Update

I know it has be a long time since I've posted anything about ferrets and I am sorry for that. I can't say I'll be better about posting as I don't know if I will have much to say. I know this is pet dental month and others have posted some great information about brushing your pet's teeth. I've done a couple of posts in the past and they can be found Here and Here.

Losing Manny last year put me in a tail spin I am just starting to pull out of. Marcuz, Marylin, Boyd, and Dood live with me on the road in a 2001 Chevy Venture. It isn't always easy and for a while there I wasn't sure I could do it. I am not sure where I would be if it wasn't for the furry crew.

The van has been redesigned around the ferrets and cats. Marcuz was almost bald in August of last year now has a new coat with one small bald spot on his back. He didn't get an implant and the only thing I can figure is the fact he and Marylin get a natural light cycle. While his coat isn't super thick it is a lot softer than it was. Marylin's coat is thick and soft and the markings she had lost are coming back.

I should also mention that it wasn't only a natural light cycle but they along with the rest of us experienced the temperature ups and downs. I can't say they helped the ferrets to have great results but I can't say it didn't either.

So Marcuz and Marylin update their traveling blog on FB a bit better than I do here.

Last year they were in PA, OH, KY, OK, NM, AZ, and we took a wild, scary ride through the desert to be outlaws in CA for Christmas. This year I am hoping to take them to the beach we shall see how that works out. Hoping to make Blog Paws in Phoenix this year along with the Buckeye Bash in Columbus, and maybe even be at the Greatest Ferret Show on Earth in Chicago. We shall see how it goes.

So if you see a tan van with two cats and two ferrets driving by give us a honk and a wave. See ya on the flip side.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo and the Furry Crew

Happy Easter

 

Marylin informed me that she doesn’t do ears as they are not a Diva’s Fashion wear. 

Marcuz said he didn’t want anyone to seem him almost naked and to use the photo with him and Manny in it from when they were younger.

Happy Easter from Enlightened Ferret

Have a Chittering Good Day,

AmyJo

Iz had toz goz

I stayed as long as I could.

Knowing your heart would shatter when I left.

You gave me your very best even to the end.

There wasn’t anything you could do but love me.

My short life I lived a lot.

I meet people both old and young and made them smile.

I helped you show the world that my kind isn’t as bad as the media portrays us.

I got to travel to so many states for different events.

My first was Bark World and my last HollyWoof

Know that I am near with only a thought.

The pain will ease in time but your love will always be strong.

While you might not want to dance now don’t forget how to Weasel War Dance in the sun.

Remember the good we did together and know that your love carried me on my next adventure.

Manny

Ferrets are Not Vicious Animals!

As Iz reported on Friday there was a supposed ferret attack on a one month old child. The News stations and papers do not seem to have any more information than when they first reported the incident.

Iz did find out that the ferrets and two cats were euthanized. The article only said the ferrets were being tested for rabies. Iz can only hope that a nercrospy was performed on all the animals to see just which one had human flesh in their digestive track. There were also several other animals removed from the home. Unfortunately it is the ferrets that are the ones being blamed for the damage done to this child.

What the news reporters do not seem to understand is that it would take us ferrets a long time to do the damage the child sustained. In an interview the father stated that two of the ferrets were on the child and the third was still in the make shift cage, which again was made from cloth and was never intended to house any animal for an extended period of time. It is my opinion the ferrets were trying to comfort the child like they would do with a small kit, baby ferret, that was in distress. Again that is only MY OPINION.

Iz has the feeling that not all the facts have been discovered and unless there was a pet autopsy, Nercrospy< performed on ALL the euthanized animals wez may never know the real truth. Also living in that house were four other children under the age of five that were released into the custody of the grandparents and one article said there are criminal charges pending. Iz have to point out that this event was 100% preventable. If the parents had used a proper cage made from metal and not a cloth dog playpen, or had taken the child upstairs with them the child would not be in the ICU facing multiple surgeries to her face. The ferrets and cats would be alive and the other animals would not have been ripped from their home and the media would not have a sad story to report. But it also must be said that the living conditions were not ideal for the children or animals and both probably should have been removed or at the very least been monitored a lot closer than they were. This tragedy took place on the same day as the New York City Hearing to lift the ban on ferrets living in the city. It is our fear that those reconsidering the ban will leave it in place due to this incident and use it as the grounds for their decision when it is apparent that it was a preventable situation and that stories like this are not as prevalent as dog incidents in the news. Again leave a comment if you wish but Iz and Hooman reserve the right to delete any comment that is flaming towards other commenters or ourselves. Facts:

Ferrets ARE NOT rodents they were domesticated to hunt them and were used as rodent control until the earlier 30's in the United States

Most ferrets in the United States are fed kibble and have never tasted animal flesh but it also must be said there is a growing movement of raw fed ferrets but our stomachs are small.

