Get out & walk for these critters ...
By TAMARA KING, STAFF REPORTER
Winnipeg Sun
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| Kelly Yager of the Manitoba Ferret Association with her three friends Socko, Moose and Meeka. (C. PROCAYLO, Sun) |
There's a walk-a-thon for everything these days, but you may not have heard of one like this before.
A ferret walk-a-thon is being hosted tomorrow at St. Vital park, where ferret fans -- and hopefully other animal lovers -- will converge to make a little money in the name Manitoba's no-kill shelter for the critters, which are cousins of weasels, skunks and otters.
The shelter, where "no ferret in need is refused," is operated by the Manitoba Ferret Association (MFA), a volunteer group that handles the unwanted pets without any cash from government. It relies solely on people's generosity, mainly fundraising and donations, says the MFA's Kelly Yager.
"Money is mainly raised for shelter, food and medical bills," she said, noting ferrets are "high maintenance" pets.
At about $75 dollars a month for her "spoiled" trio, ferrets can be costly. They can't be caged all day, requiring several hours of physical activity and lots of toys, said Yager.
Sometimes likened to kittens, ferrets are very active and naturally curious.
But unlike baby felines, ferrets keep that curiosity their whole lives, which can be up to 10 years.
Webster's Dictionary includes the phrase "little thief" in its definition of ferret, giving owners another potential headache as the critters take off with keys and cellphones.
May is a "critical time" for the MFA, since it's the time of year when some who've made an impulse buy will want to get rid of their finicky-ferret for cottage country.
"Between camping, cabin and vacationers, people just drop off their ferrets, and then we're stuck," she said, adding one year the shelter got 15.
The Winnipeg Humane Society sends most of the unwanted ferrets it receives to the volunteers at the MFA.
"We really appreciate the work they do," Winnipeg Humane Society director Vicki Burns said.
The ferret walk-a-thon goes tomorrow near the duck pond at St. Vital Park from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. |
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