By Robert Pilgrim
On a late September Sunday afternoon, Vincent Massey Park is teeming with activity. Squirrels rustle in the bushes, the birds twitter in the trees . . . and a group of ferrets wiggle their way out of socks!
The ‘sock stuffing’ spectacle is one of many attractions at the Ferret Rescue Society of Ottawa’s semi-annual Ferret Frolic, an event that gives ferrets of the city a chance to enjoy the outdoors in the company of their furried fellows.
“I’m just out here enjoying the afternoon,” says Frolic-goer Nicole Caouette, while her ferret, Gizmo, scrambles in her arms.
Whether on leashes, in carriers, or racing through plastic tubes, frisky ferrets squirm, wriggle and trot their way into the hearts of their adoring owners.
One of these adoring owners is society president and co-founder Marion Houle.
“They’re extremely social animals,” she explains, “and when they get together and play, they’re just the funniest pets in the world!”
Houle, 33, is a full-time federal government worker. She founded the ferret rescue society seven years ago with fellow ferret lover Francine Daviau after noticing a distinct lack of resources available to ferret owners.
“Back then, ferrets were quickly becoming the ‘next big pet,’ but also, the next big disposable pet,” says Houle. “People didn’t know how to handle them.”
Four years ago, the society became a provincially recognized not-for-profit organization. Three years ago, the board of directors was chosen and the rescue society was ready to serve the community.
Rescue society vice-president and ferret-fan Lynn Lefevre has worked with the rescue society for the past three years. “I really got involved by creating the website and it sort of just grew from there,” she explains. “Working with the society, I find it rewarding to see ferrets rehabilitated, happy and playful again.”
Lefevre says Houle’s knowledge and passion are definitely important to the society.
“Marion’s a very upbeat person, really fun to work with,” Lefevre says. “She really knows a lot about the ferrets and looking after them is a cause she really cares about.”
Houle says the rescue society is set apart from other groups because it is the only outlet that specifically caters to ferrets in the Ottawa area. In fact, other organizations will not accept them.
“(For example) the Humane Society is just overwhelmed with cats and dogs and rabbits and everything,” she explains. “They simply don’t have the resources or the time.”
Humane Society manager of outreach Sharon Miko says the rescue society is in a very good situation to provide the best for ferrets in need.
“We have taken surrendered ferrets in the past,” Miko says, “but the ferret rescue society has the expertise and is very well equipped to handle that type of animal.”
Houle says for ferrets to be happy and healthy, they need to be out of their cages for two to three hours a day. In fact, if a ferret is penned for too long, it might destroy its cage from the inside out and start to become aggressive towards people.
“A ferret is like a permanent two-year-old child throwing a temper tantrum if it can’t get out of its cage,” Houle jokes. “They’re very hyper animals.”
Houle owns six ferrets that have all been rescued. “They were neglected and abused pretty badly so I’ve kept them,” she says proudly. Houle’s ferrets — Indy, Louise, Scuba, Dook, Alex and Frankie — didn’t attend the Ferret Frolic. They are ‘house-ferrets’ that rarely see other people because of the way they react.
“They’re fine with me because I’m the one who’s trained them,” Houle assures, “but they certainly don’t trust strangers. Like any animal that’s mistreated, they have the capacity to bite. My ferrets were treated so badly that whenever they see other humans, their first reaction is to bite.”
Looking around at all the boisterous, silky specimens at the Ferret Frolic, it’s hard to even picture an abused ferret. But Houle says she is all too familiar with them.
Ferret abuse can take many forms, but most are abused while being trained or through severe neglect.
“Sometimes to teach them not to bite, people will flick their noses. This teaches the ferret to be afraid of your hand and the hands of other people,” she explains.
In extreme cases of neglect, ferrets are confined to dirty cages for long periods and not fed properly.
“I mean, that is abuse!” Houle exclaims.
Ferrets that the rescue society obtains are placed into foster-care until they find homes, or become long-standing residents of the society’s shelter. The foster-care providers pay for litter and food and the rescue society pays for vaccinations and other medical considerations. The rescue society has ten ferret foster-care providers and about 30 volunteers, mainly ferret owners and enthusiasts.
The rescue society also has a strict no-kill policy. If the ferrets are not adopted, they are not terminated but remain at the rescue society shelter until nothing else can be done for them.
To adopt a ferret from the rescue society, people must go through a screening process and a home check to make sure they are suitable ferret-owners.
“Ferrets are a great family pet as long as it’s the parents who assume total responsibility, not a ten year old kid,” Houle warns. “But for kids 12 and over, it’s okay because they’re old enough to know that ferrets play with their mouths and a little nip is not malicious.”
There is also a fee involved in obtaining a ferret from the rescue society. The fees range from $75 to $200 and depend on the age and health of the animals.
Houle says her organization is there for any ferret in need, but admits that this is not always easy.
All ferrets require yearly vaccinations costing $100 each. They are also prone to intestinal and glandular problems costing up to $700 to treat.
All the profits from the Ferret Frolics and other fundraisers go toward veterinarian bills. Aside from the expense, another problem facing the rescue society is access to veterinarians. Currently, only two veterinarians deal with ferrets even though the number of ferrets in the city has grown dramatically over the past decade.
But, for the healthy, happy ferrets at the Frolic, life seems good. From a corner picnic table, Houle looks on, smiling.
“I think we’ve come a long way over the last seven years and I’m really proud of our progress,” she says.
And what about the ferrets to which Houle and her organization are devoting their time?
“They can be absolutely wonderful, hilarious creatures in your home,” she beams. “They are no disposable pet!”