Exotic pet demands extra-special care.
PENSACOLA - Wesley Hurley got his first ferret, Snuggles, a couple years ago from an 8-year-old grandson who had proven too young for the exotic pet.
Hurley now has six of the weasel-like creatures, also obtained from people who tired of their pets or could not properly care for the cuddly but controversial creatures.
"They will steal your heart and hide it under the couch," said the 65-year-old retired Merchant Marine officer as he watched ferrets romp around his Pensacola living room. "They take anything they can get their hands on."
Ferrets may be frisky and cute and their hide-and-seek antics are fun to watch, but they are not for everyone.
They have an odor some people cannot abide, sleep 18 hours a day, eat a specialized diet, need close supervision when freed from their cages for daily exercise and are prone to getting a type of cancer that is difficult and expensive to treat, animal experts say.
Ferret fans say worries about rabies and biting are overblown, but the animals are banned in two states - California and Hawaii - as well as New York City and some other communities.
"Don't buy them for small kids," he said. "They require care and once the kid gets tired of them that's it, the ferrets on its way out."
The Humane Society of the United States actually recommends no animals be given as gifts during the holiday season because it's too hectic to bring a new pet into the home at that time., said Cynthia Stitely, interim director of animal sheltering issues for the organization based in Washington, D.C.
Ferrets were domesticated in the 1300's for hunting rabbits, said Connie Howard, director for the American Humane Association, based in Denver.
"Until the '70's, when they learned how to de-scent them, they weren't pets because they stunk so bad," she said. Even when de-scented, however, the animals have a musky oder.
Ferrets overcame another obstacle when a rabies vaccine was approved for them in 1990.
Hawaii, as a rabies free state, is strict on all animals while California's ban dates to the 1930's when many states prohibited their use for hunting, said James Pembrook Scott, general counsel for the American Ferret Association in Crownsville, Md.
Ferret lovers have defied the California law risking up to a year in jail and $1,000 fine. About 50 people walked or carried ferrets through the San Diego park to protest the ban last year. Legislation has been introduced to legalize ferrets but has not passed.
New York City's Health Department banned ferrets in June, issuing a report that concluded they are prone to attacking humans, particularly young children.
Dr. Deborah Kemmerer, a Gainsville veterinarian and ferret expert, said the creatures are getting a bad rap. She did a statistical breakdown and found a person with a dog in the home was 25 times more likely to be bitten.
The experts say no animal should be allowed around small children without supervision. Children, however, are as much, if not more, of a danger to ferrets.
"I have seen ferrets die from ruptured spleens from getting squeezed to death by a kid," Kemmerer said.
Cancerous adrenal tumors are the biggest health problem, usually requiring surgery costing from $325 to more than $550, she said. Early symptoms are loss of hair, particularly from the tail.
Kemmerer said ferrets, which can live 7 to 8 years, also need annual checkups, vaccinations and heart worm preventive. Owners are advised to "ferret proof" their homes by patching small holes and removing recliners and sleeper sofas that can crush the curious animals.
"They gave the incredible ability to squeeze their body into small spaces that you would never dream they could get into," said the Humane Society's Stitely, herself a ferret owner.
They also will chew on and swallow small objects and like to dig, sometimes applying that instinct to carpets and flower pots. Many owners keep them caged except for daily exercise periods and never let them outside.
Many animal shelters are unaccustomed to dealing with them, so ferret rescue groups have been established in some communities. In others, individuals such as Harley take in unwanted animals. He watches classified ads for people trying to sell their ferrets.
"They say, 'Well I've got $150 to $200 tied up in this thing and I'd like to get my money out of it.' " Hurley said. "I say, 'Tell you what, go ahead and try to sell them and if you can't call me back.' "
Hurley has had about a half-dozen callbacks so far. He said he may put some of his ferrets up for adoption but will be very selective.
"If the person had not had a ferret before, then they better learn about them," he said. "They're just not the little kitty- and puppy-type thing."
