It’s the End of the Year

     Wow what a wild ride this last year has been for Enlightened Ferret and me. I joined twitter in late 2009 but 2010 really showed me how much it could help promote my blog. Thanks to twitter I found new friends that were as dedicated to their animals as I am to ferrets.

     March/April saw Manny join my little band of ferrets.

     April also saw me go to the first ever pet conference Called Blog Paws East. What a great adventure that turned out to be. I was able to help a rescue because of winning a door prize. If you haven’t read what amazing work these two ladies do you should hop over to I Love Rescue Animals  and check them out.

     April also brought sadness as I had to make the heart wrenching decision for Lance.

     May saw James turn ten years old. A true senior when it comes to ferrets.’

     June: I supported a ferret rescue: Heart of Ohio Ferret Rescue and Association by doing a walk with James and Manny on the Allegheny trail even if I did get lost the ferrets had fun. We also raised money for them through a twitter party called the Outlaw Pawparty what fun that turned out to be.

     July saw James diagnosed with Insulinoma and he was put on Prednisone and because of his age surgery was ruled out. I had to learn how to do paw sticks on such a tiny paw to monitor his condition.

     August brought us to Atlanta, Ga for Bark World. We got to ride down in style thanks to GMC and BZTAT. James and Manny got a lot of attention and I got to talk a lot about ferret ownership with a lot of people.

     The boys and I weren’t able to make it to Blog Paws West in September but we did get to meet a new ferret friend because of trying to get there. We made plans with Snot Face Critter  to have a ferret invasion at Blog Paws 2011.

     The middle of November brought me Marcuz a splattered marked ferret who is deaf and is Manny’s new playmate.

     The end of November was hard as my beloved James passed away in my arms from his insulinoma. I had hoped he would have made it though the year and past Manny’s first birthday but it wasn’t to be. I miss him but I know that he did live a full life by living to be ten years old and filled with love.

     December we were Santa to Gibbs and sent a goodie loaded box to him along with a couple of presents for his hooman.  It was great to see all the Ferret Giving Tree ferrets opening their gifts.

     What will 2011 bring to us is mostly unknown but we will be attending Bark World again and Blog Paws 2011. There is also a goal in place to reach a 100 followers in 2011. What would you like to see or learn about from us in 2011? What are your plans for 2011?

Have a Chittering good day and we will see you in 2011!

Jo

Merry Christmas

 

No the picture isn’t of Manny or Marcuz for three reasons.

1. They never stop moving.

2. Their gifts are already stashed in their hidey-holes.

3. The camera batteries died and I can’t find my package of new ones.

Hope everyone has a good one.

 

Have a Merry Chittering day,

Jo, Manny, and Marcuz

Wordless Wednesday

 

Have a Chittering good day,

Jo

A Ferret's 12 Days of Christmas

(Of course it is sung to the tune of 12 Days of Christmas)

 

On the first day of Christmas my Ferret gave to me
The topper from the Christmas tree.

 

On the second day of Christmas my Ferret gave to me
Two corner presents
And the topper from the Christmas tree.

On the third day of Christmas my Ferret gave to me
Three punctured ornaments
Two corner presents
And the topper from the Christmas tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas my Ferret gave to me
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two corner presents
And the topper from the Christmas tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas my Ferret gave to me
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two corner presents
And the topper from the Christmas tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas my Ferret gave to me
Six soggy ribbons
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two corner presents
And the topper from the Christmas tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas my Ferret gave to me
Seven scraps of paper
Six soggy ribbons
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two corner presents
And the topper from the Christmas tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas my Ferret gave to me
Eight tiny reindeer fragments
Seven scraps of paper
Six soggy ribbons
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two corner presents
And the topper from the Christmas tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas my Ferret gave to me
My wreath in nine pieces
Eight tiny reindeer fragments
Seven scraps of paper
Six soggy ribbons
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two corner presents
And the topper from the Christmas tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas my Ferret gave to me
Ten Christmas cards I shoulda mailed
My wreath in nine pieces
Eight tiny reindeer fragments
Seven scraps of paper
Six soggy ribbons
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two corner presents
And the topper from the Christmas tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my Ferret gave to me
Eleven unwrapped presents
Ten Christmas cards I shoulda mailed
My wreath in nine pieces
Eight tiny reindeer fragments
Seven scraps of paper
Six soggy ribbons
Five chewed-up stockings
Four broken window candles
Three punctured ornaments
Two corner presents
And the topper from the Christmas tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my Ferret gave to me
A dozen ferret kisses...
and I forgot all about the other eleven days.