Ferrets have claws like a cat and can climb.

Ferrets are curious creatures and will investigate any kind of squeaky noises.

Since the late 50's there have been less than 20 reported cases of rabies in ferrets and there are now vaccines against the disease.

Wez will continue to monitor the story and bring you the latest as wez find it out.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Manny

“I Have a Dream…”

 

That line is from a famous speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in August of 1963. He was given a holiday by President Ronald Regan in 1983. It is to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday which is January 15th, but the holiday is celebrated on the third Monday of January.

Iz not a speech maker but Iz too have a dream.

Mez Dream is that all ferrets be free to bring their pet Hoomans out of the darkness of fear an into the light of encouragement.

That ferrets and pet Hoomans can live in harmony and not under the persecutions of misguided entities trying to squash the love between ferrets and their pet Hoomans.

It is mez hope that the dream starts tomorrow with the New York City Board of Health recognizing the good our small furry paws can do with the ban on us lifted.

It is also mez hope that the state of California will sit up and take notice of the movement and will take a long look at their prejudice  towards us ferrets and also remove their ban.

On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day Iz ask you to help bring this dream a paw step closer by signing this petition to Introduce Ferret Legalization to Legislation so at the very least the California Legislation will put the matter on the rolls to hear from the pet Hoomans and not just those that wish to oppress us ferrets.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Manny

Wordless Wednesday: Baby It’s Cold Out

 

 

I believe the fur kids have the right idea since it says it is 12 degrees out but with the wind chill it feels more like –4.

 

Manny in hooman’s sweatshirt

Marcuz snoozing in the hammock with his fleecey blanket.

 

Marylin was buried deep in the laundry basket I couldn’t get a good picture.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Getting Older

 

 

So Saturday was my fifth birthday. Which means I am now on the threshold of becoming a senior pet. With that hooman has more concerns about my health.

I am already considered to have Adrenal Disease since I have an enlarged spleen but am not showing any other signs such as hair loss like Marcuz is.

Hooman has started doing weekly testing of my blood sugar to make sure I am not showing any signs of Insulinoma.

I am also starting to show some signs of tooth decay even though hooman does brush my teefs. It will be one of the many things we will discuss with my awesome vet Doctor Doverspike in March of April depending on when we can get an appointment with him. Hooman doesn’t want to take any chances with our healthcare  and I really don’t like the lady vet that did my ultra sound.

I will also have to start seeing Doctor Doverspike twice a year if not more depending on my age but then I won’t be going alone since Marcuz will be turning five in September.

Here are just a couple of pics of me getting my bifday treats. Yum! 

 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Manny

2015

 

 

 

Have a Grateful and Chittering Start to a New Year.

 

Marylin, Marcuz, and Manny

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.

Chitmobile

Yesterday the humidity was so high that inside the house was just too hot for ferrets and humans. So I decided to give the kids a ride outside in their new stroller dubbed the Chitmobile. Other than a few minor adjustments this is going to be perfect for going places. One of which is Hollywoof in September.              I know the kids enjoyed being outside in the cool air where they could breath and safely watch the world around them.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Blog Paws Adventure Ferret Style

Normally I would write posts while at Blog Paws and/or on my way there. This year things went a little haywire to say the least. So I will start from the beginning and go from there.

The start of the adventure actually starts the night before we are suppose to leave on our road trip across the states. A call comes from the car rental company to say they don’t have any cars for us. I was livid as they had called that morning to confirm our reservation and then to call moments before closing was rude and irresponsible. They wanted us to wait two days to give us a car. Which would have been the start of Blog Paws so that was so not going to happen.

After blowing up on twitter and face book and a call to the corporate office we had a car but would have to go an extra ten miles out of our way to get it at this point I probably would have gone fifty miles just to have a car.

Roomie decided that we should go up a little earlier as we weren’t hundred percent sure where the rental office was but we found it easily and Chris the manager went over well out of his way to make what started out as a really bad experience into something wonderful. First we got upgraded to a nicer car at the same price as what I had reserved the car for and he kept the rental within my budget. Granted it was an extra fifty dollars because of the insurance but I could afford that. He also saw us as soon as they were open instead of making us wait until our appointment time. The car was a Malibu with a lot of bells and whistles.

So I drive back to the house to get the car packed up and ready to go. The chosen hash tag was #TravelingFerrets Finally we are on the road headed to Blog Paws in Las Vegas only to be diverted before we even get out of the state of Pennsylvania due to a major accident on Interstate 80 after getting lost a couple of times on the back roads we finally got back on I-80 in Ohio and an hour behind schedule.

