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Vol 6 • No 3
January 16th, 2011
About Ferrets
The second ferret column by, Deeda L. You can reach her by email here
Now, you know what food and supplements you need for your new family member. What will he/she be living in? Most of us probably have some sort of cage. My own cage is 30” W X 17” D X 56” H. The cage is made of heavy gauge wire, spaced close enough together so that they cannot squeeze through and escape. Ferrets are VERY good escape artists. It has plastic floor pieces that are adjustable / movable. I have it adjusted to 4 different levels. Please make sure the cage is large enough for them. They do need room to play in the cage, eat in the cage and sleep in the cage. I have 3 different sleeping areas - and all of them provide a cozy place for them to sleep while mostly hidden from view. Ferrets like to crawl into something and hide to get really good sleep. I have trained mine to use the bottom of the cage as their ‘litter box’, so it is completely full of a recycled paper litter. There are also small corner pans in two other places in the cage - they have chosen these two spots to use other than the litter area. At a MINIMUM the cage will have to be cleaned on a daily basis. All bathroom accidents need to be cleaned up. I use paper towel to get most of it up, then baby wipes to get the rest. I use the unscented ones for sensitive skin. The litter needs to be cleaned and replenished. My 4 tend to use only one end of the litter area, leaving the other end clean. I take out the soiled litter (using a scooper made for kitty litter) - move the old clean litter to the now empty end and fill in with clean litter for the other end. Food dishes need to be refilled. I rotate my food dishes and run them through the dishwasher. They get a clean food bowl every other day. I use one water bottle at a time this way the water stays fresh all the time. I use 32 oz bottles, and the 4 of them usually go through one full bottle each day. I have 4 bottles and when I put the last one up on the cage, the other 3 go in the dishwasher along with any food bowls ready to go in. It is fairly easy to train ferrets to use litter boxes - it just takes diligence. Inside the cage, when you notice your ferret backing into the corner with tail up - open the closest cage door, gently pick them up and carefully and gently put them in the litter area. PLEASE - do not yell at them, thump them, hit them or cause them stress during this process.
Ferrets are very sensitive and loving animals and this behavior will only confuse them and they will not understand what they did wrong. OR, they will just get pissed off and keep doing it to spite you!! Seriously, after a couple of times, they WILL get the idea and begin to use the litter only. Ferrets are really VERY, VERY smart and will learn quickly and easily. I sometimes swear mine can even tell time!! When outside the cage, and ferrets need a MINIMUM of 2 hours playtime outside the cage EVERY DAY, you have to be especially diligent. It is easier when you only have one (I have 4), but the process is the same I have a large corner litter pan and I am training them to use that one. They do still have more than one favorite corner - so I use newspaper there (easier clean up) and am still moving them from the newspaper to the corner litter box. Their favorite spots are far enough apart though, that I believe I will just have to get more large corner litter boxes.
Ferrets will not travel very far when they have to go. Ferrets always back up into a corner when they have to go - and they always urinate and defecate ( pee and poop) at the same time. Next week: Ferret proofing your house. |
 We Still Owe $1,482.60 for our CEQA Consultant (CEQA is the California Environmental Quality Act)
Matt Trask, our CEQA Consultant sent over a letter asking for payment:
"Our accounting department has encouraged me to urge you to find a way to pay us quicker than you stated. Our agreement calls for payment in full within 30 days of invoice." - ouch!
Matt did the work on preparing us for dealing with the California Fish and Game Commission. While Dr Geo Graening did the research on the preliminary EIR - which cost $13,000. Matt took that work and researched the best way to present this, and approach the Fish and Game Commission. His total charge is $2,582.60 - we paid a $500 deposit to get started. I wrote him a check for $600 this week and would like to keep making weekly payments until it is paid off. The current balance is $1,482.60. We really need to pay this off as soon as we can - so once again your help is appreciated!
Please visit this link ---> http://ferretsanon.com/special.html thank you! Why Do We Need Matt - Let Jim Kellogg Show Why:
 My part of the video actually isn't very exciting. I do a fair job outlining our arguments. I didn't think I made an impact until the end. Fish and Game President Jim Kellogg describes his reaction to seeing a ferret display at his local pet store. That made the whole trip worthwhile.
We were going to ask for the whole EIR, Matt discovered they have another system in place for just this thing - thus the talk about the Barramundi fish. I don't think they thought about ferrets at when they wrote that up.
I haven not heard back from Fish and Game since my presentation. I called Jon Fischer, the Executive Director on Friday and left a message. I emailed Matt on Thursday and haven't heard back from him yet either. The next Fish and Game Commission meeting is Feb 2 and 3rd in Sacramento and we need to keep going to these meetings until we get satisfaction.
The Search for a Legislative Sponsor is in High Gear But Running out of Time
 Outside the Santee PetSmart. On Saturday it was 85° and no shade! We were asking local residents to sign a petition asking Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) to sponsor a ferret legalization bill. We've been working on Brian Jones before he was elected. We sent him all kinds of info. When we asked for a meeting we were told "we have enough info and we'll get back to you." About 220 signatures were collected over the weekend. A few people claimed they know Brian Jones - he was on the Santee City Council. A small article in the San Diego Union Tribune announced we would be there so a number of people drove out to meet us. To them I say "thank you" and welcome to the effort.
Rick and Candi White of the San Antonio Ferret Enthusiasts FedEx'd at our request a ferret costume they have. Unfortunately it was so hot we would have killed who ever wore it. But thanks Rick and Candi!
Elizabeth G and I also met with Tom Rogers from Senator Joel Anderson's office. I think we only got the meeting because Senator Anderson heard from several consitutents on the issue. At first I think Mr. Rogers just wanted to be polite and hear us out. I do think we convinced him a bill should be introduced. I doubt if he will convince Senator Anderson of that. My feeling is we will get a polite brush off letter shortly. Please prove me wrong, Senator Anderson.
Snow's Invoice Arrives
My Own Vet Bill - A Visit to Dr Jenkins and the Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital
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Information on This Year's Ferret Round-Up
The Ferret Round-Up is Ferrets Anonymous' annual meeting with speakers, officer reports, business etc. It is required by our bylaws. Saturday March 26, 2011 Pasadena Humane Society, 361 South Raymond Ave. Pasadena, CA 91105 626-792-7151 For more information, call Claudia T at 626-358-6027 or 626-327-2917 the day of the event. Entrance Fee $10 – The Round-Up is our only fund raising activity of the year Guest speakers Pot Luck Lunch –paper goods and lemon aid and ice tea provided Doors open at 10:00 11:00 Pat Wright 12:00 Lunch 1:00 Melinda T. 2:00 Dr. Sari Kanfer, Exotic Animal Care Center in Pasadena 3:00 Business meeting and election of officers 4:00 Clean up 5:00 Those wanting to can go to dinner together to finish visiting Vendor tables – please let Claudia know if you are interested in selling In Conclusion
Because I was at the Santee PetSmart until 5pm there isn't any time to have anyone else proof this newsletter - so all errors are mine.
And further apologies for continually asking for money. If you have any, send some over - if you're like me, well maybe next time. This is kind of crunch time with CEQA work but we knew that awhile ago.
We have had two more media interviews this week so word is getting out that there is something new going on in ferret legalization. The big Sacramento Bee article hasn't bee published yet. We are making progress.
Thank you everyone for continuing to support ferret legalization!
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