The group Friends of Ferret Shelters is giving us a fundraiser! WOOHOOO! What a super bunch of peeps!
Two new items have been added. And it's not too late to buy tickets.
**Entries are due by 9 p.m. EST on Friday, February 13. ***
Check out all the cool stuff at: http://shelterfriends.blogspot.com/
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Scamps
Why, oh why, do I go to Scamps?
Well, it's in the mall by my house. And I just can't seem to pass up any chance to see ferrets. (Maybe I am mentally ill, like Rudy Giuliani says. Don't know about Rudy and his hatred of ferrets? Check it out here.)
Anyhow, to get back to Scamps. I went in there, and I saw that the ferrets had no food. These were young ferrets. (At least they weren't the babies that Scamps had during Christmas, but that's another rant.) If anyone needs a steady supply of food, it's a young ferret.
So I went to the nearest employee and told them.
"It's OK, we feed them in the morning," he said.
"A ferrets' digestion process is only three or four hours long. They need food all the time," I said.
"Well, if we feed these guys all the time, they gorge themselves and get distended bellies. So we only feed them once a day to protect them."
...
"Don't worry, it's OK. I've dealt with ferrets for many years now."
Um, yeah. Thanks. I feel better. Oh, no, wait... that was a brain hemorrhage. I have to go before I either fall down or accidentally punch you. Take care.
Actually, I just stood there while he walked away. For a minute or two, I wondered if I could somehow sneak some food into their bowl while the guy wasn't looking. But there were chains and a padlock on the cage. Perhaps too many people were gorging his ferrets and making them dangerously bloated, much like Monty Python's Mr. Creosote.
Instead, I came here and wrote a blog post. Then I waited a day so it wouldn't sound too vitriolic.
I swear, I wish I could educate the whole pet-selling world about the special needs of ferrets. I wish I could tell everyone everything that they would need to know about these fuzzy guys. I'll work on it.
Well, it's in the mall by my house. And I just can't seem to pass up any chance to see ferrets. (Maybe I am mentally ill, like Rudy Giuliani says. Don't know about Rudy and his hatred of ferrets? Check it out here.)
Anyhow, to get back to Scamps. I went in there, and I saw that the ferrets had no food. These were young ferrets. (At least they weren't the babies that Scamps had during Christmas, but that's another rant.) If anyone needs a steady supply of food, it's a young ferret.
So I went to the nearest employee and told them.
"It's OK, we feed them in the morning," he said.
"A ferrets' digestion process is only three or four hours long. They need food all the time," I said.
"Well, if we feed these guys all the time, they gorge themselves and get distended bellies. So we only feed them once a day to protect them."
...
"Don't worry, it's OK. I've dealt with ferrets for many years now."
Um, yeah. Thanks. I feel better. Oh, no, wait... that was a brain hemorrhage. I have to go before I either fall down or accidentally punch you. Take care.
Actually, I just stood there while he walked away. For a minute or two, I wondered if I could somehow sneak some food into their bowl while the guy wasn't looking. But there were chains and a padlock on the cage. Perhaps too many people were gorging his ferrets and making them dangerously bloated, much like Monty Python's Mr. Creosote.
Instead, I came here and wrote a blog post. Then I waited a day so it wouldn't sound too vitriolic.
I swear, I wish I could educate the whole pet-selling world about the special needs of ferrets. I wish I could tell everyone everything that they would need to know about these fuzzy guys. I'll work on it.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Sign a Petition to Give Father Nature's Ferret Rescue an Extreme Makeover
An online petition is being circulated to get the recently destroyed Father Nature's Ferret Rescue on Extreme Makeover Home Edition. This would help them rebuild a much-needed shelter, as well as help that family get back on their feet.
I can't think of a more deserving family.
The goal is to get 500 signatures.
Here is some information is directly from the site:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Rebuild-Father-Natures
"Due to a house fire that destroyed not only the home of Keith and Evelyn Krysz, but also the Ferret Rescue that was ran from the home, we are pleading with you to help them rebuild safer home for them and their Rescue.
The sooner they get their house rebuilt, the sooner they can start doing what they are meant to do.... rescue and re-home ferrets that are abandoned, abused, sick, or just dropped off due to lack of love.
they want to go home.
To read more about them and see some of their work, visit their website at http://fathernaturesferretrescue.com/"
Please visit the petition site and sign up to help them out. Thank you.
I can't think of a more deserving family.
The goal is to get 500 signatures.
