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Post by brittanyb on Sept 26, 2020 4:29:47 GMT -5
Hi, everyone. I haven't posted since the death of my heart ferret Finn over a year ago (July of 2019). His death hit me *hard*, and grieving for him is a process that continues to this day. I know many of you can relate. Lately I've been feeling the calling to welcome another ferret into our business (which currently consists of two male ferrets, Huck and Oliver). Yesterday I was approached about a pair of ferrets in need of a home. They are a male and female, and the same age as my boys. I haven't made a decision yet because while half of me is excited about the prospect of new ferrets, the other half of me is conflicted. Logically I know that no other pet could or will ever replace Finn, yet I still feel some guilt over it. I also wonder if I'm emotionally ready for this, even though it's been more than a year... I also worry that because the new ferrets are already 2 years old with unknown health histories, that I might be setting myself up for more heartbreak in the not-so-distant future. I'm sorry if any of this sounds silly, I guess I just needed to vent these conflicting emotions I'm having. Has anyone else experienced being torn over adopting a new pet after losing one? Thank you for reading.  |
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Sept 26, 2020 8:07:52 GMT -5
I can't say that I have. After I lost my 14 year old doodle this year---my hubbie and I searched the internet for another doodle. They are pretty expensive which is our drawback. When we can afford it, I want a female again and I also would like the same apricot color as my Mollie. As far as ferrets, I did name my champagne male after my first male--Buddy. So I think I try to replace my passed away babies with one that reminds me of them. My Annabelle passed away this year--and I know I will be drawn to dark sables.
About the ones you are considering adopting, if you can afford the cost of care and are prepared to have two groups and do not mind devoting your time to the cleaning and feeding. Maybe focus on what the little critters will be receiving. However, it is ok to say no at this time. Our family has been in financial situations where it would have been better if we did not have animals. Hey and if you are not emotionally prepared that is ok too.
Maybe the person would let you test to see if they will get along?
I have two businesses--- with just 2 ferrets. It is a burden somewhat.
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Post by aurra on Sept 26, 2020 8:31:13 GMT -5
This doesn't sound silly at all. Here's my experience and I hope this helps.
I have 7 and one of my rescues passed away on March 30. This was my first ferret passing and I'm still crying. He was my special boy. About a month after his death. Kijiji popped up with ferret in need of home. This ferret wasn't a Marshalls ferret. He was intact smelly boy. He was the ferret I was looking for in the first place. Probably illegal to have here. I went to pick him up and it was a young girl with him. She said she adopted him 2 years ago from Kijiji but doesn't remember from where. He was chirpy and so silly and huge but I was so scared of him being around my little Marshall ferrets. I brought him home and he lasted 6 mins in the ferret room. He pinned one of my girls down and I couldn't handle it. I picked him up and went to my room and had a little melt down because I missed Dengar and I felt like I did something terrible by bringing this boy home. He comforted me in my crying and then I brought him back to the girl. She saw how much I loved him and she decided she was going to try to make things work and keep him instead. Especially because I told her how some people keep their ferrets and she got scared that he would go to a bad home.
Fast forward to end of August. An acquaintance of mine didn't want the 1 y/o ferret anymore because her kids didn't clean the (horrible) cage ever and it smelled. And oh boy did he smell. I brought him home and he had a bath right away. He had poop on him. He is my little monster and I love him so much. No one will ever be my Dengar.. or my Boba, Jango, Bossk, Cad, Rex, Aurra or Mando.
If you're able to make a decision with a clear mind then go ahead. My mind was not clear when I was getting the big guy. The whole drive I knew it wasn't right and then I saw the biggest ferret I've ever seen and got so scared and still did it. Sooo just don't do that. I'm lucky that the young girl understood.
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Post by brittanyb on Sept 26, 2020 9:35:04 GMT -5
Thank you both for your replies. You've given me so much to think about. I have some time before I need to decide, so I'm going to weigh the pros and cons, and ultimately I'll go with my gut. If it's meant to be, it will be. |
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Post by unclejoe on Sept 26, 2020 17:01:30 GMT -5
OMG every time i lose a ferret I swear no more, but always a new 1 (or 2) appear. We have lost 3 this year, and Abita is 8 and could pass any day. I have never turned down a ferret in need. That's how we are. But when Abita goes, we will have 3 under 3 years old and that is a number we've been aiming for for years. But we wouldn't turn any away.
