It's a Ferret Life

Sanctuary Providing Homes for ferrets and doves

By Chad Petri Reporter
Updated: August 27 2007
WKRG News

You might not think ferrets and doves have much in common. Wes Hurley and Susan Lee disagree. The Pensacola couple has been running their “Ferret & Dove” sanctuary for the last 10 years. The animals do have their similarities.

“They both need taking care of,” says Susan Lee. “They're both domesticated by humans so they both been made dependant on humans, and so somebody's got to try to be responsible for them.”

The sanctuary began when Wesley’s step-grandson got a ferret. Eventually the child outgrew his pet.

“He got older and didn't want it any more, and his mother set it out in the heat,” says Wesley Hurley. “I flat told them I was taking that ferret.” Keeping the sanctuary up is hard work. The couple has nearly 70 ferrets and almost 40 doves. Cage clean-up begins at three in the morning everyday. The couple says they pay for most of the food and care themselves.

Wesley says they adopt out about two to six animals a week. They say they do follow-ups to make sure pets are doing well in new homes. For more information, you can contact the sanctuary at 850-475-0780.