If you have ever walked around Southwark Park, or any park for
that matter, you will be more than familiar with seeing owners taking
their pets for a walk,writes Richard Benson...
But, for the last four years residents of SE16 have been casting their eyes
over some slightly less familiar pets at the end of one owner's lead.
When Dave Watson, of Abbeyfield Road, Bermondsey, goes for a stroll he can
often be seen with his three ferrets and two polecats. Dave explains how people
just want to stroke the pets.
Guinness, Tonic, Polo, Chocolate and Baby are not the individual names of the
members of a warped Spice Girls tribute band, but the names of five loved pets
that Dave and his wife Irene, who claims the naming rights, consider part of
the family. When asked to pick a favourite Dave chose Tonic, simply because
it's the oldest, so old in fact that Dave is certain it has outlived the life
expectancy of a ferret, which stands at six-eight years. Baby is the youngest
at six months old.
MEET THE RODENTS: Ferret fanciers from
across Australia converged on Melbourne for the inaugural Ferret
Health Symposium.
It didn't attract the same level of interest as last month's
2020 Summit, but the weekend's inaugural Ferret Health Symposium,
held by the Australian branch of the International Ferret Congress
(no, I'm not making that up), had arguably more defined goals — and
a raffle.
Ferrets, much maligned as bitey and smelly, are increasingly popular
domestic pets in Australia. In the US, ferrets are the third most popular
pet, despite being illegal in several states.
The two-day symposium, which attracted ferret lovers from around the
country and veterinary specialists from as far afield as Canada and
the US, featured presentations on the health requirements, care and
behaviour of domestic "carpet sharks", as the furry creatures are affectionately
known.
The Coolaroo Hotel in Melbourne's north had — presumably — never
seen anything like it. Although attendees had to leave their own ferrets
at home (the Coolaroo has a two-ferret limit), some brought toy ferrets,
others wore caps declaring their love, or ferret-emblazoned T-shirts.
For those who forgot, there were accessories for sale.
In the function room opposite the hotel's pokie den, a curious mix
of old and young (and mostly female) ferret fans congregated.
I was initially surprised by the under-representation of the long-haired
metalhead and homeless communities, until the gravity of the material
presented by passionate veterinarians and academics was revealed; speakers
addressed case studies, evolutionary history, ferret-specific diseases
and statistics.
LORAIN COUNTY
-- A Lorain county man says sugarless gum killed one of his
ferrets and caused another to go into seizures.
Russell James says his animals aparently chewed his pack
of sugarless gum. He says he found the torn package under
his couch Saturday night.
A veterinarian told James that the chemical xylitol used
in many sugarless gums can be lethal to animals. Xylitol
is used to help give the gum its sweetness without adding
calories.
A callous pair who used their pet ferrets as bowling balls before
posting the footage on YouTube have defended their actions, saying
'It's not cruel - ferrets love playing games'.
The sickening shows Andy Thomas, a YMCA employee, and a female
colleague hurling the creatures across the floor to knock over improvised
skittles.
During the film, the woman owner of the two male ferrets can be heard
joking 'now I've got video evidence for the RSPCA' as she throws one
towards empty plastic bottles.
The two clips, which are each around 30 seconds long, have now been
removed from the video-sharing website.
------------- Shelter News ------------- Written by: Lynn Lefevre
Spring 2008 Ferret Frolic
April 12, 2008
Posted by Lynn Lefevre Ottawa Start
Ferret Frolic at McNabb Park! Sunday, June 1, 2008 from 1pm to 4:00pm.
Ferret competitions, experts and fun. Call 613-296-4357 or visit www.ferretrescue.ca.
MEDIA RELEASE
April 12, 2008
Ferret Rescue Society of Ottawa and Area presents the Spring 2008 Ferret
Frolic!
The Ferret Rescue Society of Ottawa and Area (FRSO) is proud to present its
Spring Ferret Frolic in McNabb Park (corner of Bronson and Gladstone) on Sunday,
June 1, 2008, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This annual event is presented by
the FRSO to help educate ferret owners and the general public about these wonderful
pets and to raise funds for the society.
------------- World News ------------- Written by: Yorkshire Post
VIDEO: Outcry as bowlers use live ferrets for balls
A scene from the YouTube video
Published Date: 11 April 2008 Yorkshire Post
Location: Yorkshire
(ferretlife: The video can be viewed by going to the originating page linked above.) The RSPCA has launched a probe after workers at a Yorkshire YMCA were
filmed using live ferrets as balls in an apparent game of skittles.
Footage of a man and a woman
flinging the pets along the floor of the YMCA in Halifax has been broadcast
across the globe after it was posted on the internet.
The animals can be seen knocking down what appear to be skittles made from
empty drinks bottles.
RSPCA inspectors are now investigating the matter which could lead to a prosecution.
The information in news articles posted on this site that are not wholly the product of FerretLife.com, unless otherwise stated, and contain the opinions of their respective authors. Links are provided back to the source in each article. In addition, FerretLife.com is not a veterinarian. We do not give medical or legal advice of any kind. For medical advice, consult your own properly licensed veterinarian. For legal advice, consult your own properly licensed legal professional(s).
