Sadly, during these hard economic times, there are owners who no longer can afford to keep their ferrets. All of us involved in ferret adoption recognize the difficulty in reaching such a decision, but know it may be best for both the humans and the ferrets when necessary.
F.A.C.T. strongly encourages such ferret owners to ensure that the animal shelter to which they are surrendering their ferret has experience in handling ferrets and understands that canine distemper is 100% fatal in ferrets. Animal shelters, by virtue of their population, create a high risk of exposure for ferrets. There are a number of animal shelters who are fully knowledgeable about ferrets and have a strict protocol when taking them in. This ensures that the ferrets are isolated from the rest of the shelter population (spatially) and that quarantine rules are observed by all personnel to prevent the possibility of the airborne c. distemper virus being carried from the general population to the ferrets.
Obviously it is safest to surrender your ferret to a ferret shelter, such as F.A.C.T., who can foster and adopt the ferret into a pre-approved permanent home. When this isn't possible, ask questions and have a frank conversation with shelter staff before turning the ferret in to a animal shelter.
Those owners with young ferrets who want to re-sell them also should contact ferret shelters who usually have waiting lists of pre-approved adopters looking to purchase a young ferret.
F.A.C.T. strongly discourages posting "free ferret" ads in news or trade papers or bulletin boards, as this method of trying to find a home for your ferret can not ensure that it will go into a good, permanent home.
Please check on-line for ferret shelters nearest to you. All of us work together and will be glad to help, giving you peace-of-mind that your ferret is adopted safely.
WHO WE ARE
F.A.C.T. is a non-profit Education, Adoption, and Rescue organization founded in 1991 and located in East Tennessee. F.A.C.T., with the help of volunteers and foster homes, has been able to handle over 100 ferret adoptions each year. If you would like a free ferret information packet, want information on how to adopt one of our ferrets, or wish to make a donation to F.A.C.T., please contact us at the e-mail or phone number below.
Note that F.A.C.T. networks with volunteers, shelters and other rescue organization throughout Tennessee and for approximately several hundred mile radius. However, F.A.C.T. DOES NOT ship ferrets to locations out of our working areas.
M. Geiger
29 6th Street
Bristol, TN 37620
Phone: 423-764-1095
