Adoptables

The Most Special Critters of all!

Foster Care is so necessary for some guests of any shelter, since what makes a critter a candidate is the need for personal attention. Most of us have time for one critter who needs lots of one-on-one personal attention everyday, but shelters tend to fill up with these critters, which means they have to share the caregivers limited time - not at all fair to the critters, wouldn't you say? Thus the Motor City Ferrets Foster Program was born. We've had tremendous success with our program and hope to continue to place critters into happy situations. If you think you might be interested in fostering a critter, please do drop us a line to discuss the program further. Please note: due to the nature of the program only experienced ferret owners from the Metro area are able to participate with this program.

Click on any photo for a full size image!

Karen

Surrendered January, 2009: Mother surrendered the ferrets that belonged to her daughter; the family no longer wanted them.

Karen is such a sweet little thing! When she and pal Ingrid first arrived Karen was NOT willing to make friend at all! She and Ingrid were quiet but seemed content, as long as they could play by themselves - they both were happy to play in the ferret room and run through the tubes and such. They both also ate well right off the bat, so we were very surprised when Ingrid passed in her sleep just a couple of weeks after she arrived. At first, Karen seemed to take her pal's death pretty hard. We wonder if perhaps she knew that Ingrid was in her twilight and that's why she didn't want any new friend around? We spent lots of time with Karen and tried to help her out of her depression, but she was very sad and soon she decided she didn't even want to get up to eat. But would you believe a wee bit o' nursing - plus meds for her newly diagnosed insulinoma - worked like a charm, and this little gal was back on her feet in no time? We were amazed to see Karen recover so quickly and delighted when she decided friends are swell and play is fun! YAY! So today Karen has two health issues on board but she doesn't seem to care at all, so then neither do we! Karen is an older gal so she's not as spunky as others in the crew, and she just LOVES snuggles. We're so looking forward to seeing Karen off to the wonderful new home she deserved to spend her golden years in! Karen has adrenal disease, so a condition of adoption will be for her to return to the Shelter every four months for a melatonin implant, a continuing treatment. :)

Clark

Surrendered February, 2009: Surrendered by a renter in the home at the request of the owner…read on…

Lois and Clark came in together having been lifelong pals. What a sad situation these two went through! Apparently they were owned by a young man who would have been a teenager when he first got them. Life was good and apparently the ferrets were well cared for until he grew up a bit and headed off to college. Apparently he left the ferrets in the care of his Father. A woman began renting a room in the home and quickly noticed the ferrets were never out of their cage and the cage was never cleaned. In the three months she lived in the home the Father cleaned the cage 3 times, at her insistence and after talking to the young man about his ferrets. Finally she offered to try to find a home for the ferrets as it was clear the young man was not going to see to their care, nor was his Father. So welcome to the Shelter, Lois and Clark - whew! At first the pair were pretty quiet and soon we started to suspect Clark wasn't well. Sure enough, Clark has insulinoma, so he started medication and we administered some nursing care for a time.

Today Clark is feeling MUCH better, thanks! But Clark has turned out to be a strange boy...Clark and Lois were lucky enough to go home with our longest serving foster home! We were thrilled, because Lois is still a pouty sort and we knew that her new Mom could get her going. They joined a very special crew that includes the infamous Miss Queenie! All was well for the first couple of days, but then Clark decided he wanted to rule the roost and he started beating everyone up! Within a week he even started trying to dominate his beloved Lois and she was MOST unhappy about this!!! Clark's new Mom tried everything but he just wouldn't let up, and he was making everyone miserable - even Lois, which was so strange since they always seemed to be such a great pair together. Finally we decided to try Clark back at the Shelter to see what would happen. Would you believe that Clark went right back to his old self, happy in our large social play group?!? As for Lois, after a few days without Clark she was bouncing and happy!!! Well I guess we sure read the situation wrong, 'eh? Who woulda thunk it?

