Ferret Adoption - 10 Steps for Successfully Adopting Pet Ferrets

Ferret adoption is increasingly common. It is much cheaper to adopt one than to buy one. It is also less risky as most ferret-adoption organizations are excellent resources for information. So if you think you're ready to bring home a fuzzy, here's what to do.

Read everything you can. If you've never had a ferret, you will be surprised at how much there is to know about them. Even if you think you know all about them, read some more. There are many books and websites that offer a lot of information. Really consider what you read and how to put the information into practice in your real life. A ferret is a commitment, so make sure you can handle it.

Budget your money. Any new member of the family costs money. Can you afford to take in a ferret? An adopted ferret will cost about $75. On average, a cage costs about $200, depending of course on the size, the materials, and whether it is new or used. One cost that really is not optional for ferrets is spaying/neutering. Spaying costs between $75 and $300, depending on the veterinary practice and whether the ferret is also descented. Neutering costs between $50 and $250, again depending on the practice and whether the ferret is also descented. These are the one-time expenses. Now, you will need to consider the repeat expenses. Most experts estimate food for one ferret will cost about $200 per year or about $16.66 per month. Naturally, if you have two or more, you will need to multiply that figure accordingly. You will also need to have regular vaccinations, which could cost up to $100 per year. Your community may also require a permit, the fees for which vary. Add up all those costs and compare it to your income and other expenses. Can you afford a fuzzy?

Designate a space in your home for a ferret. It will need a cage that is at least 2 ft. by 3 ft., so you will need a space to contain it. In addition, you will need a designated space for your new family member to run around freely as it was not meant to live solely in a cage. Many people designate a spare bedroom for their fuzzies.

Ferret proof your home. Just as an unsupervised human baby can get into anything, so can a ferret. Ferrets love to squeeze into any nooks and crannies they can find, as well as squeeze through pipes, under doors, etc. Block up those openings. Ferret proofing also includes putting away knickknacks and other items that could be damaged. This includes clothes, food, books, wires, silverware, keys, etc. If you want to keep an item in its current condition, get it out of your ferret's way. A good way to be sure you're prepared is to crawl through the area on all fours. If you can reach it, so can your ferret.

Buy your supplies. If you've definitely decided to adopt, it's time to get a cage and some ferret food. You can generally find these at most pet shops or online. You will also need bedding material - old T-shirts, towels, and blankets work well - non-tippable bowls for food and water, and little toys (like golf balls, tubing, etc.). Many people already have something they can use for these items.

Find an adoption organization. Your favorite search engine will likely steer you to at least one such agency near you. Your local pet store may also have a bulletin board with notices for ferrets needing adoption. It is generally better to adopt through an agency or rescue organization. They can vouch for the ferret's history and provide information concerning its care. A private adoption is risky because you have no way to verify what the seller tells you.

Complete the adoption process. A reputable adoption organization will require you to complete an application. The application is designed for you to show that you would be a good ferret owner. It is also intended to emphasize the responsibility involved in ferret care. The agency may require an interview and an inspection of your home. Some agencies will even visit your home after the adoption has taken place to ensure the relationship is progressing well.

Choose your woozle. Once you are approved, the agency will let you choose your new pet. A good agency will try to match you with the best pet for your needs and experience (e.g., a calmer, older ferret for a first-time owner or a social animal for an owner who already owns one).

Bring home your new fuzzy baby. The fuzzy you choose should already have been vaccinated and examined by a vet. So after signing the paperwork, you will be ready to bring home a new member of the family.

Enjoy your new ferret - and be prepared for some ferrety surprises.

For more tips on ferret adoption and ferret care, as well as some neat pictures and other ferret fun, visit The Ferret Zone. Or, if you already have your fuzzy baby and want to learn more, check out the recently published "Getting Started with Pet Ferrets."

Adopting Pet Ferrets

Do you have ferrets on the mind? Do you think that having one of these furry critters in your house would benefit you or your family? Well you're probably right, so what are you going to do? Will you go to the pet store and pick one out? Or will you take the road less traveled and adopt a cute little ferret? Luckily there are several out there that need a home, and you could be just the person to give it to them.

There are some states that do not allow people to keep ferrets as pets. Make sure that you do not live in such a state before you start preparing your home. If you do live in a state that prohibits ferrets then you will probably not find any in pet stores anyway. Chances are though, that you are allowed to keep them because there are not many states that have outlawed ferrets. You may need a special license in some cases though.

Your ferret will need a place to sleep, so head out and buy a cage. You are going to want to get it set up as soon as possible because many cages are multi-tiered, and of course might take more than a few minutes to actually set up. You need toys, you need food, and above all you need to make sure that your ferret is entertained.

