The one big problem at the rescue center right now is older ferrets, What
do we do with them, we can't put them to sleep for just being old and find
it impossible to re-home them, and we do tell the owner the chances are,
there ferret will stay with us for the rest of there lives, but people continue
to give up on there ferrets even when they reach the age of 7 or 8, and
expect us to care for them, which we do, when people ask us at shows how
old do ferrets live for we say on average 7 to 8, how they can give up on
there pet right at the end of there life is beyond me.
One such case was 7 year old Ron a sandy hob below, his owner called us
and said Ron's brother had died after
an illness and she wanted us to take
Ron what do we do, say no and he may
be neglected because he is no longer
wanted, or say yes and fill up the cages
with ferrets we can't re-home stopping
other ferrets coming in that need our
help, we are here to help all ferrets
irrespective of age so we said yes, he
could come to us, he came sitting on
the lady's lap he was so good, he didn't
know what was about to happen, she didn't give him a second glance as
she left, or offer something to help pay for a couple of weeks food.
The worst thing about old ferrets coming to the rescue is seeing an old
ferret laying in the cage staring out in shock Ron had lost his brother, his
home and the people he loved and it hit him hard, we all tried to keep his
spirits up but he was very unhappy, but someone was looking over Ron
because a man who we know was at the rescue, saw Ron and said he had
an empty cage and would like to give him a home that was in July 2006 its
now October 2006 and Ron has found happiness again running round his
garden, he has no health problems but no matter how much time he has
left, he is a very lucky ferret indeed not many ferrets of his age get a
second chance. (The following has been added, on to this article), Ron
found happiness for only a short time, he had to be PTS on the 7th of
December 2006 because of a sudden illness. (End)
Although not something a first time owner would take home because they
want young ferrets, if you have ferrets, love them and have an empty cage
and want to do some good, find a ferret rescue and give some oldies a
second chance, I don't have an empty cage but tomorrow I will be taking
my old Jill who is on her own, to the rescue center to introduce her to a
10 year old Jill who is on her own, if they get on, she will be coming home,
I did try Ron above but he beat her up which was unacceptable.
Its been a few days and its all gone very well 10 year old Daphne,
and crystal are getting on, and are sleeping together, Daphne has some
health problems she lost all of her fur during the summer of 2006 which
means she has an Adrenal tumour, but as can happen she grew a full fur
coat in October 2006 sadly it will probably be lost again next summer and
at 10 years old it would be unfair to put her though an Adrenal operation,
she is enjoying her new life, there is nothing like a home, we do everything
we can for the oldies at the rescue center but guess what Daphne would
prefer to do at 9 in the evening, be asleep in a cage at the rescue, or as it
happened yesterday, sitting on my lap helping me eat a bowl of cream
of Cornish ice cream, (not to much though) whether she lives for one
month or one year I gave her a second chance, try it yourself.
This is Daphne in the picture on the left she has surprised
us how active she is for a ten year old ferret, she is
very beautiful with her fur I hope she doesn't lose it
next summer, still, if she does I am used to giving her
a cuddle with no fur at the rescue center.
There wasn't supposed to be any more to this page but I was talking to a
lovely lady called Sue who takes some of our more difficult ferrets, about
Daphne and how she had changed, she said its sounds rewarding, I just
wanted to tell you guys how much it has changed Daphne.
I have talked about taking on old ferrets for years, but all the ferrets I
have taken home have been young, not always perfect though, I have taken
on deformed, crippled and because of peoples cruelty, nasty ferrets but
Daphne is my first old one, as I said I always cuddled her at the rescue,
she was very nervous, she came out for food then went back to bed unless
you dragged her out of bed.
She was active for a ten year old when she came home, but nothing like
now, we now call her the Romford rocket she doesn't run, but I have never
seen a ferret walk so fast and if she hears us outside her cage she climbs
all over the wire to get out, Daphne loves being out, she is a totally
different ferret and is loving life, her health and age, is against her, but she
will be with us till the end.
The picture on the left shows Daphne and
Crystal both were on there own but now
friends, this picture was taken when they
were cuddling up together in a cupboard
when they were loose in the house, so they
had a choice whether they slept together or
not.
We had four albino's come in a year ago
(2005) they are 8 and 9 years old one had to
be PTS this year 2006 if I had space I would
love to take them home, but like all old
ferrets in rescues around the country,
because of their age, time is running out, for
them to get a second chance, so if you have
room, go get one or two, maybe three, but
only if you have time to give them, time is
what they need.
