Pros and Cons of Ferret Adoption

Congratulations!

An option to adopt ferrets is the single most wonderful way of bringing a little ferret in your life when it badly needs you the most. There is a difference between adoption and foster care. When you take a ferret for foster care, you can expect that the shelter will cover veterinary costs for you, and you can also expect to be returning the ferret to the shelter and providing information about what you have observed of the ferret behavior that will enhance its chances of finding a suitable permanent home.

If this is your first time in caring/adopting a ferret -

Mingle with ferret owners, to the shelter operator, and to a recommended veterinarian. Look for books or online articles on ferret care or look at a series of informational documents called the FERRET FAQ (for Frequently Asked Questions). The Ferret FAQ is a rich and incomparable resource on all aspects of ferret care and personality, and this resource is available free of charge via the Internet, and is positively wide and more informative in its scope. You can also check the the MaFF publication Your Ferret: A Lifetime Commitment of Care for more information regarding the costs of care you can expect over the animals lifetime.

If You Already Have Ferret(s)

Ferrets accept their new owners most of the time and it is unusual if they are hostile. There are also resources noting how "introductions" are made to ferrets. Take into consideration the attitude of the ferret. If you already have one or more ferrets in your family, we recommend that you take their personalities into account. Older ferrets who have been 'onlys' for more than a year or so can have problems accepting a new ferret (whether that new ferret is a baby or an adult). Though some people tag along their ferrets to the shelter to mingle with other potential new ferret. Be sure to call ahead and check with the shelter first about bringing your pets to the shelter to meet the others.

Adult or Baby? Male or Female? One or More?

Adopting an adult ferret can really get exciting. Adults are easier to take care of since they have done with the early 'baby-nippy' stage, making adults a good choice if you should rather not trouble yourself with this phase of life. This is also a good choice if you have never adopted a baby ferret before. Older ferrets are often difficult to find homes for, making it a wonderful experience if you would like it to become a member of your family. There are baby ferrets in shelter homes too, but you should rather be careful in choosing the healthy ones. Try not to have standards of what you would like to adopt if you are going to a shelter home.

As long as you have an open mind and heart, there is a ferret that will capture your heart but will not necessarily meet your expectations. Sizes will differ if you choose a male over a female. Males are bigger and are heavier eaters and poppers than females. Each ferret has a different personality so it cannot be generalized that there is one character in males than in females. Your advantage in taking a ferret from a shelter home is that, you can discuss a lot of options and care tips on the shelter operator. You will know the exact history of the ferret, how to take care of it properly, and what to expect on the animals behavior and to adopt basing it all from your discussions. This makes it a lot different from getting one from a pet store. With adoption, you stand a better chance of knowing more because of the shelters circumstance.

It is common that shelters receive a pair, a trio, or multiple ferret groups from a single party surrendering them, so there are sometimes requests to keep them all together. More often than not it is best to honor such requests because ferrets bond together and separation can cause them stress. Plentiful ferrets can make a good "instant family", so if there is enough room in the house, it can really be a wonderful experience! Getting the whole bunch can mean that you wood not have to hurdle with formal "introduction" phases. Ferret coming in groups can be very friendly.

A Word about Our Tiny 'Hard Luck' Cases

There are some cases where shelters take ferrets who were maltreated, abused, or elderly, or are experiencing behavioral problems. This is where the real heart enters. If you are very much experienced with ferrets, or if you have enough confidence and experience with other orphaned or homeless pets, fostering a ferret can be very rewarding. Loving and caring for a poor ferret that needs it the most can give many rewards though people willing to take this difficult task can come so rare. You can be the ferret his last chance on life. Helping a poor creature in tough situations can be an eye-opener as it is emotionally rewarding.

Dumitru Ionut is a ferret owner and a ferret enthusiast.To provide more information about ferret adoption [http://www.pet-ferret-secrets.com/ferret-adoption/] you can visit my site pet ferret secrets [http://www.pet-ferret-secrets.com/].