We can't figure Clark out. Here at the Shelter he is most definitely NOT top weezil. Usually critters are so thrilled to get out of here and find a home of their own it's happiness all around, nevermind the dominance! We're thinking perhaps Clark didn't know how to handle his potential new crew, as they were all special weezils who just aren't tough...??? Perhaps a regular crew with weezils who are in charge so Clark doesn't feel like he has to pick up the responsibility? Oh, we were so bummed...Clark is such a sweet little guy, he's just misunderstood! :) So Clark is waiting for just the right home to give him a second chance. He is SO snuggly and TRULY appreciates one-on-one time with his hooman bean. In fact, sometimes he seems to favor playing with hoomans more than he enjoys playing with other ferrets! Right now his best buddy is Leonard...and honestly, we'd love to see them go together. Of course we're open to the trial-period scenario for this special friend, considering his history. He's been here too long and deserves a home of his own!!!

Rose

Surrendered March, 2009: rescued from an abandoned house by the Michigan Humane Society; quickly transferred to Motor City Ferrets.

Wee Rose is such a sweet little lass! Can you imagine anyone just leaving a pet behind to die when they move from their home? Sadly it happens all the time...sure such things are happening more often right now due to the number of foreclosures around the country, but people cruelly leaving pets behind in a former home is NOT a new phenomenon. :( Fortunately Rosalie was lucky enough to find her way to our place and we're happy to have her. Rose obviously has adrenal disease (thin coat) and she's an older girl so we screened her for insulinoma not long after she arrived; she failed the test so she's also on daily meds for insulinoma. But this little trooper isn't done yet - she's responded very well to meds for both her ailments and she just LOVES having friends! Rose has adjusted well to life at the Shelter and in fact, despite her small size, she is one tough lady! She routinely tries to tell our Ambassador Teri (aka Taco) who's boss! :) Rose would love to find a home with another ferret or two to have fun with! As mentioned Rose has adrenal disease, so a condition of adoption will be for her to return to the Shelter every four months for a melatonin implant, a continuing treatment. :)

Russett

Surrendered February, 2009: New baby, job loss, etc.

Speck, Chestnut, Russet, Fox, India, Ike & Pumpkin all came in together - yep, a group of 7 ferrets from one home! Nope, we don't often see such large groups but unfortunately every now and again we'll see a larger group of 6+ come in together. Obviously we don't expect to place this crew together…although we know a couple of great ferret parents that WE think could use 7 more, so far they haven't complied with our cajoling! HA! We're still trying to figure out who in this crew likes who as a best buddy...and frankly, it's really been a challenge. The 7 are all such GREAT friends - we just hate to split them up, but again, placing 7 together is simply unrealistic. Russ has adrenal disease, which of course is ever-so-common and really no big deal for most weezils. :) He doesn't seem to mind...he's much too busy being a THUG! Russ and pal Fox from the group of 7 are Thugs, THUGS I say! They're currently living with our Shelter guest Charles, who is also a THUG. Would you believe they all get along just fine? HA! Russ would love to find a rootin'-tootin' friend or two to pal around with - perhaps even Fox or Charles! But if your crew has laid-back or wussy weezils, Russ just won't be very popular. Russ is a sweet fellow who is an absolute riot o' fun, he just doesn't always know how to tone it down and be nice! :) Russ has adrenal disease, so a condition of adoption will be for her to return to the Shelter every four months for a melatonin implant, a continuing treatment.

Leonard

Surrendered June, 2009 to the Michigan Humane Society (Detroit), transferred to Motor City Ferrets

Poor Leonard was considered "unadoptable" at the MHS simply because he had an abscessed tooth! I say, that's no big deal! So Leonard is missing a fang today - so what? :) Leonard sure did have a pesky abscess though and it's STILL not 100% resolved, so he'll be here for a bit longer. Plus while his tooth hurt he lost quite a bit of weight and found himself passed from place to place - he's been through it! But he's bouncing and feeling happy and eating like a little piggie, so we know he'll be at 100% soon. Leonard is such a sweet fellow and he simply adores friends, so he'll definitely need to find a home with a ferret pal - plus some hooman beans who don't mind giving him some snuggles every day! Leonard also has adrenal disease, so a condition of adoption will be for him to return to the Shelter every four months for a melatonin implant, a continuing treatment. :)

Martha

Surrendered July, 2009: custodian said she only had the pair for 6 months or so after they were left behind at her home by someone else...???