Ohio has a different idea about pet rest areas they are small fenced areas with large smooth stones while not optimal for ferrets it does allow dogs a few minutes off leash and there is water available. Marylin was enjoying getting out of the car for a little bit before heading in to Indiana   where I should have realized that this trip was going to be a lot different than I had planned on.

 

I stopped at one of the travel plazas that are on I-80’s toll road to get something to eat. I chose McDonalds mainly because it was the only thing available besides convince store hot dogs Belch. Ordered a Big Mac and a small fry. The guy who ordered before me took three steps to the left of me and the cashier basically through my receipt at me and got my food quickly. It wasn’t until I got back into the car I realized what the problem was.   Just numbers to me but I know to many that was a bad omen.

 

After a beautiful sunset in Iowa   and me driving all night found me with a large cup of coffee and a face that said I really needed it.  We crossed the boarder into Nebraska   at one of the rest stops there was this very strange sculpture   still have no idea of what it was as the fur kids didn’t want to go near it. Finally we made it to Colorado before the first of the storm clouds started to roll in that brought thunder and lightening with them. The rain came down in sheets so thick you couldn’t see very far ahead but I pushed forward as I really wanted to make Denver before nightfall. The storm passed over and you can see where the edge was unfortuantly I hit Denver well after nightfall and drove up the Rockies in basically pitch blackness not something I like doing as you can’t see very far ahead of you.

I stopped at a lookout called No Name to take a picture of the sunrise   My photos from Utah are fuzzy and jumpy so you can’t see the snow dusting that was there. Finally I made it to Nevada and about two hours later we were at the hotel and the start of Blog Paws   and this was just the start of the adventure.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

And the Winner is...

 

Encase you missed it our winning hashtag is #TravelingFerrets and the winning voter is AM Weber please email me your email address so I can discuss your surprise.

I've made up a window cling for the car so people that we encounter can follow along. Not sure how it will look on the window yet but the design is pretty cool I think.

 

Of course white is actually clear.  We are on our way to #BlogPaws .

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Roadtrips and Hashtag Contest

Can you believe we leave for our trek to Vegas on Tuesday. Our friend over at Fidose Of Reality left today for their trip and you can follow them on twitter with the hash tag #FidoseAcrossAmerica for those not familiar with Carol Bryant or Dexter her cocker spaniel you need to check out her site. What many don't realize is that her and I live in the same state but at opposite ends. *Chitters* So seeing her hash tag made me realize that I might be missing an opportunity to let you all in on the adventures the furbabies and I will be having on our trip.

My only problem is I can't decide on what our hash tag should be and the list of options kept growing but I have narrowed it down to these last three which are:

#TravelingFerrets

#FerretsontheMove

#ScamperingAcrossStates

Because I can't decide which one of these I like the best I am opening it up for a vote and the hash tag that gets the most wins but that's not all I will chose from all the voters of the winning hash tag one person and they will receive a surprise from us either in the mail if you aren't attending Blog Paws or at the conference. To vote leave your choice along with your first name in the comment section.

The voting will go from today until Monday when the winning hash tag will be announced at the weekly #PetChat along with the winner of the surprise.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

 

Technorati Tags: hashtags,travel,Blog Paws,Ferrets,voting,winner,surprise,PetChat

Technorati Tags: twitter,roadtrip

Woozel Wednesday : 8 Days

Can you believe it? Only 8 more days until a mob of pet owned hoomans gather just outside of Las Vegas.

The woozels are getting their own groove on by being themselves.

Marylin: Learning the art of the Diva Stink Eye (DSE) as I dared to snap a photo when some hairs were out of place

Technorati Tags: 2014,blog hop,blogging,BlogPaws,Manny,Marcuz,Marylin,Diva,Curioustiy,Sleeping,Naptime,Woozel Wednesday,Wordless Wednesday,Photos,Ferrets,Hooman

Marcuz: Being the nosy part of the business

Manny: Knows the need to be well rested before getting to Blog Paws 

 

then there is me the hooman that seems to be going a mile a minute *chitters*

 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Packing For Blog Paws 2014

Starting to get down to the wire and still feels like I have so much to do yet. One of which is getting us all packed up and ready to go. While I can get much of what I want to take packed before I am ready to leave on Tuesday before Blog Paws I still have to do it in a way that makes sense for both the fur kids and me. For that reason a packing checklist is an absolute must and this is what it looks like at the moment.

