I am compassionate, caring, down to earth, honest
(sometimes TOO HONEST to the point where I get hurt), dedicated, committed, sentimental and fun-loving. I cry at sappy movies. I do whatever I can to help my family and friends. I like to be goofy and have fun but know when to be serious - sometimes! lol
I am owned by cats, ferrets and dogs and I wouldn't have it any other way!
This is a slide show of my beloved "fur-kids"...past and present...
..Playing in the snow...Tommie and Dowi(RIP)TreerooPeanut sporting her winter lookTommie outsideTommie on purple rugMacieTreeroo and Macie sleepingBy the pool side...front left~Roxie(RIP), rear left~Peanut, Treeroo in the pool, rear right~Tommie, front center~Macie and front right~DowiTabbottAlfBart sitting on top of ferret cage and YES he is licking his chops!! :) TashaJezebelLakodaDowi (RIP)Blackfoot (RIP)What Fred(RIP) thinks of the new kid on the block ~ PeanutFred (RIP) was my "soulmate pet"
Many of my beloved pets are waiting for me at the "Rainbow Bridge". Though they may be gone physically....their paw prints forever remain embedded deep within my heart!
.. "
The passing of any of my furkids is very difficult for me. I hate to see them suffer. Even though I know they are in a better place, it does not stop my heart from breaking and tears from falling.Here's a little memorial tribute of the ones who are waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge. I do not have ALL my *fur angels* here at this time.
MISSING TREEROO
T reasured memories of you
R adiate deep within my heart
E nticing the others with your
E xuberant playful antics
R est in peace my dear lil friend
O ur time on earth has halted awaiting
O ur eternal reunion at the Rainbow Bridge
~Mommy misses you Roo-sta!!
Here are some pictures that some of you took upon yourself to create for me. These are PRICELESS to me! There are no words for my sincere gratitude for taking the time to make such heartwarming memorials for my lil "Roo-Boy". I will treasure these always!
From CUTE AS A BUTTON ~
HERE IS TREEROO CROSSING RAINBOW BRIDGE...
From RAINBOW BRIDGE FERRETS ~
From SWEET PETS CONTEST ~
Treeroo taking a treat from my teeth.
R.I.P. my sweet lil friend...RIP 6/12/07...you will forever be in my heart!
Some of my pictures.....
I describe ferrets as having the personality of a combination of a kitten and dog. Some are cuddly while others are more independent. They are a very entertaining little companion. Ferrets are EXTREMELY inquisitive and VERY determined little critters which only adds their charm. They are energetic, curious and always interested in their surroundings.Ferrets are not rodents; they are a small domesticated mammal from the Mustelidae Family. Their "cousins" include the Black-Footed Ferret, Mink, Ermine, Stoat, Weasel, (sea)Otter, Skunk, Fisher, Marten, Badger, Wolverine and the European polecat.Ferret owners have come up with many nicknames to use in place of the word "ferret". Some common names are ferts, weasel, carpet sharks, speed bump, woozles, fursnakes, furballs, fuzzbutts and fuzzies to name a few.Ferrets LOVE to interact with their human and often view us as a fellow oversized upright walking ferret! They bounce around and *giggle* all over the place which is known as the "weasel war dance" and "dooking". It's quite entertaining to watch. Some ferrets are more "talkative" than others. Here are some noises ferrets make:
DOOK: A clucking noise that comes from a happy ferret.
HISS: A hissing sound that comes from an annoyed, mad, or a ferret that wants to play rough. It sounds like that of a cat only not as raspy.
BARK: A loud chirp that occurs in a very excited or frightened ferret.
SCREECH: A high-pitched sound accompanied or even replaced by rapid chattering. The "Screech" is a reaction to extreme pain, fright, or anger.
WHINE: A low or high complaining cry. They will make this sound if injured, wanting attention, or scared.** ALWAYS investigate immediately to see if he/she is in danger if you hear an unfamiliar sound!! Better to be safe than sorry.Ferrets have been DOMESTICATED for centuries and no longer have the natural instinct to survive and hunt in the wild where they suffer from dehydration, starvation and exposure and usually don't survive more than a few days.Ferrets have a winter and summer coat so their size and colors may change from season to season. Sometimes this change can seem to appear literally over night. This is referred to as "roaning".Ferrets are strict carnivores!! It is important for ferrets to have a diet high in MEAT protein such as chicken, beef, or liver and fairly high in animal fat. The first ingredient should be a meat by product and not grain or corn meal. Kitten and cat food should be avoided. You should NEVER feed your ferret dog or puppy food. Taurine, an amino acid, is also very important to have in a ferret's diet. Taurine plays an integral part in good vision and maintenance of cardiac function. I personally have had vets recommend added taurine diet for several of my ferrets having heart and vision issues. Ferrets have an extremely fast metabolism and therefore require constant access to food. Ferrets normally will not overeat.Ferrets "imprint" on their food when they are very young which means they are reluctant to try new foods when they are older. This can cause problems especially when you are trying to feed a sick ferret something they are not accustomed to eating. "Duck Soup" is a catch-all name for any special food used for supplemental feeding of a sick ferret. None of which contain duck as an ingredient ~ go figure! "Duck Soup" can be as simple as Gerber's Stage 2 Turkey or Chicken Baby Food. It is a good idea to "treat" your ferret with "Duck Soup" regularly so they will more readily eat it when they are sick.Some owners prefer to feed their ferrets a raw diet. Personally I feel this is a personal decision and is something I recommend discussing with your vet and researching thoroughly before diving right into.As with any pet, ferrets MUST have fresh, clean water (changed daily) readily available at all times. Ferrets will drink water from a bowl and a bottle. Providing both a bottle and a bowl allows the ferret a choice. I place a bowl filled with water directly under the bottle to catch any water that may drip from the bottle to help keep a drier cleaner cage. My ferrets like to *snorkle* in the bowl, so don't be surprised if you are cleaning a lower level of the cage and suddenly get a shower. lol Little food particles are left behind in the water bowl which quickly draws bacteria and creates a nasty smell. Would you want to drink from that? Well then your ferret shouldn't have to either.
