Adoptions
Shelter/Adopted Ferrets
Behavior: Often come pre-trained, but may have behavior issues to to abuse, poor conditions/treatment from prior owners, shelter shock, and depression from potential separation of bonded pairs. May or may not get along with other ferrets. There is also potential to adopt a ferret who has been a “teddy-bear” (carried around and not allowed to play normally) or who has spent their life in a cage, and does not know how to play and must be retaught how to be a ferret.
Males:
Females: Rescued females may need immediate vet attention if they are unaltered
Body structure: Varies based on original breeder (see other categories)
Personality/attitude: Sometimes bite-trained already though they may bite more in the beginning as they adapt to their new home and test boundaries. May be harder to reach and bond with, and may take longer to warm up to you. Often potty trained, though shelter shock, stress, and moving into a new territory may cause them to go outside of the litter box initially until they remember their manners. On the other hand, Some adopted ferrets may have a rough history causing serious behavior problems including biting. If you adopt from a known Ferret Shelter, the shelter parents can tell you about the ferret’s specific personalities and behavior. Some ferrets who have been adopted from shelters seem very appreciative of a stable, loving home with plenty of food, clean water and soft bedding and become very loving with their new owners.
Coloration: Varies
Health: Prone to shelter shock. Prone to insulinoma from poor diet from previous owner. Risk of ADV. Risk of previously undiagnosed/untreated adrenal disease.
Tattoo: Varies by original breeder (see other categories)
Fit Info: Adopting is always recommended to help save the life of a ferret and avoid supporting mill breeders. Adopting is a great idea if you want a ferret that is already litter and bite trained, and already matured (age), though babies can often be adopted too. They do run the risk of unknown health problems from previous diet and living conditions which may or may not be known. Adopting can be a very rewarding experience for both you and the ferret(s). Please try to adopt bonded pairs together rather than letting them be separated. If you adopt from a known Ferret Shelter, the shelter parents can tell you about the ferret’s personalities and if they would be a good fit for you.
Ferret Shelters
Also try searching at: Ferret Shelters Directory and Dookerz on the Move
For ferrets in need of Emergency Rescue, try: Ferrets Dookin’ in the USA (Urgent/Emergent Rescue)
Please note that this is NOT a complete list. List sorted Alphabetically by country and state.
Australia:
- Ferret Love Rescue Australia Only Newcastle NSW Australia
- Rogue Ferrets Camden area of Sydney, NSW Australia
- Unwanted Fuzz, Ballarat, Vic, Australia
- Victorian Ferret Society Boronia Melbourne Australia [Victorian Ferret Society’s FB Page] or [Victorian Ferret Society Alternative Website]
Canada:
- Ferret Rescue and Education Society (FRES) Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Ferret Lovers Society of Atlanta Canada, Atlanta CA [Serving New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador] [FLSAC FB Page] or [FLSAC Foum/Message Board]
- Manitoba Ferret Association, Manitoba, Canada
- Ferret Aid Society Toronto, Ontario CA
- Ferret Rescue Society of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario CA
- VI FERT, Vancouver Island CA
Europe (Non-UK):
- Tvorum – Udruga ljubitelja tvorova, Duego Solo, Croatia (Also see their website HERE)
- Association des Furets de Suisse (AFS), Penthalaz, Switzerland (Official language: French)
- Stowarzyszenie Przyjaciól Fretek (Ferret Friends Association) – Poland
- Zverinice – Slovenian Ferret Association Ljubljana, Slovenia [Zverinice FB Page]
UK:
- D+K Fuzzy Ferrets Rescue, Colchester, Essex, UK
- Surrey Ferret Rescue Near Guildford, Surrey UK
- Prospect Ferret Rescue Huddersfield, Yorkshire UK
- South Cheshire Ferret Rescue Near Manchester UK
- Three Shires Rescue – Serves Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Bedfordshire
- Abington Ferret Rescue Near Northampton UK
- North East Ferret Rescue Northumberland ,UK
- Essex Ferret Welfare Society, Ongar, Essex, UK
- STA ferret Rescue Near Reading, UK
- GEM Ferret Care Group – Sussex based but also Sussex, Surrey and Kent with multiple fosterers etc
- Fluffy Retreat Chippenham, Wiltshire UK
Unites States
Alabama:
- Jeremy’s Boggle Ferret Bungalow, Grady, AL [Jeremy’s Boggle Ferret Bungalow Petfinder Page] – a RAW feeding rescue, also a member of HFF!