Author Unknown

 

Hope it gave you a laugh.

 

Have a Chittering good day

Jo

2011=365 Days of Animal Advocacy!

     2010 is quickly coming to a close but what a year it was for pet people. Conferences were started just for pet bloggers, marketers, advocates, and just all around pet people. Out of these came some challenges one of which was Be The Change, An opportunity to make a difference in animal’s lives some how.

     With 2011 galloping towards us an idea has been thought up by Ash of I love Rescue Animals that is more than a one time shot it is embracing each of the 365 days of 2011. That idea is Advocacy 365. The purpose is to give rescues, shelters, animal non-profit, foundations, bloggers, or an idea that needs support and give them a chance for their message to be heard.

     All that is needed is a tee shirt from these places for the founder of I love Rescue Animals to wear each day. You can be a part of these terrific idea by sending a shirt from a project you support by first looking at the idea first hand to see just what the whole idea is by going to I love Rescue Animals 

     From what I have heard so far she has only been able to get enough tee shirts for a month. So I have decided that I am going to  give out a challenge to all those that read this blog or follow my tweets lets really make 2011 the year of the animals.

     I know that she has only requested 365 shirts but what if she was able to receive double that amount? 730 tee shirts representing animals in a good way. Think of it like this you first get to decide what animal function you support and then you donate to that cause which can be tax deductible.

     Most of these have tee shirts to buy through donations then have it sent to Ashley of I love Rescue Animals to wear. So if she is only one person why 730 tee shirts? Cause Ashley isn’t the only one behind I love Rescue Animals so two causes, foundation, blogs, or what ever animal related would be seen in a day. Let’s  help them reach their main goal of 365 tee shirts and see just how much further we can take it.

     Size needed is small adult tee shirt preferably unisex. Either leave your email in the comment section below or at I love Rescue Animals blog and Ashley will get back to you with the shipping information. I’ll be sending a tee shirt for Enlightened Ferret blog and one for the local wildlife rehabilitation Center as soon as I can.

Keep on Chittering,

Jo

And the Winner is…..

     Thank you Hartz® for giving me this opportunity to make one of my blog followers a happy pup.

     Thanks you to all that entered and tweeted about the contest. I placed those that entered the contest on a spreadsheet in the order they entered and we had eight entries.

     Then I went to random.org, which I understand is Smokey the Poodles dad’s new fun site. Lol. Random.org generated the number 4 which belongs to ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoda the Dog! be sure to check out his blog

Congrrrratulations and have a chittering good day,

 

Jo

The Joys of being a Ferret Parent.

     Being a pet parent isn’t always easy. You are always training your pet so he/she knows that you are the boss. Most often though they just let you think that when the fact is they have us securely wrapped around their paws, talons, hooves.

     Being a ferret parent has some challenges that many would never think possible. From daily ferret proofing so they don’t get into too much trouble because you can never keep a ferret out of trouble. Not that he/she would ever see it as trouble to trying to wrap Christmas gifts.

     Most of you know that we at Enlightened Ferret are Gibbs Santa  and I was finally able to start wrapping some of his gifts. Of course Manny and Marcuz had to come see what I was doing. Unfortunately the camera batteries decided it was time to die and the package of batteries I just bought are all dead, needless to say I’ll be returning those. But there are no pictures of the ferrets helping wrap.

How to wrap gifts with ferrets.

Step 1. Get everything set up. Paper, Tape, boxes, bows

Step 2. Unroll the paper for cutting. Remove ferret from the paper before cutting.

Step 3. Place present on cut paper. Turn away to get tape. Retrieve present from Ferret.

Step 4. Remove ferret from paper replace present wrap present, retrieve tape from ferret.

Step 5. Watch ferret steal bow and take behind couch, quickly wrap present, remove ferret from box.

Step 6. Place present in box, repeat step 2 for next present, place empty cardboard roll on floor after cutting it lengthwise so ferret doesn’t get stuck.

Step 7. Watch ferrets play with cardboard roll for a few minutes.

Step 8. Start to place second, third, forth, unassisted ferret wrapped presents in box only to realize present one is missing.

