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

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

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

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

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

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*

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

Merry Christmas

     To all who believe and celebrate this day. May you have found the truth in the meaning of Christmas. May you have received all that you wished for from loved ones. I hope that you are able to be with them this holiday season.

     May the world for a single day feel the Peace descend on it and wish for more of it. May the rest of us, rejoice in the beauty Mother Nature has put for us for our enjoyment. May the winged fly without fear and the four-legged feel freedom of the woods, and plains.

     May those that fight for those without a voice succeed in their endeavors and keep being rewarded with small achievements against great odds.

     May you all feel blessed and continue to be so in the coming year.

     Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Enlightened Ferret.

Gweny, James, Lance, Trixie, Majic, Judy, and Jo