exercise, but some ferrets will immediately run to their owners for a quick cuddle when they come home.

2) Ferret kisses.
This is when a ferret licks their owners on their face - eyes, ears, lips - or hands and arms to show how happy they are to see them.

 3) You're dirty. 
 Your ferret will groom you - clean your ears, eyebrows, arms, legs in the same way that they would clean themselves or another ferret. The ferret wants you to look our best... because they love you.

4) LOOK AT ME!
Some ferrets will jump at their owners legs, attempt to climb them, scratch or even nip at their foot for a reaction. These ferrets are asking to be picked up by their favourite person, or at least acknowledged. 

5) PLAY WITH ME!
A ferret will attempt to engage you in play - again, this is a plea for YOUR attention and them showing that they are happy to have you around. 

6) Oh, I'll help!
The ferret is overly interested in anything and everything that you are doing, and attempting to participate in whatever it is that you are doing with you. This is their way of keeping busy while doing what you seem to be wanting to do.

7) You will be my couch. 
 The ferret will climb up on to your lap for a nap and cuddle while you are watching TV or doing homework or other similar, stationary activities. More often than not, it is older ferrets that will do this as younger ferrets simply do not sit still long enough.

8) Follow the leader!
Your ferret will follow you around the house. They want to be a part of your activity and see what you're into, even if all that you are doing is pacing back and forth.


 Of course, there are many other ways in which your ferret can show you that they love you - this is simply a list of common forms, but as we already mentioned, ferrets are individuals and your ferret may have its own way of telling you that you're their special someone. Also, be sure to keep in mind that all ferrets have, essentially, ADHD - their expressions of affection and wanting your attention may be in short bursts, and they are easily distracted; don't take this personally - a short attention span is part of what makes them ferrets!

The myth about descenting

Recently, while perusing the classified ads, I cam across this ad

 

"I am looking to adopt two young ferrets into my family. I do have experience with ferrets and absolutely love them. I am hoping to buy two ferrets that already have their scent glands removed and hopefully are fixed. I would prefer a male and a female but that does not really matter."

The ad seems friendly, the prospective owner pleasant... so what is wrong with this ad? Well, this portion: "two ferrets that already have their scent glands removed and hopefully are fixed." This portion of the ad reminded me of a familiar conversation that I often hear at pet stores regarding ferrets. The conversation goes something like this: "Don't ferrets stink?" "No, these ones are de-scented." In reality, de-scenting a ferret does not affect the animal's day to day odor, so what does de-scenting mean and why is it done?


De-scenting is: the removal of a ferret's anal scent glands. The myth is that this reduces a ferret's overall day to day body odor. The reality is that it does not. Anal scent glands are used by ferrets much the same way that skunks use anal scent glands - that is to emit a strong smelling 'POOF' when upset or startled. The difference, of course, is that unlike a skunk's, a ferret's 'POOF' is short lives and easily cleaned out. The ferret's musky odor comes not from a single set of glands, but from glands located throughout the animal's body.

So, why de-scent a ferret? Well, the most commonly used argument - that is the one that many large mills that practice de-scenting use is that by de-scenting a ferret, you are avoiding future problems such as impacted or infected anal glands. While my experience with de-scented ferrets is admittedly limited, from what I can gather from ferret owners in Europe and Britain where ferrets are not de-scented, as well as from breeders who do not descent their animals, impacted and infected anal glands are not common. The second possibility - and this is my theory, not confirmed by any large breeder - is that ferrets are de-scented as part of a marketing gimmick. People that know little about the animals or are on the fence about ferrets purchase because they have heard about how ferrets smell are more likely to buy a ferret that is advertised as being de-scented. 


But your ferret doesn't smell that strongly... I've heard this from quite a few people, especially when doing ferret info days. I will hear about how their ferret or their friends ferret has or had a stronger odor, or the babies in the pet store smell more strongly, you must wash yours more often... In reality, my ferrets - de-scented or not - smell like ferrets. Baby ferrets in pet stores smell more strongly, but then again so do pet store puppies - its the location more than the animal. Ferrets tend to smell more strongly when they are stressed. Pet stores are stressful. Many people do not know how to care properly for ferrets, and my guess is that many "friend's ferrets" are not properly cared for - that is to say that their cages are not regularly cleaned and their bedding changed, they are not fed high quality kibble, and are confined to a small space most of the time. Some of the ferrets may also be sick as sick ferrets tend to smell more strongly, others may be well cared for but whole (un neutered) ferrets, or simply washed far too frequently.