|
|
Post by msplatypus on Mar 27, 2017 20:57:43 GMT -5
I recently inquired to the only rescue in my area about adopting a ferret since my husband and I will soon own a home large enough to fit lots of ferrets. I've wanted to rescue ferret's for awhile, but we didn't have the room or resources until now.
After reaching out to the rescue about if they require vaccinations, I was basically berated and was told I was breaking the law. I had two veterinarians recommend against vaccinating because of how horrible the side effects were, and in a lot of cases, the science just doesn't convince me it is worth it, especially considering they do not have visits with any animals outside of our home and we restrict who comes into contact with them.
I was just doing what I thought was right. I don't want to subject my ferrets to unnecessary cruelty. Maybe I was not informed enough when I made the decision (and apparently both vets too). I just wanted to give a loving home to ferrets in need.
Any advice? Anyone encounter a similar problem?
|
|
|
|
Post by LindaM on Mar 27, 2017 21:26:43 GMT -5
No, the risk with vaccinations are definitely real. And vaccinating yearly raises the risk of an adverse reaction incredibly. Personally, I vaccinate for each Rabies and Distemper only once in the life of the ferret, never again. And when adopting, I inquire about vaccine history to make sure I don't have a reaction.
|
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Mar 27, 2017 23:34:59 GMT -5
I too, do not vaccinate unless absolutely necessary. Rescues vaccinate, so I don't see the problem, those ferrets are protected, even if you don't vaccinate. That being said, it may be their "policy". Distemper outbreaks do happen in shelter situations. It makes them very sensitive to "not" vaccinating or vaccinating in limited amounts. Your vet practices similar policies to mine. Unfortunately, this doesn't help you with the policy with the shelter  Does this mean they won't adopt out to you ? Are all your ferrets healthy? None with adrenal, insulinoma, IBD? These are not healthy ferrets even if they're treated and controlled. They shouldn't be vaccinated. Will you vaccinate your little ones to accommodate their policies? This becomes a question as to how much you're willing to change your ideas and views to accommodate their policies. The risk of reaction is real. I've had it happen. Watching your little one in the throws of a reaction and not being able to do anything about it really makes you ask and start to weigh risks. Again, this is up to you ciao |
|
|
|
Post by msplatypus on Mar 28, 2017 6:02:06 GMT -5
I too, do not vaccinate unless absolutely necessary. Rescues vaccinate, so I don't see the problem, those ferrets are protected, even if you don't vaccinate. That being said, it may be their "policy". Distemper outbreaks do happen in shelter situations. It makes them very sensitive to "not" vaccinating or vaccinating in limited amounts. Your vet practices similar policies to mine. Unfortunately, this doesn't help you with the policy with the shelter Does this mean they won't adopt out to you ? Are all your ferrets healthy? None with adrenal, insulinoma, IBD? These are not healthy ferrets even if they're treated and controlled. They shouldn't be vaccinated. Will you vaccinate your little ones to accommodate their policies? This becomes a question as to how much you're willing to change your ideas and views to accommodate their policies. The risk of reaction is real. I've had it happen. Watching your little one in the throws of a reaction and not being able to do anything about it really makes you ask and start to weigh risks. Again, this is up to you ciao I really do not want to vaccinate. My little ones are healthy and they've just switched to a raw diet and I've never seen them so happy and energetic. They have no conditions (although they are only about 10 months, so some may develop eventually). I don't want to put them in harms way because of a policy that would force me to have them vaccinated yearly. I really want to take in ferrets in need, but my little ones just don't need the vaccination and I don't know if I could live with the decision just to accommodate the shelter. It was hard being called a criminal when I'm not. The guy I spoke to mentioned the local law of the city the rescue is based out of. I'm in an unincorporated part of another city and only cats and dogs are required to be vaccinated here. He didn't bother to ask and just figured I was breaking the law. All I want to do is help some ferrets and grow my little family.  |
|
|
|
Post by msplatypus on Mar 28, 2017 6:05:33 GMT -5
No, the risk with vaccinations are definitely real. And vaccinating yearly raises the risk of an adverse reaction incredibly. Personally, I vaccinate for each Rabies and Distemper only once in the life of the ferret, never again. And when adopting, I inquire about vaccine history to make sure I don't have a reaction. They won't even adopt out to me if I don't show proof my animals are vaccinated every year. I begrudgingly have my cat vaccinated yearly because of the law, but I've had two vets recommend against vaccinating my ferrets, and they weren't even holistic, pro-raw diet vets. My ferrets are happy and healthy and I would be devastated if I put their health at risk by getting them vaccinated. |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Mar 28, 2017 9:55:11 GMT -5
What area are you in? There are many rescues out there, maybe another is nearby?
