Ferret Giving Tree

 

Us three ferrets are lucky we have our loving forever home with our pet hooman, AmyJo, unfortunately there are many other ferrets that are living in shelters and rescues until they either find that perfect hooman or they cross over the Rainbow Bridge.

While they are safe and well taken care of in these places they aren’t always able to have some of the same things as us. Thankfully a bunch of pet hoomans got together and created the Ferret Giving Tree where shelters and rescues can list ferrets and their wish list for Santa Claws to see and maybe some of his elf helpers would jump in to supply some of the wishes.

This year the tree had 225 ferrets but there are still 104 ferrets needing Santas. We will be picking one or two from the tree but for us it isn’t just about the stories it is helping those that should have a loving home no matter what.

So won’t you give the Ferret Giving Tree a look and maybe one of those adorable little faces will tug at your heart strings that you can’t help but his or her Santa.

 

                                             

 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Manny, Marcuz, and Marylin

Update: Wez selected Mojo Man to be Santa to. Isn’t he just unique? You can read more about him by clicking on his picture.

Ferret Giving Tree 2013

What is the Ferret Giving Tree? It is a place where shelters can put up homeless ferrets many of which have medical issues and will more than likely stay with the shelter until they pass over the Rainbow bridge. Some of the stories are heartbreaking and others just make you want to go strangle the person responsible for their pain.

Most shelters run on the kind donations of others and are often in need of items they just can’t afford due to the medical cost of these furry little critters. That is where the Ferret Giving Tree comes in.

Started in 1998 by Kristine in hopes of giving the ferrets special gifts that they might of never seen otherwise. The first year saw over three hundred ferrets listed on the tree and the numbers keep growing each year which is sad as that means more and more ferrets are ending up in shelters for many different reasons but the two main reasons are inexperienced owners and medical/age issues.

The Ferret Giving Tree is opened each October to the shelters to place bios of several ferrets on the tree and each tree holds the names and pictures of fifteen ferrets. The tree(s) are then opened to the public on November 1^st so each ferret can get his or her very own Santa. Some stay as secret Santa and others relish in giving something to these little guys.

I have participated in the Ferret Giving Tree the last two years with only being able to be Santa to one ferret this year I will be able to choose several ferrets so now my dilemma is choosing which ferrets and or shelter I wish to donate too.

I picked seven little fuzzies from Richmond Ferret Rescue League this way I only need to ship one box and I can include a nice surprise for the Shelter Mom.

The seven little darlings I have picked are

Silly Willie

Cooter Cutie

MoJo

George

Roxy

Bacardi, and

Miss Prissy

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Ferret Giving Tree 2012

This year Enlightened Ferret is going to play Santa to Baby Snooks

 

from Woogie Wescue.

This little girl has had it rough and is very lucky to be alive after being found in a meth house and had been living on meth instead of ferret food.

Our hearts go out to her and hope that she can have a decent life now as she keeps detoxing from those horrid chemicals.

The Ferret Giving Tree has over 200 ferrets in need of a Santa and the shelters that are featured care for over 2000 ferrets.

Won’t you think about helping Enlightened Ferret play Santa to Baby Snooks and the other ferrets at Woogie Wescue or by becoming a Santa to one of the other ferrets on the Ferret Giving Tree.

If you wish to send a gift to Baby Snooks or the other ferrets at Woogie Wescue send it to

Woogie Wescue

7271 Airline Hwy #117

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

70805 USA

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Year in Review and a Look Forward

 

I sit here on this last day of 2011 to work on this post I realize that it was not a great year for my personal it was and exceptional one for Manny and Marcuz.

Manny became the first therapy ferret in our area and has been a hit at the local care home.

Marcuz and Manny showed a lot of people that ferrets are indeed trainable and are willing to walk on a leash to be able to have some great adventures.

We placed 1^st in our category in our first pet parade. While showing that ferrets can stylish and that some are willing to wear clothing. If only for a little while.

We went to Blog Paws and had a ferret invasion with Snot Face Critter and his hooman.

Manny and Marcuz were also part of a news story that dealt with animals dressing up for Halloween and had their pictures splashed across the net from the photo shoot they were part of.

Manny and Marcuz both turned a year old this year and helped to raise nearly a thousand dollars for Hearts of Ohio Ferret Rescue and Association.

We were Santa to Murray of Fox Valley Ferret Rescue.

This year also saw a new addition on Enlightened Ferret. Featured ferrets from the Pet finder site. We can only hope that those featured on the blog found their new forever homes.

Now we are looking to the New Year and what it might hold for us.

Manny will turn 2 on the third of January and there may be a birthday pawty for him on twitter with a few prizes.

We would love to see our Etsy store take off and be able to feed the boys at the very minimum.

Blog Paws is a given but we are hoping to do a lot more traveling this coming year than we did this last one. *paws crossed*

We will again celebrate Senior Ferrets and our blog’s anniversary in June with an Outlaw pawty.

We will try to keep our first place win for a second time in July at the pet parade

August may see us attending the Buckeye Bash

October we will make an appearance at our local feed store’s Halloween celebration and hopefully make it to Bark World.

We would like to be Santa to more than one ferret this year along with helping Hearts of Ohio Ferret Rescue and perhaps one other ferret shelter.

We have received a lot of praise for helping others learn about ferrets this last year from those that got to meet Manny and Marcuz in the fur while at Blog Paws and on Twitter.

Many make resolutions now about what they will/won’t do this coming year.

I normally don’t as they often get forgotten about but this year my one resolution is to do better with posting on Enlightened Ferret even when things get out of hand or try to overload me with work. My two worst months are November and December.