So with 4 currently, that means we have lost 26 little ones over the years. Consider where these 2 might end up vs what you could do for them. I will admit to being less than perfect. I lost Scamps 18 months ago because he ate an earplug, and $1600 in emergency vet visits and blockage surgery didn't save him. Goober snuck out the door when we left to go shopping back in April and never came home.
You know how ferrets are. I'm not looking for anymore but I couldn't say no to a rescue. There are no ferret shelters near me.
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Post by unclejoe on Sept 26, 2020 17:05:58 GMT -5
aurra i don't think intact ferrets are illegal in Ontario. We got Jaffa intact from a private breeder in Ontario and his vet never mentioned any legal issues. When he and Dar24 emigrated to the States he just needed a current health certificate and proof of rabies vax.
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Post by aurra on Sept 26, 2020 17:13:23 GMT -5
unclejoe That's really good to know. I tried to find a breeder before I got any of my floofs and I could. There was one in Alberta I think. That's good to know for the future though. I have 2 one year olds right now and I plan on keeping them my youngest and maybe do some traveling before I start another little business family. My stepson would be an adult by then and can take care of the house while I bike around hopefully south America.
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Post by brittanyb on Oct 3, 2020 3:41:57 GMT -5
Update: Another placement was found for the pair of ferrets, and only a few days later I found out about a female ferret that needs a home. The situation she is in is bad (living in a horrendous cage with wire floors and being fed Walmart ferret food, ugh), and apparently the circumstances were even worse in the home she was in before this one. So my fiance and I are going to pick her up tomorrow, get her vetted, and welcome her to her forever home with us where she'll be spoiled absolutely rotten for the rest of her days. I'm very confident with this decision and the timing feels right. While I will continue to miss Finn very much and no ferret will ever take his place, I'm also excited to give another sweet soul the best possible life. ❤
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Oct 3, 2020 9:00:56 GMT -5
That is so sweet of you  |
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Post by Charlie on Oct 3, 2020 13:52:46 GMT -5
Update: Another placement was found for the pair of ferrets, and only a few days later I found out about a female ferret that needs a home. The situation she is in is bad (living in a horrendous cage with wire floors and being fed Walmart ferret food, ugh), and apparently the circumstances were even worse in the home she was in before this one. So my fiance and I are going to pick her up tomorrow, get her vetted, and welcome her to her forever home with us where she'll be spoiled absolutely rotten for the rest of her days. I'm very confident with this decision and the timing feels right. While I will continue to miss Finn very much and no ferret will ever take his place, I'm also excited to give another sweet soul the best possible life. ❤ You will know in your heart what the right thing is. Looks like you already know!! When you bring home the new little girl, you will need to keep her in quarantine for 2 weeks. This does 2 things, 1) give her time to adjust to her new home and get familiar to her new surroundings as well as you. Introducing her to your current ferrets plus the new environment may be too overwhelming and stress her out even more. 2) Make sure she isn't carrying anything to give to your current ferrets. (especially ECE). Even though the vet may give her a clean bill of health it takes time for something to present before you realize she's sick. This way she won't transmit anything to your ferrets. Better to be safe then all of them getting sick. |
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Post by brittanyb on Oct 4, 2020 8:28:35 GMT -5
No worries, the new girl is being quarantined in a separate room of the house, and I am thoroughly washing my hands and changing my clothes between caring for her and caring for my established ferrets. |
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Post by unclejoe on Oct 4, 2020 13:58:43 GMT -5
I'm happy for you. Ferrets and all pets are unique. So it's not like oyu can actually replace a lost one, but you can offer another a spoiled life vs horrible life as you have done.
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Post by brittanyb on Oct 5, 2020 3:27:12 GMT -5
You're absolutely right. When I heard about the conditions the poor girl has endured, I just knew she belonged with us. She's in her forever home now and she's never going to know another day of mistreatment or neglect. Last night she was war-dancing and dooking like mad, which made my heart so happy to witness. I definitely made the right decision 😊
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Post by Charlie on Oct 7, 2020 19:59:29 GMT -5
Glad to hear she is happy and that makes you happy too!! |
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