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Post by sakuraferret on Mar 21, 2011 23:17:34 GMT -5
Konnichiwa! (Hello!)
I am American, and my fiance is Japanese. I came to Japan to settle down with him, we are getting married this summer! I joined this forum because me and my fiance decided to adopt a furbaby. We will adopt somtime after April 16th when I return from my short trip. I want to learn everything I can to help our ferret be happy and healthy.
We are looking into adopting a ferret that has become homeless because of the earthquake/tsunami that happend here in Japan. A lot of pets have become homeless because of it, so we want to help even just one ferret if possible. I am currently in contact with someone who said the rescue company she volunteers at just obtained 3 abandoned ferrets they are eager to home, because they only have experience with dogs and cats. We are exchanging emails and she is trying to find more information about them for me.
Thank you for reading! I hope I can learn a lot here, and maybe share pictures when an adoption happens! Genki de! ^_^
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Post by Sherry on Mar 21, 2011 23:30:10 GMT -5
Hello, and welcome!!! Congratulations on your up and coming ferret  I can't even begin to imagine the devastation that's happening there right now, and unfortunately, pets do get left behind when disasters like this occur  Those poor little lost souls! Anyway- please feel free to browse the various threads, post, ask questions, join in on the conversations! Check out the nutrition section- tons of info there! And most importantly- post pictures of your new little one when you get him/her! By the way- you might want to consider taking in two, so they have a friend to cuddle and play with in the way only ferrets can  Mind you- this is coming from someone with 9 of them ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2011 23:35:57 GMT -5
Welcome! Please accept my sincerest apologies for what has happened over there - my heart goes out to you.  We are all very friendly and are more than willing to help you with anything! This forum is a gold mine of information, so browse the different sections, join in, have fun! We offer a mentoring program for those interested in switching to a raw/whole prey diet What a nice thing to do - I'm sure the ferrets will be so happy to have a now, warm, loving home. You MUST post pics when you get your new children. Anyway, hope to be seeing you around! |
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Post by sakuraferret on Mar 22, 2011 0:17:11 GMT -5
Thank you so much for your kind words! It's on our news everyday, and it just makes me cry seeing what those people are going though. But step-by step, we are seeing more good news and amazing rescue stories. We were very fortunate not to be directly affected by the disaster. We did get a good shake, but nothing worst then some aquarium water and toppled plants to clean up.
Believe it or not, some pets are being abandoned not just from the distaster area, but from foreigners fleeing to their home countries! I don't really understand why they are doing this, I think it's a contagious paranoia that swept the nations foreign population thanks to the dramatic news media abroad and well-meaning families in their home countries. I think this is the case for the ferrets I am investigating now, because they were at a base no-where near the disaster area.
I am pretty decided about getting just one ferret for now, because I have oodles of time to bond and build a relationship with him/her. That is my goal anyway! We can always adopt a friend later if we feel that is the right thing for him/her. ^^
I might get my camera and ask for some tips for ferret-proofing our apartment...it's harder then it looks! I was told a ferret can squeeze into a 2inch x 2inch space! o.O
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Post by Sherry on Mar 22, 2011 0:24:35 GMT -5
Make that 1 inch square, and you're closer ;D And you are quite likely right. Although, in their benefit, if they are on an emergency flight, I don't think they are allowed to take their animals. But that's still no reason to just abandon them  Things like that tick me off, sorry! Anyway- no matter whether it's all three, or just one, I do hope to see you around, and am looking forward to hearing about your little rescue, and seeing pictures of him/her |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2011 0:25:46 GMT -5
Some can get into smaller holes than that! If the head fits, the rest goes! If you're getting one ferret, there is a great thread about owning a single ferret. It is a TON of work. I did it for a year, and while Pixie and I have a very special bond, I'm so glad she has buddies now www.holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=71We can definitely help you ferret proof! Ferrets will keep you on your toes - right when you think you've ferret proofes, they figure out new ways to get into trouble |
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Post by Sherry on Mar 22, 2011 0:40:11 GMT -5
Oh, yes! Ferret proofing is an ongoing process throughout the lifetime of owning ferrets ;D
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Post by miamiferret2 on Mar 22, 2011 7:05:15 GMT -5
