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Post by mermaidsirena on Dec 17, 2017 19:04:12 GMT -5
My family rescued a ferret today from our local humane society. He was dropped off by a man who carried him there in his arms and then walked away. The shelter folks ran him down but he refused to come back and fill out paperwork. It took the police to finally get him to cooperate somewhat. He indicated that he was moving and he couldn't keep him. He came with nothing. He looks to be about two years old (as the man said). He is almost 3 pounds, has a big jello butt and decent coat. He smells quite a bit like smoke and since he was only at the shelter for two days I can assume the home he came from has a very active smoker. He is scared -- rightly so. He grips tightly when he is being held but is starting to relax a bit in my arms. He has not eaten since he we set him up in our temporary cage. I put some wysong and some raw soupy in a bowl for him. He looks very healthy but no eating yet. He finally pooped about six hours after getting him. It was a good size poop and matching the kitten food they were feeding him. He has mostly slept since he has been here. My other two ferrets seem interested that there is a new cage in their room (up high so they can't bother him) and the new smell that is on me. I haven't let the new ferret out to run around as he seems too scared right now. So -- I might end up a rescue foster fail if the boys all get along, but right now I just want to do right by him. How long do I wait him out with the food? Any suggestions to make him more comfortable? Oh - and would you say he is a typical sable (he looks a bit lighter than normal). Kennedy
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Dec 18, 2017 9:04:52 GMT -5
Read more: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/23920/tallahassee-rescue-kennedy#ixzz51cYqcIrbWow. At least he cared enough to bring him to the shelter instead of letting him out in the woods or something, and congratulations on your new little one. May he find many happy days with you. To give him some time out you could put him in a room by himself for a couple hours to roam---you might want to have some puppy pads in corners of room. A pooh cleanup is Nature's Miracle. I found some at Walmart even. I go near Tallahasse on way to mom's in Panama City. Not good to know they have a shelter---might catch ferret math when passing by.
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Post by Sherry on Dec 18, 2017 9:21:06 GMT -5
For now, I would honestly just try feeding him the raw puree. I didn't address this in your diet transition thread, but I hadn't realized he wasn't eating. Just spoon feed on your lap.
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Post by unclejoe on Dec 18, 2017 19:26:48 GMT -5
glad you got him. he's what we call a chocolate, in UK he might be a sandy
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Post by mermaidsirena on Dec 18, 2017 21:08:40 GMT -5
Well he has still been on a bit of a hunger strike. I was able to get some egg in him with a syringe. Never had much luck with the wet kibble. He also seemed unimpressed with the baby food chicken. I am going to put some very soupy soup in there tonight. He as pooped twice (at least) today. The last one was getting on the wet side of firm.
He is very active when I give him time to roam and has quite a chunky butt -- if I didn't know better I would actually say he is overweight and I have never known that ferrets could over eat!
I'm still not sure he will be added to my two but at least he is safe until he finds a final home if he doesn't stay. He is very gentle when held and even gave me a few kisses before I started to encourage food eating.
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Post by mermaidsirena on Dec 18, 2017 22:08:44 GMT -5
For now, I would honestly just try feeding him the raw puree. I didn't address this in your diet transition thread, but I hadn't realized he wasn't eating. Just spoon feed on your lap. The raw puree did the trick! He ate about 1/2 and ounce from my spoon once I forced it on him and showed him it was good stuff. He did it more when I placed him in the hammock, my husband rubbed his back, and I spoon fed him the very, very soupy soup. Eventually he stressed out and decided to go under the blanket in the hammock and go to sleep. But he did eat!! I will try more in the morning and I did leave the bowl in the cage for him, just in case he gets brave.
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Post by mermaidsirena on Dec 20, 2017 21:59:56 GMT -5
He seems to be eating about two ounces a day - so far. It is soupy soup but he has eaten a small chunk or two that my blender missed (and I left in there because I am lazy!). He is a lazy ferret and sleeps quite a bit - so definitely at least two years old as they thought. When he is out he moves around and does chook. He does not seem to play with toys but enjoys the blankets and crawling through the jeans. He has gone through the tunnel once but isn't really interested in it. He has sniffed the dogs by the doorway and doesn't seem phased by them. The one time we placed him together with Ghost (as he is the biggest between him and Branch) Kennedy proceeded to grab his neck and shake pretty hard. I haven't put them together since and don't really plan to. The rescue is looking for a spot for him and I am fine with keeping him safe with me until they do. I just feel bad that he does not get as much time out of his cage as much as Branch and Ghost. Thankfully he sleeps a lot more than they do so it isn't too bad. Wish me luck as I really want to do right by him but also by my current two. Kennedy hasn't moved from this position in the last three hours (since we had play time).
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Post by Sherry on Dec 21, 2017 10:41:19 GMT -5
Glad he is eating more And he may also be a bit depressed at being shuffled off to another place. Once he is in a spot where he will stay, he will start to be more active.
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Post by mermaidsirena on Dec 21, 2017 22:05:08 GMT -5
I took your advice and tried kibble again. He started chowing down this morning! So glad he is eating more. I'll keep trying soup but will maintain kibble in his cage.
I tried all three together for a bit again. Everything was find for about 10 minutes. There was a bit of laying all over each other (no one more than another). Then the new grab the neck of Ghost and started the violent shaking. I know it is probably normal -- but it is more than I want to watch. Ghost and Branch pay with each other but it is NEVER that violent. And I don't want it to start to be either.
So -- he will stay separate. And we will work on finding him a safe home. I'm ok with admitting two is plenty. I'm ok with keeping him safe until he has a home. The only thing that bothers me is that he won't get out as much as I would want him to as Ghost and Branch come first.
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Post by Sherry on Dec 22, 2017 10:30:53 GMT -5
Knowing your limit ferret wise is excellent. And being able to foster successfully is wonderful
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Post by unclejoe on Dec 23, 2017 18:52:32 GMT -5
It's kind of sad that it worked out that way. When I got my first rescue pair (I had a single white female at the time, lol) I just threw the 2 boys in with her and all was fine. a couple weeks later another 2 boys and all was fine. It was like that for a few years until DAr24 came along with her Canadians, Prissy and Jaffa. Jaffa was a big private-bred and raised heck until everyone (except Prissy) submitted. Now we have Scamps, another Canadian (Real Canadian, to be precise) and he can't get along with Zoe, the sweetest little girl ferret ever. I'd kick him out but he knows the way home...
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Post by mermaidsirena on Dec 24, 2017 21:25:06 GMT -5
Kennedy has a new home and a brother to keep him company. A lovely family that only lived an hour away was able to give him a home and lots of love. They will take great care of him and he is already settling in well with his new brother. All ended well and I am glad I was able to care for him in his time of need.
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Post by Thérèse on Dec 29, 2017 7:38:52 GMT -5
Glad Kennedy got a home and brother for Christmas, a ferret Miracle on 34th St
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Post by Sherry on Dec 31, 2017 9:41:31 GMT -5
I always love happy endings
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Post by birdyyy on Dec 31, 2017 11:06:17 GMT -5
Sending our love! We saw him online that he was in the shelter and we're happy to hear that he's home!
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