|
|
|
|
Post by LindaM on Mar 28, 2017 12:30:28 GMT -5
I agree with Sherry and Heather, surely there are other rescues out there, probably even private adoptions available through ads on sites like Craigslist. I tend to check KSL (Utah-based) for where I am, so I'm sure there's some local private ad sites you can check as well.
At the end of the day, vaccines are an incredibly personal decision to make, and no one should force you in that decision. Vaccines pose a real and true risk, and while I do vaccinate the once-off, I feel sick to my stomach each time a shot gets done. I've been in tears more than once out of sheer fear, I cannot imagine losing one of my little ones. Other than the common no-nos of vaccines like never vaccinating a sick animal, one with a compromised immune system, or one that has previously reacted to a vaccine, the sad truth is, that even a ferret who has never been vaccinated before, can end up with an adverse reaction the very first time. And even an experienced vet sometimes cannot save the ferret, so it remains a big risk. Enough so, that many owners while living in a place with the annual vaccine law, will ignore it and just never let their ferret come in contact with a stranger who might request a rabies test if bitten, which means to euthanize the ferret as not all places allow a simple quarantine.
If I were you, I'd simply look for somewhere else that will also offer you the opportunity to help some little ones in need.
|
|
|
|
Post by msplatypus on Mar 28, 2017 16:33:56 GMT -5
What area are you in? There are many rescues out there, maybe another is nearby? I will send you a quick message with my location and the shelter in question. I'm a little paranoid about privacy.  * |
|
|
|
Post by msplatypus on Mar 28, 2017 16:47:37 GMT -5
I agree with Sherry and Heather, surely there are other rescues out there, probably even private adoptions available through ads on sites like Craigslist. I tend to check KSL (Utah-based) for where I am, so I'm sure there's some local private ad sites you can check as well. At the end of the day, vaccines are an incredibly personal decision to make, and no one should force you in that decision. Vaccines pose a real and true risk, and while I do vaccinate the once-off, I feel sick to my stomach each time a shot gets done. I've been in tears more than once out of sheer fear, I cannot imagine losing one of my little ones. Other than the common no-nos of vaccines like never vaccinating a sick animal, one with a compromised immune system, or one that has previously reacted to a vaccine, the sad truth is, that even a ferret who has never been vaccinated before, can end up with an adverse reaction the very first time. And even an experienced vet sometimes cannot save the ferret, so it remains a big risk. Enough so, that many owners while living in a place with the annual vaccine law, will ignore it and just never let their ferret come in contact with a stranger who might request a rabies test if bitten, which means to euthanize the ferret as not all places allow a simple quarantine. If I were you, I'd simply look for somewhere else that will also offer you the opportunity to help some little ones in need. I may have to go that route. My ferrets never come into contact with strangers, and I thoroughly vet anyone who may come over, so the chances of them actually biting someone is very small, and the cases of ferrets contracting rabies and passing it to humans is practically nonexistent so I can't really justify making them get rabies. As for distemper, that's one I am concerned about. If anyone comes over who has dogs, I actually need to know if their dog has had its distemper shot. My husband and I also change our clothes right away after getting home in case we picked up the virus while out. We are probably over-cautious, but it's something I am worried about. I have been keeping my eye on my local Craigslist ads. Every once and awhile one pops up where a family just didn't have time for their little one anymore or financial circumstances keep them from continuing to care for their ferret. Once we're settled in a new place, those may be my way to adopt and help out. I wanted to work through a shelter, but not at the cost of my current ferret's health's. |
|
