Cats and dogs still have a lock on the top two positions in the ever-growing list of popular animal companions. But birds and bunnies are in for a battle over the coveted number three spot. The feisty ferret is moving up fast one the outside, and may already have taken over third place according to some recent reports. A recent issue of Animals magazine reports that there are about 75,000-900,000 pet ferrets in the U.S. despite anti-ferret laws in California and Hawaii as well as New York City.
Yes, the irresistible little rascals are popping up everywhere
these days. Channel surfing late one weekend last year, I happened
on a frolicking pair of ferrets starring in a wacky "sword
and sorcery" show called "The Beastmaster." Starring
may be a slight exaggeration their roles seem to be limited
to looking cute, squeaking, and gnawing on ropes to release their
human friends when they get themselves into trouble. Even Lassie
never racked up more rescues per episode than this mischievous
little team.
Modern-day ferret lovers, who generally live a more uneventful life than the Beastmaster, are likely to find it's their frisky ferret friends who typically get into trouble. Their insatiable curiosity can "ferret out" trouble in even the most ferret-proof home.
Unsupervised, they can quickly dig their way into your walls,
couch, or furniture, and a single ferret can do a surprising amount
of damage. A word of advice - NEVER give these furry little companions
free range of the house.
Clever, playful, lively and spunky, ferrets are definitely
not for everyone. Like so many exotic pets, they can quickly wear
out their welcome in families who haven't given much thought to
their special needs and personalities. Unfortunately, as their
popularity as pets has grown, so has the need for ferret rescue
and "support groups" to provide help and advice on handling
problem behavior. Donna Spirito, who operates a ferret shelter
in Massachusetts, estimates that as many as half of all pet ferrets
end up abandoned.
Ferrets may seem like cool, funny, and adorable pets, but potential
owners need to know about their downside, too. Biting can be a
problem, though ferret bites are not nearly as common or as serious
as dog bites. Even after removal of their potent scent sacs, ferrets
have a distinct and, some would say, unpleasant musky odor. They
are very high-energy and high-maintenance companions who need
lots of attention, playtime, and freedom.
Sandee Chreiman, founder of the Ferret Rescue of Delaware County,
Pennsylvania, is one of many ferret lovers who has opened her
home to abandoned pets while finding them permanent, loving homes.
Through the Ferret Rescue, she also took on the taks of informing
the public about their needs and personalities.
Sandee wrote to us about an injured ferret she had found "abandoned
in a dumpster. When we picked her up she was cold, trembling,
and in shock. . . . this was a three month old baby whose tongue
was curled and burned on the edges, and she couldn't walk or even
stand. She had a broken back. After $80 in vet bills, plenty of
bedrest and assorted medicines, she's now on the road to recovery."
Such "second-hand" exotic pets can be very difficult
to place, and already overburdened animal shelters and SPCAs usually
have their hands full just placing more mainstream companion animals
like dogs and cats. Without people like Chreiman, most abandoned
exotics would simply have no future.
Spirito strongly discourages anyone from adopting a ferret without fully understanding what they are committing themselves to. "They are like toddlers," she says, "and you have to take care of them and protect them."
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Species Profile: Are you looking for trouble? Well look no further. The fun-loving ferret will be more than happy to help you find it.
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