After a long absenteeism, Footnotes is now returning to production.
We hope it is informative and will touch you in the ways it is meant to
do so. We are still an active club although we no longer put
on our annual Olympics due to ferret health reasons. Our club has
a lot to offer their members and we hope through this circulation you will
be aware of the activities, contests, adventures, and help share
in the happiness and the sorrow of our members. Your comments, thoughts,
suggestions to make this a better paper would be appreciated. Visit
our website at www.texasferret.org,
call our hotline, 817-498-1470 or write us at ferret@texasferret.org
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As most of you are
aware, we do not have a shelter in this area anymore and the club has been
attempting to find homes for those people calling in wanting to give up
their ferrets. We have not charged a fee for this service but just
matched people with people to make the exchange. We have been blessed
with finding those people who were willing to take in the old and the sick.
We realize this is a great sacrifice for these people to do this not only
financially but also knowing their time will be short and one can't help
but fall totally in love with them
I want to tell you about one of these big hearts who had been in line to adopt a companion for her youngster in the 1 yr old range. We got a call through the Hot Line of an elderly gentleman who's granddaughter was moving to California and he was moving into a mobile home. I gave her the phone number and she called him. The story was his daughter died in January and his granddaughter was moving in with her father. This gentleman was going to live in an RV and could not keep the ferret. She was told he was 8 or 9 years old and he was keeping it in his garage. Of course, she had concerns, called back and we discussed them. Her daughter, who is at a very impressive age, wanted to take care of this old ferret, she did not want him to die alone in a garage. So they went to see him and could not, as she put it, leave without the old man (the ferret, not the grandfather). When she got him home, he went berserk playing and investigating, so happy to be out free. He and the young man ignored each other in a very polite ferrety manner.
Monday she took Lou to the great Dr. Murray who gave her the news we all expected but also medications to help him with his ailments. Now, he is in his Forever Home with friends around who are going to miss him very much when he goes but in the meantime, the love is there.
My heart swells with pride for this wonderful occurrence because this
little guy gets a home and I know the younger generation is willing to
open up to situations like this. My faith in humans is renewed, very
special thanks to Rebecca Box and her daughter :)
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I learned how right that trainer was.
Now, you may ask how this pertains to ferrets. Although I am still rather a novice, I have lived with ferrets for the last 11 years and have had the great pleasure to become well acquainted with eight very different personalities. Several were "rescue" ferrets. Two of these rescue ferrets clearly demonstrated the results of having the bond of trust broken. They were sad and untrusting, really what you could call brokenhearted. They had loved and trusted a human who for whatever reason abandoned them. When I got them, they sat all hunched up, would not look at me, and moved away from my touch.
Ferrets, although small, have huge souls and are capable of enormous
emotions including affection and a completely trusting unconditional love.
That is their part of the bond of trust, a contract the two of you make
when you decide to make a ferret part of your life. Your part is to return
that love, provide the best possible care and set aside enough of your
time your ferret friend does not feel neglected. Be very sure the ferret
will NEVER breech the contract. The love will never end because of them,
there will always be time for you and the attempts to amuse and bewilder
you are unending. If you will match your ferret's faithfulness, you both
will be rewarded beyond measure.
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Now whys you laughin, Oxydol, no, I don'ts remember comings homes from de vets droggy on 5/13/98, just goes back in dere and picks a fight or sumptin, dis is MY column. Oh oh ,here comes my first calls.
Hello, Salty Dogs here, how cans I fix dat broken heart?
WHAT! ear mites! dis is a love column, nows you gots me all jitteries, I hates ear mites.
Gee, lets sees, just makes my skins crawls tinkin of dem. How comes your humain ain't gots rids of dem. <scratch, scratch, scratch>
Oh yah deres lots of stuff dey cans buys or use peroixide. Grandma does dis torture every months just to gets de wax and prevents an infestation. <shiftin to the other side, scratch scratch, scratch> It's so darn annoying, dose little bittin bugs, dey won'ts stops til dey gets thru to de eardrums wheres you can'ts walks straight and you can'ts hears no mores, as if'n we don'ts have enough troubles wif our hearing all readies.
Wells, if de humains don'ts knows it, ya gots ta shows dem its a problem, catch dem relaxin, crawls up and sticks your ear over dere nose, de odor'll takes dere minds off dat TV for sure, or waits for a visitor, runs to dem and when dey picks you up, be sures ta rubs dat ear discharge on dem, dey'll lecture your humains for neglecting you likes dat. You cans scratch your ears likesI's doin, <scratch scratch scratch> but be careful dey don't tinks yous got fleas and you finds yourself emerced in a fleas baths, foul tastin stuff. Or you cans just shakes your head really hards all de times cause does tings hurts. <scratch scratch scratch, shiver>
But by all means you don'ts needs no love life nows as does tings will spread like wild fires til everybodies you knows has dem, your dog friends, de cats, everybodies.
