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Monday, 13 October 2008 |
------------- World News
------------- Written by: Martin Herron
Family's fab ferrets | | |  | | | CUDDLY ... Erin and Alana Mansfield, aged and 11, with their pet ferrets Rascal and Tiny | 13 October 2008
Scarborough Evening News
By Martin Herron
FERRET fans find their furry friends fantastic! Sales of ferrets as pets are booming, according to a Scarborough pet store owner.
"We're selling about double the number we did a few years ago," said Sue White, of Falsgrave Pet Stores. "These days we've orders before they arrive in the shop. Nearly everyone who buys one says they want them as a pet and don't intend to work them."
Keeping ferrets as pets is a relatively new phenomenon. Previously most of those kept in the UK were working animals used for hunting.
One ferret fancier has told how happy she is with her pets Rascal and Tiny.
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But Louise Mansfield, of Burniston, wasn't at all happy to find out she'd become mum to two ferrets!
"The children had been nagging me about getting one and I said: 'There's no way – they stink!' My husband bought one and just didn't tell me. The next day, on my way home from work, my neighbour congratulated me on the new addition to the family – everyone knew except me.
"I was furious. I went home intending to give everyone a good telling off, but as soon as I saw Rascal I had to admit he's adorable."
Louise said she soon learn- ed to love Rascal and was happy to add Tiny to the family a few months later.
"I absolutely love them, they're hilarious and they're really nice animals. They're really affectionate and you can watch them for hours messing about and playing."
Daughter Alana, 11, added: "I like them because they're cute, but when they scent they're really smelly. I love the way they feel, they're much better pets than cats and dogs."
Smell is the main reason people are put off giving a ferret a home. They can be descented, which is routinely done in America, but the operation is illegal in the UK.
Bennie Lye, of the National Ferret Welfare Society, said the operation was for the benefit of humans, but the joy of having a ferret made it worth putting up with the smell.
"It's like having a permanent kitten, they're really playful and friendly. They're perfect pets. Once you get one you'll wonder how you ever lived without one."
She said as ferrets liked companionship it was better to keep them in pairs. Recommend this article... |
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