Step 9. Ask the ferrets where they took the present and watch them go in two direction Chittering excitedly while doing their weasel war dance.

Step 10. Sigh, pick up box with wrapped presents and place up on high self. Watch ferrets wear themselves out.

Step 11. Place sleeping ferrets in their hammock and look for missing present.

Step 12. Find the missing present in the back of the Television out of reach.

Step 13. Go find long BBQ Tongs to retrieve found present.

Step 14. Dust off cobwebs from retrieved present place in box with other presents replace on high self.

Step 15. Make cup/glass of much need hot beverage and relax by watching the ferrets sleep like little angels.

Don’t forget this is the last day to enter the Hartz® Giveaway.

Have a Chittering good day

Jo

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

 

 

Be sure to check out our GIVE AWAY

Have a Chittering good day

 

Jo

Marcuz

 

     Hi evfurybody Iz took over diz bloggy today. Fur doz dat don’t know me Iz ManChester better known az Manny. Hooman sayz Iz a sable wif a love of miciez. I have a big brofur named James he went on a big trip wifout mez. He told mez dat I had to stay here wif hooman and our new brofur Marcuz.

     Marcuz came to livez wif uz before Thankgiving hooman sayz hiz color iz Splatter cuz it look like paint got dropped and hez waz in da way. Hooman said dat Marcuz iz stone cold deaf. Hooman wrong hiz not stone or cold. Iz wazn’t sure what deaf waz. Hooman told mez dat Marcuz can’t hear anything.

     Hooman been using her hands a lot more she told mez datz she iz doing sign language. I members her doing dat before wif my other brofur, Lance, before he take big trip to place called da Rainbow Bridge datz where James went too.

     Hooman try to get lotz of picciz of Marcuz and mez but wez like playing hide n sneak. *chitters*. Only time Marcuz not moving much iz when hez sleeping .

      Hooman tried to put Christmaz clothez on uz but wez moved too much fur da piccis. Iz also try to hide da hat cuz it looked like a big mousie.

     Marcuz and I like each other which iz good cuz wez share da same cage when wez not playing who da bozz in da big room. Hooman got a blinky light it waz to get Marcuz’ attention but he ignore it. Mez try to take it all da timez to hide. Iz hopz youz like da picciz Hooman took.

 

Hooman sayz have a Chittering good day,

Manny 

P.S. Be sure to enter into our give away. Iz really lovez dat duck! *chitters*

Hartz® Toy Review n Giveaway

     I was given the opportunity to review some toys from Hartz® Ultimate Pet Gift Guide.

     We were sent Hartz® 5 pack Mini Mice and for Trixie the blood hound who eats almost all of her toys the Hartz® Tuff Stuff Nose Diver. An extra surprise was in the box in the form of tennis balls. Perfect for all of the critters here. 

     I split the mice up between the ferrets and the cats. Manny loves his mice and these were the perfect size for him to grip and carry away after he give them a good beating. The cats went absolutely crazy with them. The mice are tucked away some where in the room but at midnight and about eight in the morning they are brought back out to be batted, chewed on, and thrown around by to very happy cats.

     Surprisingly the Nose diver did not impress Trixie while she did play with it for the first hour it was in the house it was mainly because it was a new toy. She is not interested in it now; Manny however thinks it is the best thing to drag to his hidey-hole. Even James liked playing with it.

     The Nose diver is made of heavy- duty nylon and has a twisted rope that would make up the legs on this duck shaped toy. Great for playing tug –of-war with your furry friend. There is even a squeaker inside.

     Trixie did like the tennis balls and she may warm up to the Nose Diver. The winners at this house were the Mini Mice. I will be getting some more of these for both the ferrets and the cats.

Christmas is about giving so Enlightened Ferret and Hartz® are going to give one lucky winner their very own Tuff Stuff Nose Diver.

     Leap, scamper, stalk, run, or pounce on over to Hartz® online toy book.  and see the toys they offer then come back and tell me which one you think would be best for your furry friend in the comment section.

     The giveaway will end on December 10^th and the winner will be picked using  Random.org on December 11th.

 

Disclaimer: I was given these toys for a review and received no other compensation for the review.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

Have a chittering good day,

 

Jo

P.S. James passed away on November 28 from Insulinoma. He lived a long happy life and was well into old age at the time of his death.