Ough Oh, here comes Grandma wif dat bottle, No Grandma, I's just tinkin
ear mites, I don'ts gots dem, Hey just a minute here, you just dids dis
2 weeks ago, Hey, puts me down, GRANNNNNNNNNDDDDDMAAAAAAAAAA
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In Flower Mound, ferrets are considered domestic animals and fall under that ordinance. This ordinance requires the following:
1. Animal must have rabies shot once a year.
2. Animal must have adequate shelter.
3. Animal must stay on own property unless on lease or contained in
some way.
Duncanville has no ordinance concerning ferrets. Upon talking to the animal services division of the Duncanville Police Department, “As long as they have their vaccinations and are not a nuisance they are cool”.
So until next month, keep your ferrets happy, safe and legal.
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Kyle is 35 years old and, though relatively new to "ferreting" (only a six-month veteran), is not new to caring for animals. Originally from Grapevine and still living in the DFW area, Kyle grew up around multiple animals, including dogs, cats, buffalo, hamsters, and even one long-horn steer named Bentley. When asked about how he became interested in ferrets, his reply was very matter-of-fact. "I'd always thought they were interesting and knew that they were a very unique animal. I am very attracted to things that are uncommon and out of the ordinary, so to me a ferret was a natural choice."
He is the proud owner of three boys (at least for now): two sables and a silver. His first, Rhett (named from being a ferRET as well as from the obvious "Gone with the Wind" reference) is a 7 month old sable. Rocky, his second and a 5 month old sable, was named for a combination of his facial similarity to that of a raccoon AND the infamous Beatles song "Rocky Raccoon" (from their White album). He believes that his third is about a year and a half old, though he may be older. Being a Millie Sanders rescue, this silver is named Hobo since he was initially found in a field, undoubtedly searching for an empty boxcar to jump. Just like Kyle, all three currently enjoy being bachelors, though there is a rumor that Miss Cleo has foreseen the possibility of a cinnamon female (and a human one, too) in their near future.
He admits to knowing absolutely nothing about fuzzies prior to becoming a parent, but did take the responsibility of learning about them before taking the parenthood plunge. His primary source of information was Ferrets for Dummies!, which still remains as one of his most trusted references. "It's important to get all the information you can and from as many sources as possible," says Kyle. "Information is so very valuable with regards to being a FERRENT (FERRet ParENT, as he calls himself). I continually learn all that I can from everyone I can. I always feel like a dummy compared to those I'm talking to, but I know that they were once where I am. Their personal experiences amount to years and years of ferrenting and that's something money can't buy."
Kyle is an instructor for Westwood Institute of Technology's Euless
campus and currently lives in Colleyville. He recently obtained a
separate cage setup which he hopes to begin using for rescues. Kyle
encourages everyone to contact him if rescue services are needed.
If you would like to learn more about him or his seemingly ever-growing
family, he invites you to write to: axeman66@hotmail.com.
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Where did you grow up?
On a farm in Dodge City, Kansas
Where did you go to college and Vet school (including internships)?
Kansas State University - Manhattan, Kansas for pre-vet and Vet
school. I also did a short internship with the Topeka Zoo.
Where have you previously practiced?
I spent 4 years in Carlsbad, New Mexico at Carlsbad Animal Clinic
Where are you currently practicing?
I am currently at Country Club Pet Hospital in Mansfield, Texas.
What is you favorite animal?
Anything that does not bite me, but I have always been a horse
nut.
What pets do you currently have?
1 horse, 4 dogs, 16 cats, 1 chinchilla, 4 guinea pigs, 4 snakes,
1 tortoise, 2 ducks, 32 chickens, 2 canaries.
What are you hobbies?
Horseback riding, cross-stitching, reading, gardening, writing,
spending time with my critters.
What general information about your family would you like to share?
(Married? How long? Children? Etc.)
I have been married to Jeff Gardner for 8 years, and we have
no kids.
Additional information that our readers may enjoy reading about you.
I have been working on writing a book about my career so far
and some of the interesting cases I have seen. There is never a dull minute.
in Veterinary medicine. You never know what will walk through the door.
