2 Ferrets need a home in NJ/PA

[pookie]

This kills me but 2 of my ferrets need a new home. We are moving 7 hours away and while I would LOVE to bring them, I feel really awful because they were a group of 4 until recently. We are in NJ right now but are willing to take them to Pittsburgh PA and rehome them there too. Also willing to drive and meet if the drive is do-able.

Two of my ferrets recently passed away, and the two that are left aren't terribly close to each other even though they do cuddle and play. They were each attached strongly to the two that passed away. I really want them to go to a good home where there are more ferrets to play with. You can have all supplies - toys and huge cage included.

They are each about 3/4 years old. I can get accurate dates as to when I got them. They have been to the vet, gotten all of their shots, and they are healthy. One male and one female. The male used to be all black when I got him but my other 3 ferrets are white, so I think his color changed because of that. He is now a gray/white color! The female is deaf which doesn't seem to bother her much The other 2 I had were deaf. The male can hear quite well. He nips a little bit (i think he was abused before I got him but he has gotten much better!) They are both really playful - the female is EXTREMELY playful.

The only real issue - they are used to having free roam of a room. They are in a room with a big cage (which you can have for free!) and a ton of toys. I don't think they would do well going into a cage without being taken out a lot. The male always yanks at the bars. They are also used to drinking out of a water bowl instead of a hanging dispenser.

They are both really good with kids. My daughter (1 1/2 years old) plays with them a lot. The male sometimes nips her arm. I don't know if he will ever stop doing it, but he is a sweetheart other than the nipping. The female only nips when she is super playful but its never hard. They are litter box trained as well - neither has ever had an accident.

Here is an older picture of the male - Elvis. He is a lot whiter now!


Female - Stevie


If you are interested, please let me know. You can come by and play with them or I can bring them by and see if they get along with your ferrets. I just really need for them to go to a good home. I am willing to take them back any time if for some reason it doesn't work out - even after we move. I know it is healthier for them to be in a house with more ferrets to play with, especially after the recent deaths.

These 2 are FREE to a good home - I will throw in a free bag of food and litter to start you off, free cage (big 5foot cage), free litter pans, free toys. Only requirements are you must have other ferrets & they cannot be caged.

Thank you!

[buellerandlucymom]

Your post kind of does not make sense. You want them to find a good home with more ferrets, but if it does not work out you will take them back? Why are you getting rid of them in the first place? Not trying to be rude, but doesn't it just make more sense to leave the 2 where they are? They will eventually get used to each other and enjoy each other's company. It's very traumatic to move them from the home they are used to.

I am sorry if I sound rude, but I am just confused.

Carolyn

[Potato]

Carolyn, they do sleep and play together, so they are used to one another... they just arent bonded to one another.


Pookie - Not everyone can let their ferrets free roam all day, I understand your wanting to let them continue that, but you're limiting yourself to good homes that can take them.

Does the place your moving to have policies against pets? Cause if not, I would highly recommend keeping them with you. If theres no reason for you not to keep them, it would be better for them if you do. Its one thing to have to move into a new place, which can be hard enough on them if they're older... but to move into an entirely new place with strange people and strange ferrets after being with you for so long? It can not only stress them out, it can make them seriously ill.

[pookie]

They free roam right now in a single room. I just know that they get really stressed if they are locked in a cage.

The place we are moving to is a really small 2 bedroom - one for us and one for my daughter. We also have 2 cats. I can either leave them with my parents here in NJ or find them a home with someone else. I am worried mostly that they will never *fully* bond together and if they do, when one passes away then the other will be extremely lonely because my parents do not have the time for them.

I just want them to be safe and happy - which is why I said I would take them back if it didn't work out (meaning they would come back to my parents house). I just do not want them to be in a bad situation or end up at a shelter. Just trying to be responsible and do the right thing.

[tiedyed69peace]

Have you considered a rescue (not a shelter)? They would be able to find a WONDERFUL home for them!

You seem like a very responsible ferrent, so you really are one of the better home for your crew. I, too, had to downsize to a two bedroom apartment from my three bed townhome, and know that it is harder to take care of them there, but it wouldn't be impossible... Of course, your situation may differ from mine. I dunno. I have a dog and a cat too.

What I really wanted to say though is that it is okay to have just two, and they will probably bond together. What's more important is the bond they have with their humans. Carolyn has two ferrets that really don't 100% get along (they fight when caged together) but they are very bonded to their owners... Yes, it is depressing for a ferret to lose his last cagemate, but there's probably going to be a time in every ferret owner's life where this happens. Even if you somehow own multiple ferrets for the rest of your life, there is no guarantee after a ferret gets so old that they would continue accepting new cagemates... and your ferrets are at the being of that stage... So at some point, it is highly likely that at least one of them will be caged by him or herself. I just wanted to be sure you understood that, because it sounds kind of like the only reason you are rehoming them is that you're afraid of their emotional state.

If there are other reasons, I get that though. Not everyone can keep their fuzzies.

They are the cutest little things! I hope they either stay with you or find an awesome home! Either way works!

[pookie]

Thank you so much for your reply. I am really torn at what to do. I forgot to mention too that there is a possibility that my daughter is allergic to them. She has been getting rashes all over her when she plays with them for an extended period of time, so we are worried about bringing them along into a smaller house. We keep her separated from them but obsessionally she still gets rashes - just less frequently when she isn't around them.

They are doing better at bonding, but the older male picks on the female sometimes. The female is still young enough that she would do really well with more ferrets. The male is getting older but he gets really really stressed when he is caged. The female has never been caged.

As far as I know, there aren't any rescues around here - just shelters. I am considering just keeping them at my parents house. My parents don't play with them at all, but I am mostly worried what happens when its just 1 left. I also don't like the idea of not knowing where they are

I am at a loss on what to do really. I'd love for them to go to a new home with a room to play in and new ferret friends but the whole situation stresses me out a lot.

[tiedyed69peace]

I think it's great if you can make it work, but if you do decide to rehome them, start here:

www.ferret.org/links/shelters.html

There actually is an amazing rescue in Pittsburgh, though there are great ones all over PA and NJ. TLH just held a raffle for an AWESOME shelter in Oxford, PA (Oxford Ferret Rescue), which is a little out of your way near the MD border, but still a good choice... Also, Father Nature in New Jersey is a member of TLH, too. His shelter and home were just rebuilt recently after losing it to a fire... but check out some of those rescues websites. Maybe talk to some of the shelter owners and they might be able to help you decide if your ferrets will be better in your home or in a new home...

[pookie]

Thank you SO much for all of the information! It breaks my heart to think of them in a shelter I am going to look into it though and see what my options are. Thank you again!

[tiedyed69peace]

I hope all works out!
If you do decide to take them to a rescue, you can always go to the rescue and see it first. Some of them, despite the circumstances, are like ferret paradise! They often keep cagemates together, or sometimes they get bonded to different ferrets even better and grouped with them.

Keep us updated! We love to hear of happy endings, regardless of what you choose to do!

[pookie]

Thank you i think after a long long long time thinking, I'm going to keep them and take them with us. I want to eventually get a second cage (they have a hugeee 5 foot tall cage) and connect them together, and maybe rescue 2 more older ferrets so they have someone to play with. I've never surrendered a pet before (i've fostered but that is a different feeling), and it just broke my heart too much to give these guys up.

I guess their happy ending will come when we survive the 8 hour trip with 2 cats and 2 ferrets and 1 baby in the back of my station wagon LOL

[tiedyed69peace]

Aww I'm so happy!
That made my day!
Stick around, once you get settled. People like you are what is always needed and encouraged in this forum! And keep us updated on that station wagon from hell ride... lol
Man, I hate going anywhere with just my cat in the car, never mind that load!