Brittni and Martha were first noticed by one of our volunteers. He found an ad on Craig's List and became worried when he saw how thin the girls appeared in the photo within the ad, so he quickly contacted the poster and let her know about our Shelter. Fortunately we did get the girls; they were indeed far too thin! Our volunteer fostered the girls for a couple of weeks and each gained a half a pound under his expert care. The girls were in otherwise good health and very happy to get attention; all they needed was a proper amount of chow each day! So when we met this cute pair they were already back in action and they quickly joined our large social play group. We would love to send these two adorable girls (who, even in full weight, barely top a pound each - they're so wee!) to a home together, but since they have made so many new friends we think they would be happy in many different situations. Martha is here on our Extra Special Adoptables page because she has adrenal disease. The reason she looks like a mouse in her photo is because she's working on a brand new coat just now! :) Martha is such a fun little girl, we just love her. We can't wait to see her off to a great new home with at least one other ferret afoot to have fun with every day! Martha has adrenal disease, so a condition of adoption will be for her to return to the Shelter every four months for a melatonin implant, a continuing treatment. :)

Maya & Kate

Surrendered July, 2009: previous owner (young adult too busy to care for the ferrets) said he had the pair for about a year, not sure where they spent their first year.

These two cuties both look as pretty on the outside as they are on the inside - what a couple of dolls! Maya and Kate were rescued by the same Shelter Volunteer who rescued Brittini and Martha, so the four became fast friends in the 2 weeks they were at their foster home before coming into the Shelter. And once they arrived, they set about to make even more friends! Kate is quite the dancer - she really gets some serious height going when she's bouncing around. :) And Maya...well she's just as sweet as she is cute! These girls could go to a home together or on their own, as long as they'll each have a weezil pal in their new home. Maya and Kat both have adrenal disease, so a condition of adoption will be for them to return to the Shelter every four months for melatonin implants, a continuing treatment. :)

Eileen

Surrendered June, 2008, Owner Surrender. Owner got the ferrets from someone else, not sure how long they were in the home
Adopted December, 2008
Returned to the Shelter November, 2009. Child in her former home developed allergies.

Eileen sure has been through it...sigh...Eileen came in with pals Johnny and Julie, plus Charles & Chanel, but we know they weren't originally a fivesome. Eileen, Johnny were and Julie were very neglected. Can you believe that they arrived with urine burns on their feet?!?!? And after only a couple of days we realized that they are very tidy, so they must really have been living in squalor. :( We think the former owner only had this trio for a short time, and apparently she didn't feel the need to care for them very well. Unfortunately the trio arrived not long before we had an outbreak of the parasite coccidia in July, 2008. Johnny wasn't affected and Eileen was only affected in a mild fashion, but poor Julie was seriously affected. She fought bravely for over a week but in the end the disease ravaged her body (she also had cancer) and she couldn't overcome the anemia brought on by damage from the parasite and she passed away. Fortunately Eileen made many new friends during her stay. Being such a social gal helped Eileen find a great new home in December, 2008 - complete with pals that she loves, including buddy Johnny! Sadly her happiness didn't last when she was returned to the Shelter in November, 2009, along with Johnny, Jenna and the family's original ferret, Sid. But Eileen is a trooper so she adjusted to life at the Shelter with ease and immediately began having fun. We're eager to see this little cutie pie off to a forever home. She gets along with everyone so her options are open, but truly we would like to see her go home with Johnny once more if possible. :) Eileen has adrenal disease, so a condition of adoption will be for her to return to the Shelter every four months for a melatonin implant, a continuing treatment. :)