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Tiki - Male, sable (3-4 YO). Abandoned by owner. Rescued from a cage kept outside in Houston TX. Tiki was a lover and kisser in spite of having been made to live outside. Died June 2, 2002. He came with Rikki who is currently being treated for excess thinness, possible bacterial infection and depression (same as Tiki).
Rex - Male, Sable (4-6 YO). Rescued from Pasadena Animal Control Passed away May 11, 2002. He was only in the shelter for 3 weeks and he was a VERY sweet boy. Extremely gentle with children! He passed of a helicobacter infection, caught too late.
Hector - Male, Sable (6-8 YO). Rescued in 2000; became a permanent resident of Tricks and Treats Rescue. Died May 12, 2002 of a liver tumor. He was passed around 3 times before I made him a permanent resident. He was rough at first but soon became quite a sweetheart.
Josh - My beautiful Black-eyed white (4 YO)... He never laid
a tooth on a human. When young he never laid a tooth on a ferret either,
but eventually he learned to be master-at-arms in the business and kept
the peace. He taught Hector to be gentle. He did not bond with me, but
loved young girls... All of the neighborhood kids loved him best, because
he became so fat in the winter and would lie gently in their arms.
He died suddenly of a long list of maladies which never presented themselves
outwardly until a few hours before his passing.
He is greatly missed.
TOBY - (4 YO) I rescued Toby from a pet shop where he was kept in a 5 gal aquarium. He weighed almost 5 pounds when I first got him as a 5 month old baby and although he TRIED to war dance he was so fat he could not get his belly and rear-end off the floor, nor could he squeeze through a 4" tube. After a few months of good food and LOTS of runtime he slimmed up and became Alpha male over 9 other ferrets. He was a really silly boy! He sometimes forgot to be gentle with those choppers and nailed a few people a few times. Then he bounced and seemed to laugh like a little boy, unaware of having inflicted any pain. Toby escaped and became injured by dogs in 1999 and although he dragged his rear legs for 2 more years he still was King. He passed suddenly with enlarged heart chambers - so a stroke maybe - on Jan 18, 2002. There is so much more to say, but not enough space to explain his Tobyness. It's never easy to loose one -- some are harder than others. They become our children... he became mine... I still cry like a baby for my Toby -- my heart has a hollow spot that will NEVER be filled.
Sable - female, sable (6YO) Given up by a college student, sable
was the kindest young lady to everyone -- well, except dogs. She
really hated dogs and was none too fond of cats. She was diagnosed with
Adrenal, insulinomas, AND lymphosarcoma all in October 2001 and passed
in November. Lord She was a LADY... RIP little queen…
Anja - She passed on May 27th after a long battle with adrenal problems. She was with us longer than expected and her passing was peaceful. Our princess will always hold a special place in our heart.
Fred - He passed this past Spring. He was diagnosed with a right
adrenal that was heavily invading the aorta and surgery was not an option.
He lasted for several years just being on Lysodren and then spent several
successful months on Lupron. His playfulness will always be missed, he
was the one that could cheer anyone up with his playing. Take care of Anja
my little boy.
JOY
1994 to 2/2002
My little Joyjoyjoy
the Joy of my life
SOS
2001 to 2/2002
I couldn't rescue you this time
May your little heart find rest now
Febreze
1998 to 2/2002
My little red velvet girl
How beautiful you were
The next year I took him to the Pet Expo in Chicago in March and he was wildly popular. I took him to the GCFA show in October and he won a 1st, 2nd and 7th place ribbon in the alter class. EVERYONE at that show had to come and hold him and even have their pictures taken with him.
Early the next year...2000...Julie Fossa called me to let me know that she had tested for ADV and him and Chablis. On that first test, Russian was positive.
I went through all the shock, disbelief, grief, anger, etc., as everyone else has when they first found some of their babies were positive. When Dr. Stephon began asking for samples of blood time), he wanted more of Russian's blood...he said Russian was the first he had tested that had the antigen as well as the antibodies. Charmin' Charlie was the first to become clinical, then White Russian. I lost Charmin' Charlie right around 2 years after he became clinical. White Russian was my love and my joy. He was the most sweet natured ferret. His personality matched his incredible beauty. To see him was to love him.
I believe that White Russian has done more to promote awareness of Aleutian disease than any other ferret or any number of people could have done. Everyone who saw his web page fell in love with him and wanted to help. I honestly don't think Aleutian disease would even now be finally acknowledged if it were not for White Russian.
"You did well, my sweet boy. Rest in Peace. I love you."
Judy
Please give to Aleutian Disease research - the ferret you save may
be your own.
Russian's Mom