QUESTION:
I would like to ask why adopting a ferret, or any other pet, is so difficult? It is also less expensive to buy a ferret from a pet store than to pay an adoption fee. I have owned ferrets for a very long time, 9 in total, and all were very well taken care of. I have had 2 that were half grown and very feral when they were given to me. I would love to have a new pet and would much rather have one of the many that need homes from a shelter or rescue, however, I do not have the 200.00 to 300.00 dollars that the adoption would cost. At my local pet store I can buy a kit for 99.00 and get a cage and food to go with it.

Setting all of the cost aside you should know that I have 2 vets in may family that are very well studied in the ferret area. They as well have ferrets for pets. There is no reason for anyone to think that my ability to care for a needy ferret is lacking. My vet in-laws have been turned down as adoptive parents to several ferrets because they were not willing to devote an entire room of the home to the ferret. They were also informed that they would not make good parents because they worked with so many other animals during the day. That is like telling a pediatrician they could not have children.

I believe very strongly that ferrets needing homes should be considered before buying one, however, how is anyone expected to adopt a pet when the standards are unheard of. If you could let me in on the secret to being the best prospective adopted parent I am sure that not only myself but my vet in-laws would like to know it.

ANSWER:
Thank you for caring enough to give a homeless ferret a forever home! I ran a shelter for 12 years and did have an adoption fee, which went back to the shelter to care for other needy ferrets. Giving away a ferret for free could minimize the value of the ferret's life and it could end up in another home, or back at a shelter.

The charge you are quoting is exceptionally high, usually the fee covers the cost of shots necessary for a ferret to go to a new home, plus the care it has received during its stay at the shelter. Some ferrets require neutering/spaying, other medical issues, so usually the fee is an average of costs, between $50-$100. You are fortunate to have vets in the family, however most people do not even know a ferret knowledgeable vet.When going to the vet they are confronted with astronomical costs and many ferrets are refused the care they need. Often times, owners turn in ferrets to shelters because of the lack of funds to care for them.

Veterinarians certainly earn their money and often do much Charity work, in fact all the vets I used, when running the shelter, gave me a percentage off the costs of shots and surgery, also where possible the costs of medication. However ferret care is expensive and the costs to shelters all over the country is hard to meet. Therefore adoption fees help tremendously, although not near enough. The amount of work contributed by shelter operators is done with great love and caring, many times around the clock. When we had an outbreak of ECE in 1995, there were 140 ferrets in the shelter, I worked with little sleep for nearly 2 months. Many of the ferrets never really recovered and had to stay at the shelter to live out their lives, for 5 years after that I averaged 100 ferrets.

The cost of food/litter, medication etc.. was in excess of $36,000 a year, without donations, all the cost would have been mine. Even with willing volunteers, caring for the ferrets was full time. Getting to know the personality of each ferret, helps adoptive families to find a companion that will fit in with their lifestyle, rather than going to a pet shop and buying a baby without knowing. Unfortunately many ferrets are turned into shelters because of biting, or poor bathroom habits, these problems can be assessed and dealt with, therefore allowing the ferrets the opportunity of a new home.

Not sure what the shelter operator had in mind about 'own room'? Each shelter operator has their own requirements for adoption. Ferrets for their own safety should be caged when not supervised, or in 'their own safe ferret proof room'. They should not be allowed free roam of the house, there are too many things to get into and out of, unfortunately many ferrets have met their demise because of too much freedom and no supervision.

Working at a vet's office would not be a reason to refuse adoption as many people who run shelters work for vets and spend a lot of time with other animals. Precautions would need to be taken when handling other animals, especially those with distemper, but in that case the ferrets should be protected with distemper shots. There are no 'rules' for adoption, in fact your qualifications far exceed those of most, having had 9 ferrets already, would make you a great candidate. Surely the fee for adoption is negotiable.