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO "FERRET-PROOF" YOUR HOME THOROUGHLY!!Ferrets love to get into ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!! It is vital you take precautionary steps to ensure they can't harm themselves or your possessions. Any doors, small crevice, crack, drain pipe, cupboards, holes in walls, or in or behind household appliances such as dishwashers is an open invitation to adventure for little inquiring minds.
They love to "steal" things and stash them in their "hidey holes" which is generally under or behind furniture. Some enjoy chewing soft rubber, foam, or sponge, which can cause intestinal blockage and even death if ingested. Recliners are a leading cause of accidental death in ferrets. They often climb inside the springs and can be injured or killed once the chair is put into a reclined position.Ferrets are not the right pet for everyone. Owning a ferret is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. Before owning a ferret, one must do research to know what care is involved.Ferrets require ample time out of their cage to run free. Minimally, they should let out for 3-4 hours each day. Ferrets can be trained to use a litter box ~ whether they "choose" to use it each time is another story. hehe I use wood stove pellets for my ferret's litter. This helps reduce the smell and can be used as a fertilizer for your outside plants. Ferrets can also be trained to do tricks.Their normal life span is from 5 - 9 years. Ferrets are susceptible to two very common serious diseases ~ Insulinoma and Adrenal Disease which could become quite costly. A ferret will need to be seen by a ferret knowledgeable veterinarian at least annually for a check-up and required vaccines consisting of rabies and distemper.This video gives a good idea of what it is like to own a ferret.
About Ferrets
Add to My Profile | More VideosFERRET REFERENCE websites which contain valuable ferret information:
General & Medical info:
http://www.miamiferret.org/
Ferret BLOOD VALUES are DIFFERENT than that of a cat and dog!! Here are some useful sites:
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/physiology.htm
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/pets/ferret-faq/part5/section-16.ht ml
FIRST AID for FERRETS:
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ffaid.htm
Critical Ferret References:
http://ferretcongress.org/CriticalLinks.html
MAILING LISTS & GROUPS:The Ferret Mailing List (FML) is excellent to source to connect and pose questions to other ferret owners. For comments or suggestions, or to subscribe to the Ferret Mailing List, please email: [email protected]
Searchable FML archives:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search .html
Ferret Health List (FHL):
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
FHL Archives Search:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
alt="Click here to join ferrethealth"
Click to join ferrethealth
Bruce H. Williams and Bob Church are reknown and highly respected in the ferret community. I found both to be excellent resources for accurate ferret info. I had the pleasure of meeting both of these wonderful gentlemen at Ferret Symposiums which I highly recommend attending to gain a wealth of ferret information.Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP, Pathology of the Domestic Ferret. Dr. Williams is recognized for his devotion to advances in ferret health.
Here are links related to Bruce Williams:
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/whats_new/frame.htmBob Church is a zooarcheologist and has done extensive research on the habits, history, and physical makeup of ferrets and other mustelids while studying zoo-archeology. Bob has contributed to many ferret magazines, web sites, etc. and has written numerous articles on ferret-related topics including ferret ownership, health, and enrichment. Bob is also known for his recipe for "Bob Church's Chicken Gravy" (aka *duck soup*) which is a nutritionally complete diet for a sick ferret.
Here are links related to Bob Church:
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/duck_soup.htm
http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/bobc-adrenal.html
This is Mira - short for MIRACLE.
What was learned from her has saved thousands of ferrets. Her story is a sad, but uplifting one. To read about Mira:
CLICK here for MIRA's Story
or here:
http://www.ferret-fact.org/Mira.htmGotta luv them ferrets! They are true troopers!CONTESTS WON sPeCiAl mEnTiOnS etc..
CLICK THESE WORDS (not the banner) TO GO TO PERTY PET CONTEST PAGE
Please see my blog dated 5/27/07 to view an awesome Memorial Rainbow Bridge Tribute created by FURFRIENDS "ROCK" CONTESTMy ferret DOWI "The CROSS DRESSER FERRET" I think I peed my pants that night!! I seriously HAD NO CLUE what happened to Dowi. Ferrets were NEW to me! I saw him in this *contraption* and thought OMG is he 'cacooning' (sp)???Go ahead and laugh....but seriously.....I FREAKED at first!! I screamed for my husband (now "ex to be") who was sleeping. THEN I realized Dowi was in my PANTYHOSE (the lil cross dresser ~ heehee) and I BURST out laughing!!! It was tooo much!!! Um...NO I was NOT in the pantyhose with him!!THEN I panicked wondering how I was going to get Dowi out!!! I feared he might suffocate ~ you know how pantyhose are *supposed* to keep you warm in the winter. Then it hit me DOH! The hose were already RUINED....dah...cut the end off!!! But by then I was laughing soooo bad that I could not even move let alone see to operate scissors!!THEN I got the brilliant idea to take pics of this LANDMARK event of ferret ownership!I hung up the remains of my poor pantyhose with a note: 'I will not stand undeFEETed!!!' lol