Are you ready to go on a ferret hunt? If so, then find animal rescue shelters! How do you find them? You look in the directory or you ask someone that knows. In this case the people that know would probably be the workers at the pet store. If they do not know, then you will need to check the phone book a few times. You should also consider the Internet. It has been a wealth of information for many years, and if you are looking for animal rescue shelters in your area, then you should not be disappointed at all.

The Internet works for this purpose, but that doesn't mean you don't need to be careful. In fact you need to be more careful than usual! You need to ask about the ferret's history, where it has been, what it has done. You need to know about any medical conditions that it might have. Even have it examined by a veterinarian if you can.

While they are different, they can certainly grow on you. Sure they're a bit difficult to train, but those who can deal with that difficulty will find that they form a bond with their ferret that can last for many years. If this sounds appealing to you, then go forth and find your ferret.

Jack L. Stone is an animal lover and a ferret enthusiast. He maintains a website [http://www.ferretfriendly.com/] dedicated to pet ferret keeping. For even more advice on finding ferrets via ferret rescue [http://www.ferretfriendly.com/finding-ferrets-for-adoption/] visit his website.

Ferret Adoption - 10 Steps for Successfully Adopting Pet Ferrets

Ferret adoption is increasingly common. It is much cheaper to adopt one than to buy one. It is also less risky as most ferret-adoption organizations are excellent resources for information. So if you think you're ready to bring home a fuzzy, here's what to do.

Read everything you can. If you've never had a ferret, you will be surprised at how much there is to know about them. Even if you think you know all about them, read some more. There are many books and websites that offer a lot of information. Really consider what you read and how to put the information into practice in your real life. A ferret is a commitment, so make sure you can handle it.

Budget your money. Any new member of the family costs money. Can you afford to take in a ferret? An adopted ferret will cost about $75. On average, a cage costs about $200, depending of course on the size, the materials, and whether it is new or used. One cost that really is not optional for ferrets is spaying/neutering. Spaying costs between $75 and $300, depending on the veterinary practice and whether the ferret is also descented. Neutering costs between $50 and $250, again depending on the practice and whether the ferret is also descented. These are the one-time expenses. Now, you will need to consider the repeat expenses. Most experts estimate food for one ferret will cost about $200 per year or about $16.66 per month. Naturally, if you have two or more, you will need to multiply that figure accordingly. You will also need to have regular vaccinations, which could cost up to $100 per year. Your community may also require a permit, the fees for which vary. Add up all those costs and compare it to your income and other expenses. Can you afford a fuzzy?

Designate a space in your home for a ferret. It will need a cage that is at least 2 ft. by 3 ft., so you will need a space to contain it. In addition, you will need a designated space for your new family member to run around freely as it was not meant to live solely in a cage. Many people designate a spare bedroom for their fuzzies.

Ferret proof your home. Just as an unsupervised human baby can get into anything, so can a ferret. Ferrets love to squeeze into any nooks and crannies they can find, as well as squeeze through pipes, under doors, etc. Block up those openings. Ferret proofing also includes putting away knickknacks and other items that could be damaged. This includes clothes, food, books, wires, silverware, keys, etc. If you want to keep an item in its current condition, get it out of your ferret's way. A good way to be sure you're prepared is to crawl through the area on all fours. If you can reach it, so can your ferret.

Buy your supplies. If you've definitely decided to adopt, it's time to get a cage and some ferret food. You can generally find these at most pet shops or online. You will also need bedding material - old T-shirts, towels, and blankets work well - non-tippable bowls for food and water, and little toys (like golf balls, tubing, etc.). Many people already have something they can use for these items.

Find an adoption organization. Your favorite search engine will likely steer you to at least one such agency near you. Your local pet store may also have a bulletin board with notices for ferrets needing adoption. It is generally better to adopt through an agency or rescue organization. They can vouch for the ferret's history and provide information concerning its care. A private adoption is risky because you have no way to verify what the seller tells you.

Complete the adoption process. A reputable adoption organization will require you to complete an application. The application is designed for you to show that you would be a good ferret owner. It is also intended to emphasize the responsibility involved in ferret care. The agency may require an interview and an inspection of your home. Some agencies will even visit your home after the adoption has taken place to ensure the relationship is progressing well.

Choose your woozle. Once you are approved, the agency will let you choose your new pet. A good agency will try to match you with the best pet for your needs and experience (e.g., a calmer, older ferret for a first-time owner or a social animal for an owner who already owns one).

Bring home your new fuzzy baby. The fuzzy you choose should already have been vaccinated and examined by a vet. So after signing the paperwork, you will be ready to bring home a new member of the family.

Enjoy your new ferret - and be prepared for some ferrety surprises.

For more tips on ferret adoption and ferret care, as well as some neat pictures and other ferret fun, visit The Ferret Zone. Or, if you already have your fuzzy baby and want to learn more, check out the recently published "Getting Started with Pet Ferrets."