What would you like to see Enlightened Ferret talk about this coming year?

What do you want to know or have discussed?

Dear Sponsors/Brands even if you don’t think they are ferret related we would still like a chance to do a review of products or even giveaways. Our main focus is Ferrets but as long as it is somehow related to pets Enlightened is willing to check it out.

Leave a comment, suggestion, or a valid question in the field below and you never know what might show up on Enlightened Ferret.

Disclosure: I am a ferret owner all information on this blog is researched and verified to the best of my knowledge. Sometimes the information may be out of date or from another country. At this time I do not get paid by any of the products/services I review except in the product or service and are always carry a disclosure of what I have/not received.  All photos unless otherwise noted are mine. If you do borrow one please link back to Enlightened Ferret and give credit to AmyJo Casner for the picture.

Have a Chittering Good Last Day of 2011,

Jo

Ferret Giving Tree

Last year Enlightened Ferret was Santa to Gibbs from Stinky Pete’s Resort this year we have chosen Murray from the Fox Valley Ferret Shelter. (click on the picture to read about Murray)

Fox Valley Ferret Shelter helps mainly older and special needs ferrets.

If you would like to help be part of the gift giving for Murray or any other ferret that is on the trees at the Ferret Giving Tree and are unsure of what to give these little guys you can leave a comment or send an email to enlightenedferret@hotmail.com or tweet me @informedferret for some ideas.

Like all shelters both human and animal these are experiencing financial difficulties. For many of these shelters the most needed items besides money are as follows

Paper towels

Food: each shelter has a list of what they use but some are Marshalls, totally ferret, Evo for Ferrets.

cleaning supplies

blankets

ferretone

baby wipes

Gerber baby food (Chicken, Turkey) for duck soup

Q-tips®

nail clippers (cat)

and of course toys

 

Have a Chittering good day,

Jo

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

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

Step 1 Complete.

     Many of you have heard of therapy dogs. These are pets that go to nursing homes and senior centers to visit the elderly. Cats have been added to the list and now ferrets are being allowed to join this great program.

     I wasn’t sure where to begin until I found Paws for Friendship it had all the information I needed. I emailed Jan the founder about starting a chapter of Paws for Friendship in Western Pa. I’ll let you know how that is coming along.

Step 1: Get Manny cleared by vet.

     We just got back from the vet and Manny has a clear bill of health and been vaccinated against Rabies and Distemper. He was such a good boy, even if he did slip his collar and grin at the vet.

     Manny is now a hefty 3lb boy and Dr. Doverspike was happy to help certify Manny, his first therapy ferret certification.

     Manny now has a new shiny tag that says he has had his shots. I am glad I check my paperwork before driving out of the vet’s parking lot. It had the wrong weight on it and had Manny listed as a canine. Don’t think I could pass this little monkey off as a doggy. What do you think?

Step 2: Get Approved

Need to send in the paper work and membership dues.

The boys and I are getting Gibbs’ presents and will be shipping them to him soon.

Have a Chittering good day,

Jo

It’s Official! We are Santa to Gibbs

     In a time of uncertainty and when people are starting to tighten their belts for the coming holiday madness a small speck of light shines through that is more than sparkly wrapping paper. That speck of light is the love of another being whether it be human or animal.

     Enlightened Ferret was started to help people realize that ferrets can make an awesome pet for those willing to go the lengths. It has also taught many that while they may love seeing ferret they aren’t for them beyond the occasional visit. I also wanted to help ferrets less fortunate than my own kids. I feel that I have done that with bring updates about the plight of the black-footed ferret and doing my first twitter pawty for The Heart of Ohio Ferret Rescue.

     Last year I told you about the ferret giving tree and I wanted to help them all but was unable to. This year I may not be able to help every ferret on the trees but will be able to help at least one ferret this year. His name is Gibbs and he is one of twenty-seven ferrets at Stinky Pete’s Ferret Retreat

            

     We at Enlightened Ferret are planning some great surprises for Gibbs and his shelter sibs and the caring hooman that has opened her home to these little guys that bring so much joy to those who truly understand them.

     Other surprises are in the works and as they come to fruit they will be blogged about.

Keep on Chittering,

Jo

Be the Change: Helping Those Less Fortunate

     If you have not figured it out yet I am not only a ferret owner but a ferret lover as well. I believe that we are put here for a reason. Sometimes it takes awhile for us to realize just what that reason might be.

     I now know that my reason is to help these little fuzzy clowns but correcting misconceptions and raising awareness of the many in need. Thanks to my followers both here on Enlightened Ferret and on Twitter I helped the senior ferrets at Heart of Ohio Ferret Association and last year I wrote about the Ferret Giving Tree.

     This site allows ferret shelters to post ten pictures of ten ferrets in need while giving the shelter a chance to ask for help in supporting his/her shelter. Mostly they ask for toys, cleaning supplies, and other small items.

     The pictures range from healthy ferrets to those who are sickly or have been abused. Adrenal disease is horrible to watch as it slowly robs a ferret of his/her health. The ones who have Adrenal looks like they have been abused because they are bald and have lost a lot of weight leaving their bones showing through their skin.

     Selection to be a Santa for one or more of these fuzz butts does not begin until November 1^st but I am posting a picture of Gibbs a three year old deaf boy who I am going to be Santa for and hope that the readers of Enlightened Ferret will help both Gibbs and his shelter out and any packages you send please add in care of Enlightened Ferret.com.

     I would love to help everyone of these little guys on the Ferret Giving Tree but by helping one I know I am giving back to them the love and inspiration my own have given me through the years.

                                              

Jo