Adopt A Ferret Month

I got my first ferret from a local petting zoo as a trade for a bunch of feeder mice I gave them. He was an older boy and passed a way not long after I got him of old age. He was the one who started my love affair with ferrets. My second ferret was a jill named Jessie, a chocolate roan. I found her at a local pet store, held her while she slept and got a kiss on the nose when she woke up. I was totally in love! She was my best friend for the next several years; I was devastated when she died. I still had the bug and had a couple of her cage mates left so continued on with ferrets. Over the years I have had my own personal pets, several rescues and a few breeder ferrets in my life. All have been special to me in their own way.

The shelter was started with a friend in early 1996. We both owned ferrets and were curious about what happened to ferrets that were given to the local humane society and other animal shelters. We called around and found to our shock and dismay that ferrets turned in to the local shelters were put to sleep if a staff member didn’t take them home. We were horrified and felt that this just could not continue! We started Ferret Haven and over the years we have taken in over 600 ferrets

The main challenge I face is the lack of commitment many people have for their pets. The US is a throw away society, and many of us like to throw away our pets. Moving? Don’t bother to take your ferret with you. Dump her at a shelter and buy a new one later on. Kid’s tired of their pet ferret? Dump him in the shelter instead of teaching your children responsibility. Ferret getting old and maybe sick? Leave her with a shelter so that she loses the only family she has ever known. It’s so much easier that way, you don’t have to see her die or take her to the vet like you should!

Watching a shelter ferret bond with their adoptive owner, knowing it’s a good match. Then having that person come back to give a home to other homeless ferrets is what makes sheltering worth it!