Post by m1charpie on May 23, 2012 4:46:33 GMT -5
Hi there, I'm Morgan and I'm the proud mom of two adorable little worms! I didn't plan on getting a ferret because I had heard they are so much work... that is, until my little Finn weaseled his way into my heart. I'm very rusty and noobish at this point so I will be asking for all the help I can get!
A little on Finn:
He was only born in December so keep in mind that all of this happened to a baby. His first owner was a high schooler who didn't ask her parents if she could get a ferret. She brought him home and was almost immediately told to get rid of him. Instead of doing the responsible thing and finding him a loving home she decided she would bounce him from friend to friend to friend until she graduated in two years. Every week or so he found himself in a different environment with different people, few of which new much about ferret care, I'm sure. To this day I am not sure how many people had him.
My cousin took him home, it was her turn to be the babysitter for a week. After a short time she knew something was terribly wrong with him. I just happened to be visiting her mother when she brought him up to show me. He was missing large patches of hair all over his body and was a total bag of bones. I agreed to take him home on the condition that the original owner give him to me fair and square; that or I got to talk to her parents. Needless to say, I brought him home.
I joined ferret.com's ferret forum, the people there are so kind! I posted an urgent "what do I do now?!" message and immediately got tons of response and email. It was so touching to see a community come together to help Finn. He was a lot of work, his little body was on the verge but with their help and a very good vet he came around! He has put on a bunch of weight and his bald spots have grown back in! It is a marked improvement from the time I got him but I'm still not totally content with his coat, which is part of the reason I joined here. You guys have awesome food programs and I'm hoping to get into the mentoring program!
In walks Fiona (Or Emmy, as her rescuers called her):
After Finn's condition improved I started looking for near by rescues to get him a little buddy. I'm pretty rural and the nearest rescue was on the other side of the state. Please don't attack me for this next part: I posted an ad on Craigslist to see if there were any ferrets in the area needing homes. Of course, I got tons of emails from people trying to SELL me their ferrets but that wasn't what I was looking for. I even got some emails from kindhearted people who assumed I had bad intentions or wasn't totally sure what I was getting myself into. Their letters always started off nasty but I actually made a few friends once I explained I was simply trying to give local ferrets a chance before traveling to a rescue.
Eventually I met a local woman who takes them in and re-homes them freely out of the goodness of her heart. She sent me a text and we talked long and hard about what I was really wanting. Eventually, I got to welcome Fiona into my home. She is a 2.5 year old little Jill, just as sweet as can be. She was so terribly beautiful when I got her. She had beautiful long soft fur and was the healthiest looking ferret I had ever seen. She hasn't degraded into a total rag heap but her fur is not quite as pretty as when we first brought her home. (Yet another reason I want to get into the mentoring program! I had total rag-a-muffin who has improved and then the beauty queen who is starting to look a little rugged!)
The health of my animals is not something I take lightly. They are depending on me, it is my responsibility to make sure I give them the best that I possibly can. You guys really seem to be a group who feels the same way and I just can't wait to get to know some of you! I have so much to learn and I'm looking forward to talking to some real experts!
For now, Pictures!
Fin, when we first brought him home
Fin's hair loss on his neck and his hair tonight
Fiona, snuggling on a rug
Fin and Fiona now! Notice his beautiful dark hair compared to before, and of course, that jelly belly!
A little on Finn:
He was only born in December so keep in mind that all of this happened to a baby. His first owner was a high schooler who didn't ask her parents if she could get a ferret. She brought him home and was almost immediately told to get rid of him. Instead of doing the responsible thing and finding him a loving home she decided she would bounce him from friend to friend to friend until she graduated in two years. Every week or so he found himself in a different environment with different people, few of which new much about ferret care, I'm sure. To this day I am not sure how many people had him.
My cousin took him home, it was her turn to be the babysitter for a week. After a short time she knew something was terribly wrong with him. I just happened to be visiting her mother when she brought him up to show me. He was missing large patches of hair all over his body and was a total bag of bones. I agreed to take him home on the condition that the original owner give him to me fair and square; that or I got to talk to her parents. Needless to say, I brought him home.
I joined ferret.com's ferret forum, the people there are so kind! I posted an urgent "what do I do now?!" message and immediately got tons of response and email. It was so touching to see a community come together to help Finn. He was a lot of work, his little body was on the verge but with their help and a very good vet he came around! He has put on a bunch of weight and his bald spots have grown back in! It is a marked improvement from the time I got him but I'm still not totally content with his coat, which is part of the reason I joined here. You guys have awesome food programs and I'm hoping to get into the mentoring program!
In walks Fiona (Or Emmy, as her rescuers called her):
After Finn's condition improved I started looking for near by rescues to get him a little buddy. I'm pretty rural and the nearest rescue was on the other side of the state. Please don't attack me for this next part: I posted an ad on Craigslist to see if there were any ferrets in the area needing homes. Of course, I got tons of emails from people trying to SELL me their ferrets but that wasn't what I was looking for. I even got some emails from kindhearted people who assumed I had bad intentions or wasn't totally sure what I was getting myself into. Their letters always started off nasty but I actually made a few friends once I explained I was simply trying to give local ferrets a chance before traveling to a rescue.
Eventually I met a local woman who takes them in and re-homes them freely out of the goodness of her heart. She sent me a text and we talked long and hard about what I was really wanting. Eventually, I got to welcome Fiona into my home. She is a 2.5 year old little Jill, just as sweet as can be. She was so terribly beautiful when I got her. She had beautiful long soft fur and was the healthiest looking ferret I had ever seen. She hasn't degraded into a total rag heap but her fur is not quite as pretty as when we first brought her home. (Yet another reason I want to get into the mentoring program! I had total rag-a-muffin who has improved and then the beauty queen who is starting to look a little rugged!)
The health of my animals is not something I take lightly. They are depending on me, it is my responsibility to make sure I give them the best that I possibly can. You guys really seem to be a group who feels the same way and I just can't wait to get to know some of you! I have so much to learn and I'm looking forward to talking to some real experts!
For now, Pictures!
Fin, when we first brought him home
Fin's hair loss on his neck and his hair tonight
Fiona, snuggling on a rug
Fin and Fiona now! Notice his beautiful dark hair compared to before, and of course, that jelly belly!
Lots of us have Craigslist or pet store babies so no one will fuss at you for giving a ferret a loving home. Poor Finn. So glad he found his forever home with you.
. Quite frankly- no one here cares so much WHERE the wee ones come from as WHAT happens with them once you have them! And even adverts to get a ferret is still rescuing that wee one from someone who no longer wanted them 
It is her opinion that other than being passed around and not taken care of he was also mistreated; I'm not sure I agree 100% but I suppose a nippy baby with a bunch of random kids is sort of asking for that kind of trouble.
thankfully you were there to rescue him 
He looks great now,and Fiona is so cute 
Anyways welcome to the group 
;D