Video about Ferrets and children - Safety Concerns

Children & Ferrets: Safety Concerns -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

My opinion is that you should not have a ferret as a pet with children, especially small children

Ferrets in the news one of eight animals that are major health threats to children

Pets that are major health threats to kids including ferrets

Out of all these animals, how many kids own these ?

Reptiles
Hamsters
Hedgehogs
Monkeys
Baby chickens
Ferrets
Prairie dogs
African Gambian rats
Big cats
Raccoons
Other wild animals

Animals that are not recommended for children under 5 years old - do you know any kids asking to get a prairie dog, or baby chickens for a pet? I think there are far more greater health risks than this - like maybe vaccinations? or genetically modified food, or corn syrup in every food product, how about chemical in baby bottles the government denies causes cancer, or mercury tooth fillings that pose no danger? Are we eating cloned animals yet? Be sure to read the comments.

Update to article - Pets for Young Kids: Does Exotic Mean Toxic?

Clinical Report from Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics - Exposure to Nontraditional Pets at Home and to Animals in Public Settings: Risks to Children

Additional Reading:
Pet-Associated Zoonotic Diseases and Natural Disasters (PDF) after floods and hurricanes

Advice from CDC - Healthy Pets - Healthy People

Kids Health - Selecting safe pets

Tell Department of the Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne what you think of his destruction of the Endangered Species Act.

Center for Biological Diversity


Endangered Species Act Under Assault: Send Comments to Sec. Kempthorne


On August 11th, Dirk Kempthorne, secretary of the Interior, announced devastating changes to the Endangered Species Act, signaling the end of protection for thousands of imperiled species.

The new regulations would:

- Exempt thousands of federal activities from review under the Endangered Species Act;
- Eliminate checks and balances of independent oversight;

- Limit which effects can be considered harmful;
- Prevent consideration of a project's contribution to global warming;

- Set an inadequate 60-day deadline for wildlife experts to evaluate a
project in the instances when they are invited to participate -- or
else the project gets an automatic green light;
- Enable large-scale projects to go unreviewed by dividing them into hundreds of small projects.


Action alert - sign and send a message

Abandoned Ferret Rescued By Concerned Ferret Owners Organization

This just breaks my heart that someone did this to a ferret:

Animal welfare group continually comes to the rescue

WASHINGTON TWP. -- Abandoned at just a few months of age, Philip was on the verge of starving to death. The three-month-old baby ferret was left to fend for itself in the wild, where these domesticated animals just don't have the skills or instincts needed to survive on their own outdoors.

Fortunately for Philip, he was found outside a Pennsylvania home in just a nick of time. "Philip was really on his last legs; he was so emaciated and dazed, continually falling over," said Tamara von Ouhl, president of the non-profit ferret rescue operation Concerned Ferret Owners, which took Philip into care at its Washington Township shelter.

Since then, Philip has made a remarkable recovery -- he's in tip top physical condition and is waiting to be adopted read about Philip's recovery

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CRAIGSLIST AND PETS - SAD

Another craigslist - some of the ads just amaze me "Need to rehome by this weekend - moving" I'm thinking "What you can't move and take your animal with you??" One that was posted recently - "Need to Rehome a 13 1/2 year old dog, because 18 month old daughter will not quit pulling on her and falling on her" People quickly jumped on that with criticism, and I agree. A kid that age should be disciplined enough to learn not to bother the dog.

HOW COULD YOU??

from craigslist | pets in fort worth

You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask, "How could you?" -- but then you'd relent and roll me over for a belly rub.

My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect.

We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love.

She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" -- still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate.

Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch -- because your touch was now so infrequent -- and I would've defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.

There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.

I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said, "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. T hey understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar, as he screamed, "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life.

You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked, "How could you?"

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad dream... or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured, "How could you?"

Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said, "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself -- a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her.

It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.

__________________________________________________________________________

AND THIS: (due to the economy and people losing their homes, the animal shelters are full. This shelter has constant ads for adoptable pets on craigslist, someone there really cares about the animals)

Owners Who Have Abandoned Their Pets (White Settlement Animal Shelter)
from craigslist | pets in fort worth

If you've surrendered your pet to the White Settlement Animal Shelter, you might want to go down there soon and tell it good-bye. The Shelter is over-flowing with dumped animals and we cannot possibly adopt out all that have been brought in. We volunteers spend countless hours and thousands of dollars trying to fix these broken animals--trying to pet and console them, cure their mange, doctor their wounds and heal their hearts. I hope you can sleep at night because we can't--So please just go and tell your once beloved pet goodbye as there is no way we can save them all. Just look at some of these faces--Sweet Dreams!!

