Triangle Ferret Lovers Newsletter

Issue6, April/May 1996

Our goal is to promote the welfare of the domestic ferret through public awareness, and increase the enjoyment of ferret ownership by providing information and activities.

Table of Contents

  1. History of the Ferret
  2. Renaissance Faire!
  3. Next TriFL Meeting
  4. April 6 Meeting Notes
  5. Triangle Ferret Lovers online
  6. Renaissance Faire Schedule and Plans
  7. Ferreting Out Fun In The State House
  8. What do you call a ferret male/female/baby/group?
  9. I'm allergic to cats. Will I be allergic to ferrets?
  10. Ferret Info On the World Wide Web
  11. You and Your Ferret Vet
  12. Shelter Information and Contacts
  13. Newsletter Address

History of the Ferret...

 Mustela furo, the European domestic ferret, is a member of the weasel family (polecats, minks, skunks, ermine, otter, etc.). The ferret is noted in history as early as 4,000 B.C. and confirmed by egyptian drawings and pictures. Ferrets were first bred for the hunting of rabbits in North Africa, and later this custom was introduced into Europe and the British Isles. They soon gained popularity in Europe with farmers and merchants for use in exterminating the large rodent and snake population that infested their food stock. Ferrets were first brought to the United States in the early seventeenth century in the holds of ships, to help in the protection of food and supplies that were carried, from the infestation of ship board rats and mice. The ferrets were practical because they were able to get into the small holes where the rats hid, where no cat could possibly fit. Ferrets remained useful to farmers and ranchers until the turn of the century, when early in the 1900's the invention of pesticides caused the decline of the ferret's importance as primary mouse and rat catcher.

There are no populations of "wild" ferrets in the U.S., except for the North American Black-Footed Ferret, which is an endangered species recently reintroduced in the Mid-West. The domesticated pet ferret has no hunting instincts left; they will chase and catch rodents, but don't know how to survive on them. Because of being domesticated for 4,000 years, most of their natural survival instincts have long since been bred out of them. Therefore, they rely completely on humans for their care, food, shelter, and most of all, love and companionship.

Renaissance Faire!

 The Triangle Ferret Lovers club will be presenting an educational exhibit on ferrets at Raleigh's 2nd Annual NC Renaissance Faire, on Saturday April 27 from 10:00am- 8:00pm, and Sunday, April 28 from 11:00am-8:00pm.

Location: A 20 acre site on Thornton Road, which is off US 1/Capital Boulevard, north of Durant/Perry Creek Road intersection (about 6 miles north of I-440).

We have rented a 10'x 10' booth, and will be providing information and demonstrations "on stage" at various times throughout the weekend. This will be a lot of fun and great positive publicity for the club and our furry friends. If you plan to carry your ferret around the faire or participate in the demonstrations, please bring an appropriate carry bag and/or harness and leash. Hands-on is very important, and audience participation is a big part of the atmosphere, so please bring only your even- tempered and child-friendly fuzzball.

Next TriFL Meeting

 NEW MEETING TIME! Mark you calendar for the next TriFL meeting: Saturday, May 4th at the "Youth For Christ" building, 103 Salem St., 2nd floor, Apex. You can bring your up-to-date vaccinated, non-aggressive ferret/s with a litter box for group playtime from 10:30am-11:00am. Place your fuzzballs back into their carriers, and our meeting will be from 11:00am-12:00pm.

DIRECTIONS: From Raleigh- US 1 to Ten-Ten exit, left to Apex, left on Salem St., building on right. Park at Apex First Baptist Church. From Durham/Chapel Hill- Hwy 55 to Apex, left on Salem St., church will be on your left before YFC building. Call Fred Richardson for further directions w: 362-7588, h: 266-5091.

April 6 Meeting Notes
  1. New meeting time, same location.
  2. ECE Shelter in Texas: Collection was taken.
  3. Non-profit status: Jeff Marsocci will file for non-profit status this week. Christine Hamilton volunteered to assist.
  4. Committee chairs need to get together to work out a budget asap.
  5. Newsletter advertising space and store discounts are being acquired. Companies will be posted in next issue.
  6. Membership application was reviewed and accepted. We still need an semi-artist who will design membership cards.
  7. Kelly Pittman graciously volunteered to fax the Bulletin Board section of the newspapers with club info.
Annual Dues/Club Membership Fee was agreed upon as $15. This fee will help to defray newsletter production and mailing costs to members, vets, and pet stores, as well as, a permanent display exhibit with signage. The newsletter is vital in providing all ferret lovers information on care and activities.

Membership cards (artistic volunteer?) and pet store discounts are being approached. If you cannot attend the next meeting, but want to be a contributing TriFL member, please send your dues to the return address payable to Heather Hildebrandt.

To reach Triangle Ferret Lovers online:

 TRIFL World Wide Web page address =
http://www.trifl.org/

Read Jeff Johnston's technical paper entitled "Respiratory Toxicity of Cedar and Pine Wood: A Review of the Biomedical Literature from 1986 through 1995" at
http://www.trifl.org/cedar.html

Renaissance Faire Schedule and Plans

 Next Faire design/construction meeting is Saturday, 4/20 at 10:30am at Karen's house (596-9393). We need people to design "flags" for a total of 10-15. Shari and Wendy are bringing storyboards. Plus, people who have ferret info., poems, songs, artwork, etc. are asked to bring it over. Does someone have one or two tables we can use? We need things TO raffle off. Any ideas? A sign up sheet to work at the booth was circulated at the 4/6 meeting, and the following signed up. (This is subject to change, since we need at least two people there at all times to allow for bathroom breaks, etc.)

SATURDAY: 9:00a - Set Up - Wendy B., Karen & Joseph Lovvorn (Wendy, Karen and Joseph will be "on call" as needed during the day.) 10:00a-1:00p - Chris Pluck & Kelly Pittman 1:00p-4:00p - Shari Gunter 4:00p-8:00p - Jeff Johnston

SUNDAY: No one signed up for Sunday, or offered to do "shows" (demos) on-stage, or for clean up. If we do NOT do demos, we have to pay a $50 booth fee, so we need volunteers!

Costuming: If you need costuming help, please bring fabric on Saturday, 4/20. Fabric suggestions: solid color, non-fluorescent, cotton/poly blend or broadcloth, 45" or 60" wide, twice the length of the tunic or surcoat you want. Ferrets will need carriers (i.e., baskets) or harnesses if you want to carry them around, as well as, a pet carrier that can be stashed under the table during rest periods. Participants can wear loose-fitting pants, tights, sweat pants under a loose blousy shirt or homemade tunic. Tunics, skirts & vests, etc. are also fine for women.

Ferreting Out Fun In The State House

 (BOSTON) - In the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House, the champions of Weld and Kerry raced through tubes to predict the outcome of the Senate race. Contestants lined up to be judged for the blackest nose. And some vied to see who could dance their way out of a paper bag.

All of these games were part of the very first Bay State Ferret Frolic, a sort of Olympics for these domesticated relatives of the weasel and otter. The Massachusetts Friends of the Domestic Ferret held this Frolic to celebrate the official enactment of the bill legalizing ownership of ferrets. The State House was chosen to host the Frolic by way of thanks to the Governor and those in the Legislature who passed the Ferret Bill, many of whom had never seen a ferret.

Nationally, as well as statewide, ferret owners recognized March 7, 1996 as Ferret Freedom Day, in honor of Massachusetts becoming the 48th state to legalize ferret ownership.

- Lee McKee

Ferret Info On the World Wide Web

 Ferret Races:
http://www.delphi.co.uk/cgi-bin/delphi/interactive/ ferrets/index/40

Ferrets and Cats:
http://www.furph.com/ferret.html

Pathology of Ferrets:
http://vetpath1.afip.mil/ferretpath.html

Ferret Products:
http://www.ferretcentral.org/companies.html

Virginia Ferret Breeder and Shelter:
http://userwww.qnet.com/~killian/zen_home.htm

Ferret Name List:
http://www.comland.com/~ahn/addferret.html

You and Your Ferret Vet

 1. Call your local ferret rescues/shelters, veterinary offices, veterinary schools and ask who they recommend to treat your fuzzball.

2. Watch the vet handle your ferret. Vets can vaccinate or give you antibiotics without knowing that much about ferrets. Honest ones will tell you they don't know much more than that. Never hesitate to get a second opinion.

3. Ask lots of questions! Are they on-line? How many ferrets do they see in a month? Are they comfortable operating on ferrets? Have they dealt with ECE?

4. Make sure the vet listens to you...you know your pet better than anybody. If you think the ferret is not acting right, and the vet is telling you your pet is fine, you might want to look for a new vet or, at least, get a second opinion. This can either make you feel better about your vet, or get the help your ferret really needs.

5. If a vet lists several things that could be wrong and doesn't offer treatment, or you feel the treatment they are suggesting is too extreme or not aggressive enough, ask for treatment options and have them explain why they feel the treatment they suggest is best for your pet. If what they are saying doesn't feel right to you get a second opinion.

6. Ask about emergency visits. How long it takes them to get to the office, if they can treat any emergency or if they refer to emergency clinics? If they refer, you will need to make sure the staff there is familiar with ferrets, too. Call around and have a back-up vet.

Shelter Information and Contacts

 Please support your local ferret shelters. If you are unable to donate financially, they can also use ferret/kitten food, old t-shirts, sweatshirts, towels, toys, water bottles, food dishes and other ferret accessories, laundry detergent, and paper towels. The following biographies are of two adorable ferrets who are in need of a loving person/family:

Roscoe: 3 year old albino neutered and descented male from Marshall Farms. Rabies and Canine Distemper shots up-to-date. Active and energetic, Roscoe loves to get out and play - with anything! Lifelong pal to Bandit (see bio below). Gets along well with older kids and cats, but tends to nip when excited (who doesn't?). Loves people, but is very aggressive toward all other ferrets except Bandit. Only adoptable to an experienced ferret owner who is willing to give him special care and loving attention. Favorite toys: anything!, bags, balls, socks, and stuffed animals. Likes Nutri-cal/Ferret-vite and Ferretone as a treat. He eats a combination of Marshall's, Totally Ferret, and Kaytee.

Bandit: 3 year old sable mitt spayed female. Rabies and Canine Distemper up-to-date. She is known at the shelter as The Great Ferretini - Escape Artist Extraordinaire! Very curious, friendly, and great with kids. Gets along with cats. Must be adopted with boy-pal Roscoe (see above bio). While she is cuddly and sweet with people, she does not like other ferrets (except Roscoe) and will scream like a banshee and take evasive action if "intruders" get too close. Favorite toys: stuffed animals, socks, and plastic bags. Enjoys raisins, Linatone/Ferretone, and Nutri-cal as a treat.

Please contact Karen Marsh-Lovvorn of Rogues Gallery at 596-9393, or Linda Goodwin of Guardian Angels at 362-8460, if you can adopt a shelter ferret!

TriFL Newsletter Address

 

TRIangle Ferret Lovers

PO Box 61091

Raleigh, NC  27661-1091
Shari Gunter is the TriFL Newsletter editor. Please contact Shari at sharidiane@aol.com if you have questions about TriFL Newsletter content.

This web page is maintained by Pam Sessoms. I can be reached at: pjdutche@email.unc.edu.

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