Alaska:
- Forget-Me-Not Ferrets, Anchorage, AK [Forget-Me-Not Ferrets (ALASKA) FB Page]
Arizona:
- AZ Ferret Rescue, Phoenix, AZ
- Ferret Friends Inc., Tucson, AZ
Arkansas:
California:
- NOTE – IT IS CURRENTLY ILLEGAL TO OWN FERRETS IN CALIFORNIA
- Ferrets Anonymous
Colorado:
- Ferret Dreams Rescue, Denver, CO, USA
Connecticut:
- FACT Ferret Association of Connecticut; Hartford CT
Delaware:
Florida:
- Broward Ferret Relief and Rescue, Broward County, FL
- Stinky Pete’s Ferret Retreat, Casselberry, FL
- Navarre Ferret Rescue, Navarre, FL – a RAW feeding rescue, also a member of HFF! [Navarre FB Page]
Georgia:
- Kindness Matters Acworth GA USA
Hawaii:
- NOTE – IT IS CURRENTLY ILLEGAL TO OWN FERRETS IN HAWAII
Idaho:
Illinois:
- Greater Chicago Ferret Association (GCFA), Chicago, IL
- Forget-Me-Not Ferrets, Quincy, IL
Indiana:
- Ferret Rescue and Halfway House Martinsville, IN
Iowa:
Kansas:
Kentucky:
Louisiana:
- Bon Temps Ferret Rescue Opelousas, LA
Maine:
Maryland:
Massachusetts:
- Massachusetts Ferret Friends, Cambridge, MA
- South Shore Ferret Care, Holbrook, MA
Michigan:
Minnesota:
Mississippi:
Missouri:
- I Am Ferret, Liberty, MO
Montana:
Nebraska:
Nevada:
- Angel Ferret Shelter Services, Henderson, NV
New Hampshire:
New Jersey:
New Mexico:
New York:
- NOTE – IT IS CURRENTLY ILLEGAL TO OWN FERRETS IN NYC, NY
- Ferretpaloozza, Buffalo Tonawonda New York
North Carolina:
North Dakota:
Ohio:
- Ferret Manor Rescue, Akron, OH
- Ferrets Unlimited, Cleveland, OH
- Heart of Ohio, Columbus, OH
- Love Me Again Fairfield OH
- Healing Hearts, Streetsboro, OH
Oklahoma:
- All Paws Rescue’s Ferrets, Edmond, OK
Oregon:
- Oregon Ferret Shelter Prineville, OR
Pennsylvania:
- Silver Lining Ferret Sanctuary, Pennsylvania, USA
- Hide-E-Hole Pittsburgh, PA
Rhode Island:
South Carolina:
South Dakota:
Tennessee:
- FACT (ferret awareness club of the tri-cities), Bristol, TN
Texas:
- Texas Ferret Lovers Rescue, Balch Springs TX
- WeezleWings Ferret Sanctuary, Hallsville, TX
- Frisky Biznus Ferret Sanctuary, Tomball, TX
Utah:
Vermont:
- Rainbow Ferret Rescue, Cavendish, Vermont
Virginia:
Washington:
- Denise’s Delightful Dookers Ferret Rescue, Auburn, WA
- Washington Ferret Rescue and Shelter, Kirkland, WA
- Sammy’s Clubhouse Spokane Ferret Rescue and Education. Spokane Valley WA [Sammy’s Clubhouse FB Page]
West Virginia:
Wisconsin:
- Ferret Nook Shelter Cambridge, Wisconsin [Ferret Nook Shelter FB Page]
- Fox Valley Ferret, Hortonville, WI
- Ferret Underground, Tomah, WI [Ferret Underground FB Page]
Wyoming: