A Companion for Bandit

This story is about Princess. Bandit was so fun when we got him and he was very spoiled. He got so much attention I don't think he knew what to do with it. Well, as some time passed I noticed that he looked lonely (maybe it was me wanting another ferret) and I told my husband that for Christmas I wanted a companion for Bandit. He (fortunately for me) thought it a good idea and so my search began. I searched in all places for the new companion of mine ... I mean ... of Bandit but I could not find what I was looking for. I knew what the perfect companion for him would be in my mind but I could not locate that companion. I turned to the all-knowing Internet (yet again) and found the GCFA (almost right in my neighborhood). I looked around and found some adoptable ferrets (all of them!). I talked it over with my husband and we decided to call and visit the shelter to adopt a companion or two.

Side note: In the book Ferrets for Dummies written by Kim Schilling I read that it is better to have the ferrets in groups of three because ferrets are very sensitive and if their companion passes away they can become very depressed and pass away too but with three they still have their other companion to keep them company.

After I made the appointment to see the ferret(s), I heard about Princess. I did not know what I was going to find out about her. I talked to my husband and he said okay go check it out. I went ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... (Jaw dropped and feeling of dismay in my heart) Oh my goodness! You will never believe what I encountered.

When I left my home, I left with a carrier and a blanket ready to take home a ferret. I was still very new to the ferret experience and did not know what to expect ... plus I had not read all the way through my" bible" Ferrets for Dummies. I show up and I looked at what her surroundings were and what habits she had. She was the perfect color and exactly what I imagined Bandit's new companion would be like. He immediately took to her and she took to him. They romped around the room like a happy couple. As they played and I kept a watchful eye on them I listened to the "owner" of Princess tell me about her. From the information, I gathered I deduced that poor Princess went through a couple homes and she was not wanted by anyone. No one wanted to play with her or give her any attention and when she did receive any attention, it was to do something awful to her. This "owner" has three very young children, and I am not saying that people with young children shouldn't have ferrets, but the "owner" shouldn't have ANY pets with these young children. MY, MY, MY! They grabbed princess by her tail, picked her up by the throat, squeezed her middle and dangled her by her tail. I was so very upset. The worst part is that I knew these people and had to remain polite. I think that was a true test of character for me because it took every ounce of will I had not to tell them off because the next thing they told me was that Princess liked to bite so they took a pair of NAIL CLIPPERS and CLIPPED her canines! How could anyone be so cruel?! ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Remembering this event brings deep feelings into my heart. I hurriedly picked Princess up (using a towel because she had been so brutally abused that she would bite if you came near her with your hands) and put her in the carrier and rushed home.

Our Ferret Story

My ferret story begins when I saw the movie “Beast Master.” I met Kodo and Podo. They were so adorable. I remember saying to my sister, “I want one of those!” I had not a clue in the world what they were called, but I knew I wanted one.

The summer of 2001 I went to visit my “mom” and it just so happens she had a HUGE cage in my sister’s room with a lonely ferret in it. It was love at first sight! I would not have asked for him if it weren’t for the fact that when I saw him his cage was full of poop everywhere, he did not have water, and he did not have food in his bowl. His nails were long and he wanted to come out of his cage. I felt so sad for him. I got really mad at my sister for not taking good care of him, and then I asked her if I could have (buy) him. She said no, but then I asked my mom. Hehehe! Mom said I could, of course, but there was only one problem… I had to convince my husband of letting me bring him home.

My husband is so fickle. I told him all about the poor ferret and how he really didn’t have a name, how they called him stinky, how he was living, and how much I wanted him. Of course I gave my husband the puppy dog eyes and he said yes. “YEAH!” I thought, but I waited to long. My husband changed his mind. ARRRRRGH! My husband was working out of town during that time so I had to wait for him to come back to ask again. I guess I could have asked over the phone but it doesn’t work the same. Can’t give him the puppy dog eyes over the phone. When he got home, I asked again, and again he said yes. I thought, “YEAH!” I tried not to delay and bought the ferret some food and other miscellaneous items and I didn’t for a second think he would have changed his mind a second time, but he did. I asked him why?! He said we didn’t know enough about ferrets to take care of one. So I did what anyone else does, I turned to the all-knowing Internet. I found some really interesting websites and some informative websites. I printed them out and feeling accomplished I showed them to my husband. He tried to find other excuses but I found answers for those excuses. He had no choice but to say yes! That day I called my mom and told her we were on our way! We jumped in the car to claim our ferret! I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY!

We brought him home (and I don’t think I was fully prepared for a ferret) we (I mean my husband) cleaned his dirty cage and gave him a name. Bandit, the curious lint trap!

This is one of my babies. He is now only 6 months old.

Ferret Frenzi

The picture I posted is of my very first ferret. His name is Bandit. My husband gave him that name. We adopted him from someone who thought it cool to have one but didn't want to do the work that came along with owning one. It took me three months and lots of research to convince my husband to let us have him. Three times he said "Yes." and twice he said "No." On the third yes I did not hesitate, I immediately went over and picked him up. We now have SEVEN ferrets in our home and four that have passed. Of all the ferrets we have six have been "adopted" (more like rescued) and the other five have been purchased (can't say no to the cute little faces they make; especially when they are babies). My husband and I love these little critters as if they were our children. One ferret we had, Roxy (aka Baby), used to climb in our bed and sleep in between us. It was really cute. She had a stroke a few months after we "adopted" her and went into a seizure. We took her to the "emergency" vet clinic and had to have her put to sleep. The ferrets we have had come through our home or are still in our home are (in order that they came): Bandit (the one to start the Ferret Frenzi in our home) Princess (sad story about her) Sugar (got her from a shelter) Bear (aka Burrito, Houdini or Evil Canevil) Georgie (he was deaf) Panchito (aka Shadow) Mittens (aka Muñeca and real naughty) Roxy (aka baby) Ginger (my daughter's ferret) Benjamin (I constantly call him Georgie cuz he reminds me of him) Cookie (She is soooooo cute!) I have to go bake a cake for my husband's birthday... so I'll blog you later!

My name is Bandit.

AAAAARRRRRGGGGG!

AAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGG! I have been typing for 30 mins and in a bad click I lost it! AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGG!