| Adopting any pet can be a rewarding experience | | | | Don't expect to be able to take your new ferret |
| for both you and your new friend. Here are a | | | | home with you straight away. The shelter will |
| few tips on adopting a ferret. | | | | want you to make several visits to them so that |
| Ferrets are becoming increasingly popular as pets | | | | they can see how you and the ferret are getting |
| in the US. While this is good news for ferrets, it | | | | on. They may also want to make a few home |
| does mean that more of them are finding their | | | | visits so that they can see your pet's new home |
| way into ferret shelters or rescue centers. The | | | | and give you on-site advice on how to make your |
| reasons for this range from simply escaping from | | | | home ferret proof. |
| their previous home and getting lost, to owners | | | | Once you and your new ferret have been |
| abandoning them for financial reasons or because | | | | matched and you are ready to take him home, |
| they have lost interest in their pet. Some will also | | | | you will be asked to pay an adoption fee which |
| have been forcibly rescued from mistreatment by | | | | can be anything from $40 to $125, depending on |
| the ASPCA or other animal welfare associations. | | | | the shelter. Your new ferret may have already |
| If you decide to adopt a ferret, go along to your | | | | been micro-chipped, vaccinated and neutered but |
| nearest rescue center. You will be able to find | | | | if not, you may be offered these services at an |
| details online or in ferret magazines. The staff | | | | additional cost. Some shelters may not offer |
| there will be able to show you the ferrets they | | | | these services but may ask you to sign an |
| have and give you an outline of their history and | | | | agreement stating that you will arrange for your |
| any background information they have on the | | | | ferret to be neutered and vaccinated as soon as |
| ferrets in their care. They will also want to find | | | | he is old enough. |
| out a bit about you and why you have chosen to | | | | Shelters may also have a 30 day cooling off |
| adopt a ferret. They'll also likely want to find out | | | | period whereby, if it turns out that the ferret you |
| about any previous experience you've had in | | | | have adopted is not for you they will accept him |
| keeping ferrets. This helps them to match you | | | | back and either match you with another one or |
| and your new ferret in an ideal partnership. | | | | return the adoption fee. They may also want to |
| You may be asked to adopt ferrets in pairs or | | | | do another home visit in this time to see that he |
| groups. Occasionally shelters will receive a pair or | | | | is settling in nicely and discuss any issues you may |
| group who have lived together and have been | | | | have found. |
| asked not to split them up when they are | | | | Don't be afraid to ask questions of the center |
| re-homed. As ferrets are incredibly social animals | | | | staff. Ferret rescue shelters are often run by |
| they may become depressed or experience loss | | | | experienced ferret owners and they are more |
| if they are split from siblings etc. | | | | than willing to share their experience with you. |