Here is some information is directly from the site:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Rebuild-Father-Natures
"Due to a house fire that destroyed not only the home of Keith and Evelyn Krysz, but also the Ferret Rescue that was ran from the home, we are pleading with you to help them rebuild safer home for them and their Rescue.
The sooner they get their house rebuilt, the sooner they can start doing what they are meant to do.... rescue and re-home ferrets that are abandoned, abused, sick, or just dropped off due to lack of love.
they want to go home.
To read more about them and see some of their work, visit their website at http://fathernaturesferretrescue.com/"
Please visit the petition site and sign up to help them out. Thank you.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Friends of Ferret Shelters Fundraiser!
The group the Friends of Ferret Shelters is giving us a fundraiser! WOOHOOO! What a super bunch of peeps!
Check out all the cool stuff at:
http://shelterfriends.blogspot.com/
Personally, I want the adorable ferret-shaped scarf. But I'm sure you can find something too. :)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Ferrets and SNOW!
Oregon doesn't get a lot of snow. But it does get some. I am always surprised and fascinated by it since I come from Huntington Beach, California, where snow has been banned by city ordinance since way before I was born.
Since Oregon doesn't see a lot of snow, my ferrets also don't get to see a lot of snow. But all that changed yesterday.
I love to give my ferrets new experiences. And I wondered what the ferrets would make of the whole "cold white stuff" thing. So my husband and I opened the back door and put little Darkpaw outside for just a minute.
Note: Darkpaw was my first ferret, so she gets to be the star in many of my adventures. Maybe it IS favoritism. I won't deny it.
Well, Darkpaw sat at the door's edge for a second, whiskers frantically flying as she did a sniff to end all sniffs. Then she made a break for it, running through the snow for a second, and we made a wild dash after her. She stopped when the snow got up to her belly. Then she decided she didn't like it. REALLLLLLY didn't like it! James picked her up and she was shivering like crazy. Awww. Poor little girl.
Well, we have eight ferrets now, and we wanted to see if they would all hate it too. (Yes, maybe we are a bit sadistic.) But we needed something a little more convenient than taking them outside one by one.
James, ever the problem-solving engineer, brought in a baking sheet covered in snow and put it in the middle of the floor on a towel. Then we let them explore.
There were only two ferrets who liked it, Snoball and Frank. Frank, however, didn't just like it, he LOVED it! He really went to town! The cold did not seem to bother him as he did several fabulous whole-body snorgles through the mini-drift. He became quite possessive of the snow at some points, warning others off so he could fully spread out in the baking pan of winter delight.
Here are some pictures of his snow experience, along with the one where he tries to muscle Snoball out of the snow. "MY SNOW!" he says.
There was much merriment and mirth until, inevitably, the snow melted, at which point they all joined in for a long cold drink.
So, as far as snow goes, I would have to say that "Two out of eight ferrets interviewed would recommend snow to their ferret friends, as long as they didn't get in the way." It was well worth the effort!
Since Oregon doesn't see a lot of snow, my ferrets also don't get to see a lot of snow. But all that changed yesterday.
I love to give my ferrets new experiences. And I wondered what the ferrets would make of the whole "cold white stuff" thing. So my husband and I opened the back door and put little Darkpaw outside for just a minute.
Note: Darkpaw was my first ferret, so she gets to be the star in many of my adventures. Maybe it IS favoritism. I won't deny it.
Well, Darkpaw sat at the door's edge for a second, whiskers frantically flying as she did a sniff to end all sniffs. Then she made a break for it, running through the snow for a second, and we made a wild dash after her. She stopped when the snow got up to her belly. Then she decided she didn't like it. REALLLLLLY didn't like it! James picked her up and she was shivering like crazy. Awww. Poor little girl.
Well, we have eight ferrets now, and we wanted to see if they would all hate it too. (Yes, maybe we are a bit sadistic.) But we needed something a little more convenient than taking them outside one by one.
James, ever the problem-solving engineer, brought in a baking sheet covered in snow and put it in the middle of the floor on a towel. Then we let them explore.
There were only two ferrets who liked it, Snoball and Frank. Frank, however, didn't just like it, he LOVED it! He really went to town! The cold did not seem to bother him as he did several fabulous whole-body snorgles through the mini-drift. He became quite possessive of the snow at some points, warning others off so he could fully spread out in the baking pan of winter delight.
Here are some pictures of his snow experience, along with the one where he tries to muscle Snoball out of the snow. "MY SNOW!" he says.
There was much merriment and mirth until, inevitably, the snow melted, at which point they all joined in for a long cold drink.