Ferret Packing List:

Gray Tub

• Paper towels (1 roll)    
  
• Business cards (Enlightened Travels) 
  
• Trash bags
  
• Toys ( busy blanket, wonka toys, squeaky monkey)
  
• Litter   
  
• Food
  
• Bottled home water 
  
• poop bags
  
• Hand sanitizer (extra)
  
• Red Ground cloth (for play area)
  
• Outfits
  
• Sticky Rollers
  
• Small whisk broom and dustpan

Groom Bag

• Ferretone
  
• Cotton swabs
  
• Gluc Meter
  
• Toothbrushes and paste
  
• Nail clippers
  
• Furminator
  
• Tweezers
  
• Small first aid kit
  
• alcohol swabs

Gray Carrier: In the car

• Hammy
  
• litter pan (small corner)
  
• Hanging water bottle
  
• Clip on Food Cup
  
• Photo Ids with Rabies Tag #s and Vet Phone #

Blue Tote

• Health Certificates
  
• Rabies Tags

Car

• Fold Up Play Area
  
• 1 gray tub
  
• 1 black roller bag
  
• 1jounalist bag
  
• 1 blue tote
  
• 1 pet carrier

Note to self

DON'T FORGET LEASHES AND HARNESSES

I am sure that last one got a chuckle or two. Believe me it is easy to do and also one of the reasons I try to pack extras as I have driven off without making sure the leashes and harnesses where where they were suppose to be. I am also I'll be adding to the list as I always seem to do as the day to leave grows closer.  What is really bad is I had to buy a new suitcase as the one I had been using was too small.

My Packing list looks like this.

Suitcase

• 3 day shirts
  
• 2 evening shirts
  
• Jeans (3/4)
  
• Black pants for Red Carpet
  
• Gray pants for Opening night
  
• Socks (6 pairs)
  
• Black shoes ( Opening Night/ Red Carpet)
  
• Tennis shoes
  
• Photo Album (Fashions)
  
• Critter Zone
  
• Carol's Ferrets
  
• Instant coffee (never have enough in the room)

Groom Bag

• Toothbrush
  
• Paste
  
• Stink juice
  
• Hairbrush
  
• Hair ties
  
• Nail Clippers
  
• Small Sew Kit
  
• Razor
  
• Female Items
  
• Ferret Bracelets
  
• Stink Pretty

Journal Bag

• computer
  
• camera
  
• Cords for computer, camera, phone
  
• Battery Charger for Camera
  
• Business cards (blog and Business)
  
• Pens
  
• Notebook
  
• Flash Card for Camera
  
• Jump drives

So while it looks like I am packed I am only half way there. So excited!!!

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Woozel Wednesday

Woozel is another term many ferret owners use to describe their beloved little fur ball. Which makes sense as they are related to the weasel.

We are on our count down to Blog Paws and on the list of things to do was getting the 3 M's their vaccinations and health certificates.

Many people don't realize that ferrets can be exposed to many cat or dog viruses and occasionally get them. The only thing is that many of them are 100% fatal to ferrets no matter how fast it is discovered.
The two main diseases ferrets should be vaccinated against are rabies and distemper. There didn't use to be a vaccine that was made just for ferrets for either of these diseases and while the canine (puppy) vaccines have been used the effectiveness is relatively unknown.

Many ferret breeders/owners were glad to see the release of vaccines make especially for ferrets. Unfortunately the company that makes the distemper vaccine for ferrets has deemed the manufacturing of the vaccine to expensive and has stopped production. Leaving major shortages across the United States.  (Are you listening Merial?)

The reason I bring this up is because we are back to using puppy distemper vaccine for the 3 M's and only certain brands are recommended for ferrets none of which our vet uses.  But thankfully our favorite vet Dr. Sam Doverspike knows that we travel and has given the boys the vaccine he knew that while there are risks I would be ready for them.

Marcuz loves the taste of his vet and always gets in a few licks before trying to take a taste. Marcuz will be turning three this year and that means he is moving out of teenage years and into senior it also means he is a candidate for certain diseases that are very common in ferrets.  One of which is adrenal disease.

One of the signs is called Rat Tail and as you can see Marcuz has one but that is the only sign he is showing and we'll be monitoring him to make a decision about how to proceed. The two major options are an implant and/or surgery both of which can wait a little bit.

Manny has a slightly enlarged spleen also a known issue with ferrets and will be monitored closely. Manny turned 4 in January and really is considered on his way into seniorhood. But you would never tell from the way he was exploring the vet's office.
 

Marylin was the healthiest of them all but then she is only celebrating her 2nd birthday on July 1 at that time she will be a teenager.


While I know my boys are headed into a realm I don't want them to go I've been there done that with adrenal and know what to expect and how to deal with each coming event. The enlarged spleen is new and I will be compiling mounds of research just to keep informed and stay educated about it.

With a total of six shots my fur babies are ready for travel and have their health certificates to prove they've been seen and are allowed to travel the states.

I love that our vet office loves pets as much as we do even the light cover in the bathroom shows off their great sense of humor.




Have a Chittering Good Day,
Jo
15 days and counting.