Paw Print - Issue #1 - December 2009

Welcome!

Dear Ferret Friend:  Welcome to the first issue of the Ferret Association of Connecticut’s online newsletter, Paw Print!

You are receiving this message because at some time you requested information from FACT.  If you do NOT want to be on our e-mail list, please click here to unsubscribe!

Our plan is to produce one e-newsletter a month.  It will feature a short ferret health or care article, a ferret or pet-related event, a Ferret of the Month for local adoptors, a Foster Ferret you can sponsor, and a Special Sale item that benefits the FACT shelter.

We hope you enjoy reading Paw Print!  Please remember you can unsubscribe at any time and FACT never sells or rents our e-mail lists.

L. Vanessa Gruden

Shelter Director

Featured Article: Keeping Your Ferret Safe at Christmas

Christmas isn’t just a happy time for people!  Ferrets LOVE the activity, people, new smells, and tasty food, too.

The holiday season offers a lot of ways for your pet ferret to get into trouble.  Here are some of the dangers and some solutions:

Christmas Tree

Bright lights!  Sparkling ornaments!  Tinsel!  Just like a child’s eyes get big when they see a Christmas tree, a ferret will think it is a wonderful toy.  They won’t want to stay away - but you need to make sure they DO!  Some special dangers:

• Ornaments:  Glass ones can break and cut your ferret’s feet; ornaments with Styrofoam inside can get chewed; and your ferret will steal any ornament that is made of fabric or has bells.
• Tree water:  If you have a cut tree with water in the tree stand, don’t add preservative to the water that could be poisonous.  And, of course, if you have a live tree with dirt, your ferret will do it’s best to dig it up!
• Tinsel & Garland:  If you ferret thinks these taste good, you could end up with an intestinal obstruction and a very expensive surgery bill. 
• Yes, a ferret CAN climb a Christmas tree!  I will never forget the Christmas I heard “tinkle, tinkle” and looked over to see a furry face in the branches, right in the middle of my beautiful, fragile ornaments.
• Electric Cords:  A cord that smells new might temp your ferret to chew it.  And some lights set up on the floor might have revolving parts that can hurt your pet.

Solution: Put the tree on a bench or table.  As long as it is at least 18” off the floor, it will be much harder for a ferret to get to the tree.  Or lock your ferret out of the room where the tree is kept.

Gifts

Shiny paper and ribbon is a toy to a ferret!  One Christmas I brought my ferret to a family gathering and she very carefully bit the corner of each present.  My family did not think it was cute! 

Solution:  Keep your gifts, wrapped or unwrapped, up high where the ferrets cannot get them.  And when wrapping, watch out your ferret does not steal bows!

Food

There are a lot of sweet treats around during the holidays.  A TINY bit of sweet food is OK, but make sure your ferret does not eat too much.  Avoid:

• Eggnog - this will cause bad diarrhea!
• Alcohol - I have seen ferrets taste sweet brandy or liquors.  Keep alcoholic drinks out of their reach.
• Candy - Too much is not good for you or for your ferret!  If you have a ferret that has blood sugar problems, a lot of sugar can make their blood glucose levels go too high, then drop too fast and possibly cause a seizure.

Guests

You are accustomed to ferrets and know to watch for them under your feet, but visitors might not understand.  And not every guest will like ferrets!

• People new to ferrets:  You think everything your ferret does is funny, but someone may not like their wallet stolen or a ferret climbing inside their pant leg. 
• Small children:  They may get too excited - Christmas is exciting for children and adding an unusual pet to the situation could make them scream or cry.  They could become careless and drop the animal or step on them.
• Elderly, sick or disabled people:  A ferret might frighten a person who isn’t able to get away from them. 
• Babies:  They come with many wonderful things like bottles of milk or toys that a ferret might want to steal.  A new parent will not like a ferret climbing on their baby!
• Too many visitors:  A lot of guests going in and out of your house could let your ferret escape. 

Solution:  It is best to keep your ferret in a secure place like a cage or separate room when you have a party or visiting guests.  If they are interested, introduce your pet to one or two people at a time, then put them back away for their safety.

Plants

Some traditional holiday plants can be poisonous to animals.  Poinsettia is not as toxic as people used to believe, but it will make your pet sick.  Other poisonous plants include cyclamen and amaryllis.  For a full list of poisonous plants, visit www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control. 

Solution:  Keep all plants away from digging ferrets!  And be careful that guests do not put a gift plant where your ferret can reach it.

Don’t spend Christmas Day at the animal hospital!  For a safe Christmas for EVERY family member, watch out for potential problems and do your best to keep them from happening.

14 Sherbrooke Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106-3838

www.ferret-fact.org

Events

Ferret Treasures semi-annual Store Sale! 

Saturday, December 5, 11 am - 3 pm.

14 Sherbrooke Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106. 

Piles of ferret bedding handmade on site, jewelry, gifts, and gently used cages/carriers cheap!  Print & bring this e-mail for 10% off your entire purchase.  Click here for directions.

Adoptable Ferret of the Month

Pepe has been at the shelter since May 1, just after he was found abandoned outside in Waterbury.  He’s a big, healthy 1.5 years of age, a pewter-colored silver with high white socks.

Pepe needs an experienced owner, as he has been known to nip.  He also needs a family with younger, good-natured ferrets.  He likes other ferrets but plays rough and will beat up anyone who is too timid.  But he loves people and wants attention.  We believe a patient owner willing to work with him will turn him into a terrific companion.

If you’re interested in seeing Pepe, please visit FACT’s Petfinder web page:  Pepe's photo.  If you live within travel distance to Hartford, CT and would like to request an adoption application, please click here. 

Featured Foster Ferret

Yolani was found in the laundry room of an apartment building.  At about 4-5, Yoli is older, but she is a gorgeous fluffy dark-eyed white lady.  Yoli is now in a permanent Foster home where she will live for the rest of her life.  To learn how you can sponsor Yoli, make a one-time donation or some of the other 30-40 ferrets in FACT’s Foster Program, visit our site:  Make a Donation

FACT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Featured Ferret Treasures Sale Item: Ferret Charm Bracelets

Handmade by crazy shelter director and saved from attempts to steal bead packages by thieving ferrets, these unique bracelets are made of glass beads, some mixed with metal or faux “pearls.”  Each has a lead free pewter charm in either natural pewter or an antique gold finish.  On a stretch cord for easy on/off, their average length is about 7-7.5 inches.  If you need a bracelet in plus or petite size, just let us know.  Please let us know what primary color you would like:  black, white, blue, green, yellow, pink or purple.  The charm color that best suits the color will be chosen for you. 

Only $5 plus $1.50 for US domestic postage, you can purchase one - or more! by e-mailing:  FerretTreasures.  Your purchase goes directly to help the homeless ferrets cared for by the Ferret Association shelter.  Thank you!