Northeast Tennessee Ferret Education/Adoption (NETFEA)
Our Mission
NORTHEAST TENNESSEE FERRET EDUCATION ORGANIZATION (NETFEA)
NETFEA PREVIOUSLY NAMED "FERRET AWARENESS CLUB OF THE TRICITIES - F.A.C.T."
NETFEA is a ferret education and referral organization located in upper East Tennessee. The organization previously was known as the non-profit F.A.C.T., finding forever loving homes for ferrets for over the past 25 years. We gladly still provide our free ferret information packet that targets prospective and new ferret owners, but also is a resource for veteran owners; please contact us through e-mail.
NOTE: NETFEA networks with volunteers, shelters and other rescue organization throughout Tennessee and other locals.
Currently we only facilitate adoptions by working with the below listings of rescue-adoption centers. However, for those who previously adopted from our organization, we honor the adoption contract and gladly take back any ferrets that the adopter is unable to care for any longer.
A NEW FERRET RESCUE in Chattanooga, TN.
Fuzzy Ferret Rescue www.FuzzyFerretRescue.org, Email FuzzyFerretRescue@usa.com
Furever Home Ferret Rescue and Sanctuary, FL Email werescueferrets@gmail.com
Kindness Matters Ferret Rescue, Acworth, GA Email kmferretrescue@comcast.net or find on Facebook
Five Points Ferret Refuge, Indiannapolis, IN www.fivepointsferretrefuge.org
Email fivepointsferretrefuge@yahoo.com
Kentuckiana Ferret Haven, Louisville, KY Email kyinferrethaven@yahoo.com
Ferret Guardian Rescue, Hudson, NC Email diancamp@bellsouth.net
Heart of Ohio Ferret Association & Rescue, www.hofarescue.org
Love Me Again Ferret Rescue, Fairfield, OH Email jcalhoun1876@yahoo.com
Ann's Ferret Shelter & Adoption, Manchester, OH. https://annsferretshelter.weebly.com/home.html Email GodessAnn@yahoo.com
Rogue's Den Ferret Rescue, Harriman, TN Email roguesden@aol.com
Big Lick Ferret Shelter & Hospice, Roanoke, VA https://petshelters.org/shelter/big_lick_ferret_shelter_hospice_roanoke_va
Email director@biglickferretshelter.org
Adoption Policy
Quick Tips To Minimize Stress on Owners and Ferrets
It is important to let your new ferret become adjusted, with minimal stress, to its new humans and environment:
BRINGING HOME A NEW FERRET (created by NETFEA)
- let the ferret become use to your home one room at a time, starting with the room in which it will be kept, rather than being overwhelmed with a big house. Also this allows you to monitor the “ferret proofing” to see where else preventative measures may need to be done. Each day or so expand the areas of activity until the ferret is aware of all the its new surroundings. Put litter boxes or newspaper in the corners the ferret has selected for his toilet area throughout the house.
- spend time sitting on the floor with your ferret; if you are on its level it is a lot less intimidating for the ferret. Allow it to come to you, mostly, which it will do more and more as it becomes familiar with new surroundings (ferrets have to satisfy their endless curiosity first). When you pick-up the ferret, be sure the ferret sees your hands and be sure to use both hands gently (don’t grab!), while speaking softly to the ferret (vision is their poorest sense and they easily startle; also since deafness is not uncommon, they must see you). A lot of hands-on at floor level is a good start for bonding. Pet, pat, play, and even cup your hand around its body when sleeping to get use to your hands. A lot of playing is good, but let the ferret dictate the level of activity (don’t force it to play if it’d rather be snooping or sleeping). Bonding is slower than with a puppy or kitten, it may be several weeks before the ferret emotionally and physically attaches itself to you, so simply be patient and gentle … it will happen!
- do not abruptly change the new ferret’s diet, even if it’s on junk food. This needs to be done gradually to minimize stress. Make new food available in a second dish while also mixing new and old food (follow mixing directions given earlier in this document). If the ferret immediately takes to the new food and ignores the old, then simply toss out the old food.
- bear in mind that while the ferret is in this adjustment period that REST is important, particularly with a kit. Be sure to put them up for naps after 1 ½ hours play so that they don’t get too exhausted.
- basically use common sense with lots of attention, patience, and love