Oh my god I feel SO horrible for those poor people in japan and their animals. We had hurricane Andrew here in 1992 and it pretty much destroyed parts of south florida. There were a lot of homeless animals. They are often the last ones that receive help and are left wandering around for a long time. It is awesome when people like you step up and give them a home.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2011 9:40:37 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum, and thank you for deciding to share your hearth and heart with a ferret -- you'll find that they are the most wonderful animals, but they do need research, and they are an "ongoing" project  ! |
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Post by Heather on Mar 22, 2011 12:47:53 GMT -5
Hi and welcome on board. Thank you for taking in a homeless fuzz. I can't even begin to imagine the devastation and the grief. I'm glad to hear that you're starting to see some positive news coming out of the hard hit areas. On the part of the abandoned pet (in general), there was a heartbreaking article about how many families who were working in gov't posts have been told they are to return to their home countries but they were forbidden to bring their pet home with them. Emergency protocol forbids any unecessary items to be shipped....unfortuately the powers that be consider pets household items Disposable like a chair or table . As many have already mentioned feel free to prowl the site and check out the various threads, ask questions...everyone's friendly. Might I make a suggestion, and that's all it is. You mentioned negotiating a fuzz from a shelter but he/she came in with a couple of other little ones. Not to overwhelm you or make you feel that you have to, do check to see if these little ferrets were a family. Ferrets form deep, loving bonds with their people and their cagemates. Lossing their friends can have deep reprecussions and devastating effects. For a ferret to be separated from his/her friends is like sufferiung a death of their cagemate. There are special protocols that can help this transition. These little ones have already lost their people, if they are indeed cagemates it might be even more devastating for them to loose each other. I would read over the post that was posted by Jackie and also a post about shelter shock I will see if I can find it for you(I'm on my laptop and it doesn't allow me to play search and find) without dumping my post on this site  Good luck, I hope to see more of you around and we would love to see pics of your new little one when you get him/her. ciao |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2011 13:05:25 GMT -5
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Post by Heather on Mar 22, 2011 13:08:19 GMT -5
thanks Jackie ciao |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2011 18:58:01 GMT -5
well it looks like everyone has covered the basics and thensome so....Hi and Welcome!!
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Post by sakuraferret on Mar 22, 2011 19:38:48 GMT -5
Thank you so much again for your kind words everyone!
Oh dear...I woulden't want to cause the little ones any further trauma! I am not even sure the rescue people know if they are a ferret family or not. My feeling says they probably are. I had it in my mind that by taking one, the other two have a stronger chance of being adopted as a pair. No guarentees, though.
I know this must sound terrible...but please share in your humble opinions with your furry experience, would it be better getting my first ferret as a baby locally? And per chance, future ferrets being rescues after I gain some experience to help them cope with possible trauma? Admittedly, this is technically my first ferret, although I worked at a pet store for a few years that sold ferrets. I have been doing my homework and preparing ahead of time as well.
Please share your thinking, I really want to do what is best.
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Post by Sherry on Mar 22, 2011 20:48:03 GMT -5
I'll be honest. We just sort of...fell into our first ferret ;D It was in no way planned. A little 13 week old boy needed a home, since he was no longer wanted. So- we took him! For a goodly portion of the next two months, I was convinced we'd made a major mistake. He was a bad biter, etc. Then, hubby got me our guy's littermate(according to the paperwork we got with ours). Once they saw each other again for the first time in almost 4 months- it was amazing They were so happy to be together again  And frankly- I'd never have a single ferret again. Although, even though I have 9 presently, I think my ideal number is four. I've adopted both rescues, baby's, and foster ferrets. Frankly, depending on your level of experience, adopting older ferrets is likely your best bet. Baby's need not only to be potty trained(can be pretty intensive ;D ), but also nip trained. You see- ferrets explore EVERYTHING with their mouths. And they have no bite inhibition, since their litter mates have really thick skin. So they don't realize ours isn't. Whereas most older ferrets are already potty/nipped trained. Heather is right, however. If they are a family, they really do need to be together. Is there any way you would be allowed to try fostering them? Just to see if you could even handle 3 ferrets? |
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