Craigslist and Pets

Found this on Craigslist, this so represents some of the people and their attitudes about pets -


Hello: You have reached 123-4567, Tender Hearts Rescue.
Due to the high volume of calls we have been receiving, please listen closely to the following options and choose the one that best describes you or your situation:

Press 1 if you have a 10-year-old dog and your 15-year-old son has suddenly become allergic and you need to find the dog a new home right away.

Press 2 if you are moving today and need to immediately place your 150 pound, 8-year-old dog.

Press 3 if you have three dogs, had a baby and want to get rid of your dogs because you are the only person in the world to have a baby and dogs at the same time.

Press 4 if you just got a brand new puppy and your old dog is having problems adjusting so you want to get rid of the old one right away.

Press 5 if your little puppy has grown up and is no longer small and cute and you want to trade it in for a new model.

Press 6 if you want an unpaid volunteer to come to your home TODAY and pick up the dog you no longer want.

Press 7 if you have been feeding and caring for a "stray" for the last three years, are moving and suddenly determine it's not your dog.

Press 8 if your dog is sick and needs a vet but you need the money for your vacation.

Press 9 if you are elderly and want to adopt a cute puppy who is not active and is going to outlive you.

Press 10 if your relative has died and you don't want to care for their elderly dog because it doesn't fit your lifestyle.

Press 11 if you are calling at 6 a.m. to make sure you wake me up before I have to go to work so you can drop a dog off on your way to work.

Press 12 to leave us an anonymous garbled message, letting us know you have left a dog in our yard in the middle of January, which is in fact, better than just leaving the dog with no message.

Press 13 if you are going to get angry because we are not going to take your dog that you have had for fifteen years, because it is not our responsibility.

Press 14 if you are going to threaten to take your ten year old dog to be euthanized because I won't take it.

Press 15 if you're going to get angry because the volunteers had the audacity to go on vacation and leave the dogs in care of a trusted volunteer who is not authorized to take your personal pet.

Press 16 if you want one of our PERFECTLY trained, housebroken, kid and cat friendly purebred dogs that we have an abundance of.

Press 17 if you want us to take your dog that has a slight aggression problem, i.e. has only bitten a few people and killed your neighbor's cats.

Press 18 if you have already called once and been told we don't take personal surrenders but thought you would get a different person this time with a different answer.

Press 19 if you want us to use space that would go to a stray to board your personal dog while you are on vacation, free of charge, of course.

Press 20 if it is Christmas Eve or Easter morning and you want me to deliver an eight week old puppy to your house by 6:30 am before your kids wake up.

Press 21 if you have bought your children a duckling, chick or baby bunny for Easter and it is now Christmas and no longer cute.

Press 22 if you want us to take your female dog who has already had ten litters, but we can't spay her because she is pregnant again and it is against your religion.

Press 23 if you're lying to make one of our younger volunteers feel bad and take your personal pet off your hands.

Press 24 if your cat is biting and not using the litter box because it is declawed, but are not willing to accept the responsibility that the cat's behavior is altered because of your nice furniture.

Press 25 if your two year old male dog is marking all over your house but you just haven't gotten around to having him neutered.

Press 26 if you previously had an outdoor only dog and are calling because she is suddenly pregnant.

Press 27 if you have done "everything" to housebreak your dog and have had no success but you don't want to crate the dog because it is cruel.

Press 28 if you didn't listen to the message asking for an evening phone number and you left your work number when all volunteers are also working and you are angry because no one called you back.

Press 29 if you need a puppy immediately and cannot wait because today is your daughter's birthday and you forgot when she was born.

Press 30 if your dog's coat doesn't match your new furniture and you need a different color or breed.

Press 31 if your new love doesn't like your dog and you are too stupid to get rid of the new friend (who will dump you in the next month anyway) instead of the dog.

Press 32 if you went through all these 'options' and didn't hear enough. This press will connect you to the sounds of tears being shed by one of our volunteers who is holding a discarded old dog while the vet mercifully frees him from the grief of missing his family.



ferrets