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Post by selantra on Apr 24, 2011 10:59:10 GMT -5
I have a bad habit of visiting pet stores when I am bored and looking for some ideas for my fuzzbutts. I was so happy to hear we had an independent pet store in the area instead of just the large retailers such as Petco and Petsmart. It was a little place, called Alligator Alley, that catered mostly to reptiles but they also had a pair of ferrets. Thrilled to see some tiny babies, I instantly started to play. Well, although adorably cute, (one had a white exclamation point on his forehead!) , they both had severe biting problems. When I mean severe, any time someone tried to stick their hands in the playpen, they would instantly try and bite your fingers. They would literally chase them around if you let them.
Seeing a potential problem, since most people do not want a little critter who's only dream is to gnaw away at your fingers, I went over to the front desk ( will dreams of rescuing grandeur) and asked what will happen if they cannot sell the baby ferrets. Was I in for a surprise! The man at the counter smiling, told me that they would be a meal for the alligator they keep in large enclosure out back. Now, I normally try and keep cool in such situations, but I the look on my face must have scared the man and my rather angered "Come again?" that he left and walked into the back. He did not laugh and say he was kidding, just kind of looked down at the floor and walked away. I am inclined to think he was deathly serious.
What should I do?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 11:02:02 GMT -5
holy crap!!! I would contact your local rescue to give them a heads up. They might be willing to work with those baby fuzz so that they aren't tying to bite the hand that feeds them or maybe even take them so that they don't become gator food!
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Post by selantra on Apr 24, 2011 11:04:15 GMT -5
Well I only know of one in the area and they are relatively full. I will still give them a heads up. I would like to think that it was just a very bad joke, but he never once tried to say "just kidding" or " we don't really do that". I just couldn't believe my ears. I was ready to stash them in my purse when he walked away and run, but I know that is not the way to do things.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 11:10:06 GMT -5
I probably would of flipped out had I heard that with my own ears and I am not very good when it comes to verbal self control, probably would of gotten myself into trouble... if you have the time go in on a regular basis and handle them bring some ferretone with you so they start to associate people hands with good things
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Post by selantra on Apr 24, 2011 11:15:58 GMT -5
I wish I had more time, but I will try to pop in every once in a while. I try to keep control of myself in situation like that because I want to keep an open communication between me and the owner. I know yelling and scream ( which is what I wanted to do) will only get me kicked out and banned, but I did manage to get a bit of information out of an email I just received. He said before they are "removed" they will go on sale. They have a FB so I will be looking for ferret sale updates. If all else fails, I guess I will swoop in and take them.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 11:26:07 GMT -5
if you let the rescue know they might be able to send in a volunteer on a regular basis to work with the ferrets with the biting...it can take a long time though especially if there seems to be no outward triggers to the behavior. I have two ferrets that I rescued last June and they are hardcore biters, break the skin shake and bleed you, it hurts like h*ll and they are lightening quick. There seems to be no triggers for Sophie Ann and Velma and while there has been improvment, more with Velma then Sophie Ann, it's take a long time to get to where we are. I can say that I can now hold Sophie Ann for about a min and a half with out her taking a chunk out of me...but there are still days that she won't even let me pick her up... What type of ferrets are they? MArshall's, RC, private breeder? About how old are they?
Also you can check with your local Fish and Wildlife office to see if that store has proper permiting to keep Gators....
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Post by Sherry on Apr 24, 2011 11:26:55 GMT -5
I'd not only be contacting the rescue, but the SPCA as well! That's insane I also just wrote the owner of the store, asking him to clear this up. Hopefully it's just a bit of dark humour.
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Post by selantra on Apr 24, 2011 11:36:45 GMT -5
Well I know they have the permit to keep the Gator, in Oklahoma most are not allowed to keep them, but they fit under a Grandfather clause and thus are allowed to keep them. I will definitely let the rescue know about them. They are Marshall babies, and I would but they at about 3 or 4 months. They were incredibly tiny. When they bit, ( yes I was subject quite a few time) it is not enough to tear the skin but it is uncomfortable. It is almost as if the finger is a toy.
Unfortunately, the SPCA can do nothing about it. Apparently ferrets are considered like mice and other rodents and are thus they can be used as food. They said it was incredibly unfortunate but they could legally do nothing unless they abused the animal. Being lunch for a gator does not constitute abuse simply the natural cycle.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 12:08:08 GMT -5
Well..then the SPCA will have to be told that Ferrets are not rodents are not to be used as food! How flippen ignorant is that?!?!?! What they don't think that tossing a ferret in to a Gator to eat it is abuse?!?!?! GRRR!!!!! Please correct me if I'm wrong...but in the wild the BFF does not live in the same ecosystem as a Gator....there for a ferret would not be lunch for a Gator... right?!?!?!
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Post by Heather on Apr 24, 2011 12:09:19 GMT -5
Unfortunately, what you've discovered is probably true. Your little biters were probably returns and he got them at a discount. As horrible as it sounds (and believe me I'm not happy about it by any means, I'm furious) to that person those baby ferrets are not any different than feeding rats or mice to some of us . ciao
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 12:13:01 GMT -5
too bad I'm not in the same state of those poor fuzz would be at home with me...much to my husbands displeasure, but the thought of them becomming dinner or lunch plain ole pisses me off!
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Post by hails on Apr 24, 2011 12:22:59 GMT -5
I went to their Facebook page asking for clarification. Hopefully enough public outcry will make him change his mind and find the ferrets good homes.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 12:59:15 GMT -5
Depending on the answers received, and if it's shown to everybody's satisfaction that the clerk's statement was not made in jest, then make the issue viral -- the 'net's still free and open, and let's see how the company owner enjoys being "feed."
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Post by maddiesmom on Apr 24, 2011 14:10:37 GMT -5
If these are marshall ferrets... you may want to consider contacting marshall farms, as well. It sounds crazy, but I've actually heard that they will stop shipping baby ferrets to stores that are not carring for them properly. I have a nearby store that no longer carries ferrets... of course, the store denies "why" but it never hurts to try
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Post by Sherry on Apr 24, 2011 14:17:08 GMT -5
You are absolutely correct in that. AND they'll get either satisfactory answers, where we may not, or they'll simply stop allowing them to be sold there. I'm going to try contacting Marshall's, see what happens. Have also written with the concerns to Marshall's. They might get some answers, where we wouldn't be able to.
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