So, as far as snow goes, I would have to say that "Two out of eight ferrets interviewed would recommend snow to their ferret friends, as long as they didn't get in the way." It was well worth the effort!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Shelter Shock -- a Sad End
I have to report the sad news that Boogety has passed away. He just didn't want to be here on Earth any more. No matter how many hand feedings, how many cuddles, how many medications, how much time out, or toys, or companionship, Boogety had just decided that he didn't want to live.
I had him for two weeks. In that time, he hadn't really gained much weight, but he was still eating as long as I held him and got him started on his soup. I fed him three or four times a day, and each time he got fed, he got to stay out about an hour to play with his friend, Frank.
Boogety didn't have much energy. I saw a trace of his old self a few times. Once, when he first got let out to play in my house, I saw him do a one-hop war weasel. He made it about an inch off the floor. And when he found a ball that makes a rattling noise, he tried to get the whole thing in his mouth, much to my delight. I was hoping that I would get to see more as time went by.
But on a Thursday, he refused to eat. I tried to force him, but he locked his jaws. So I fed him around his closed jaw and took him to Meg's as soon as I could. His gums were very pale. They gave him a transfusion, and Chris took him home with an I.V.
He died that night.
His buddy Frank is still with me. Frank was very lonely after Boogety's death, so I also brought home Snoball, who has a very good nature and is an expert cuddler. Together, we have made it through this tough time.
I will miss him.
I had him for two weeks. In that time, he hadn't really gained much weight, but he was still eating as long as I held him and got him started on his soup. I fed him three or four times a day, and each time he got fed, he got to stay out about an hour to play with his friend, Frank.
Boogety didn't have much energy. I saw a trace of his old self a few times. Once, when he first got let out to play in my house, I saw him do a one-hop war weasel. He made it about an inch off the floor. And when he found a ball that makes a rattling noise, he tried to get the whole thing in his mouth, much to my delight. I was hoping that I would get to see more as time went by.
But on a Thursday, he refused to eat. I tried to force him, but he locked his jaws. So I fed him around his closed jaw and took him to Meg's as soon as I could. His gums were very pale. They gave him a transfusion, and Chris took him home with an I.V.
He died that night.
His buddy Frank is still with me. Frank was very lonely after Boogety's death, so I also brought home Snoball, who has a very good nature and is an expert cuddler. Together, we have made it through this tough time.
I will miss him.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Shelter Shock
Most ferrets can do OK after they are dropped off at a shelter. I would say that 99 percent of them adjust after a few days and go on to being healthy and happy during their stay.
Then there is that 1 percent. They go into what is known as "shelter shock". They continue to grieve for weeks, even months, after they are dropped off, and can eventually starve themselves to death.
Unfortunately, one of the two ferrets who were relinquished to me during my stay at the shelter went into shelter shock. Boogety, the more sensitive of the two, has suffered greatly over the past few months.
When Boogety came in, he was fat, obese even. He has lost a lot of weight, to the point of being bony. He has little energy. He won't play very often. He has severe ulcers. He won't eat kibble, only soup, even though we give him the exact kibble that he ate before he came to the shelter. His eyes are listless, and he does not enjoy life. Even though Chris did everything she could for him, he failed to thrive.
I couldn't watch this happen any more. So I took him (and his buddy Frank) home with me, hoping that a different environment would help him. Maybe he needed more one-on-one time, I rationalized. Maybe more out time, in a house, would snap him out of his grief. I could tell that he wouldn't be here for very much longer if I didn't do something.
Then there is that 1 percent. They go into what is known as "shelter shock". They continue to grieve for weeks, even months, after they are dropped off, and can eventually starve themselves to death.
Unfortunately, one of the two ferrets who were relinquished to me during my stay at the shelter went into shelter shock. Boogety, the more sensitive of the two, has suffered greatly over the past few months.
When Boogety came in, he was fat, obese even. He has lost a lot of weight, to the point of being bony. He has little energy. He won't play very often. He has severe ulcers. He won't eat kibble, only soup, even though we give him the exact kibble that he ate before he came to the shelter. His eyes are listless, and he does not enjoy life. Even though Chris did everything she could for him, he failed to thrive.
I couldn't watch this happen any more. So I took him (and his buddy Frank) home with me, hoping that a different environment would help him. Maybe he needed more one-on-one time, I rationalized. Maybe more out time, in a house, would snap him out of his grief. I could tell that he wouldn't be here for very much longer if I didn't do something.
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