Big Fuzzy News Announcement in Hollywood!
Casting continues for Alison Parker’s upcoming feature film, The Ferret Squad. The movie centers on Max (played by Smallville‘s Connor Stanhope) and his pet ferret, Digger, who move to California, where ferret ownership is prohibited. Digger is a fugitive, as Max helps a group of kids called The Ferret Squad rescue and adopt ferrets in southern California. When Digger’s cover is blown, it’s up to Max, the Ferret Squad, and a kind neighbor (played by 2012‘s Blu Mankuma) to defy authority and get Digger to safety before Max loses him forever.
Breaking news has leaked that the lead ferret, Digger, has finally been cast. The role will be played by none other than FALCOR!
Falcor portrayed Jasper in indie sensation, Jake and Jasper: A Ferret Tale
Falcor, the first ferret to EVER have his own IMDB page, is no amateur actor. Last year he played Jasper in the indie hit, Jake and Jasper: A Ferret Tale, which continues to garner film festival awards. Prior to Jasper, Falcor has also starred in several Marshalls product commercials, a short informational video titled Ferret Facts (which now boasts over 7 million views on the internet), and a public service announcement for LegalizeFerrets.org with fellow Ferret Squad cast member, Sierra Pitkin. It aired in LA on such channels as HGTV, Discovery, and Animal Planet, just to name a few.
Earlier this year, the announcement was made that Falcor was retiring from acting to enjoy time at home. But the rousing interest of his fans has prompted his owner, Alison Parker, to postpone his retirement and bring him back to the big screen.
“I struggled with this decision for a long time, because I am Falcor’s human, and I didn’t want to be distracted by him while filming,” says Director Alison Parker. “But the fans have spoken, and Falcor has won their hearts. I didn’t want to let the fans down.”
When asked about Falcor’s well-being and concern over the potential stress that
Fans everywhere will be overjoyed to see Falcor playing lead ferret, Digger.
accompanies such a commanding lead role, Parker laughs. “Falcor is a very happy ferret, and I want to give him the best life I can. I’ve never seen him happier than when he is in training for a film role. He loves attention, and he especially loves treats!”
Professional ferrets are not commonplace in Hollywood, due in part to anti-ferret laws in LA, combined with the independent nature of most ferrets. But Falcor is a consummate performer with impressive screen presence and charm.
“Falcor is an incredibly talented animal actor, so it was a no brainer for me as a casting director, ” says Travis Doering. “He’s also non-union, which is great for our budget.”
Falcor appeared in a public service announcement for Legalize Ferrets.org that aired on several T.V. channels in LA.
The Ferret Squad is an endearing film with an important message. Parker hopes to enlighten audiences to the true nature of pet ferrets, and the need for ferret rescues and shelters. Also pivotal is the subject of anti-ferret legislation in California, which ferret owners everywhere desire to see changed.
Falcor is a fuzzy veteran actor, and fans can’t get enough of him!
The movie will start production in August 2012. Donations are still very much appreciated, to fund filming. Many fantastic companies have shown their support by donating, such as Ferret Depot, Ferret.com, and The Ferret Sqaud’s media partner, Diversity News Publications.
Please consider contributing to this worthy effort. Donations can be made at The Ferret Squad’s Indiegogo page, or you can visit the website. Fundraising ends on June 10th, so make your donations as soon as possible. All donors receive wonderful perks for their contributions, in addition to the knowledge that you are helping change the futures for hundreds of thousands of ferrets currently living in California.
Falcor the Ferret can be found on Twitter at @FalcortheFerret or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FalcortheFerret. He loves hearing from his fans, so stop by and give him ‘tweatz’.
If you are interested in more information about the film, or would like to schedule an interview with Alison, email her at ferretsquadmedia@gmail.com.
Falcor says, “I iz ready for my cwose up!”
The Fight for Ferrets Meets The Ferret Squad
The Ferret Squad – Alison Parker’s new feature film project!
Here in Virginia, ferret ownership is legal. Quality vet care and superior foods are readily available to fuzzy owners. You can walk them on the streets or carry them to the pet store with you. And many of you probably assume that the rest of the country is the same, right? Sadly, the answer is NO.
The Historical Growth of Misinformation and a Sad State of Affairs.
One of the most progressive states in the US lives under a shroud of restrictions and misinformation: CALIFORNIA. How can such a cornerstone of this country be so maligned? It started back in 1933, when a statute entitled ‘The Importation and Transportation of Live Wild Animals’ was enacted. Basically it banned animals that were not native to California, including all types of ferrets. Back then, of course, domesticated ferrets were not the popular pets they are today, but neutered males were permitted by those who wanted them. For many years, the law went unchallenged. But in the 80′s, ferret lovers began coming forward to request that the law be modified to allow the admittance of spayed females as well. At that time, the judge would usually order that the males be neutered first, and then the California Fish & Game would be ordered to issue a permit that would allow the petitioner their spayed female.
Fish and Game didn’t want to do that. So they began a very negative campaign, involving falsified studies from the California Department of Health to spread inaccurate information about domesticated ferrets. (They later confessed they felt they were supposed to write an overly biased report and had no intentions of showing objectivity in their findings.) They claimed ferrets were a high rabies risk, viciously aggressive toward people and other animals, and would get loose and form uncontrollable feral colonies that would destroy crops and livestock. Of course, none of that is scientifically accurate. The truth was that in 300 years, only a dozen or so cases of ferrets with rabies were ever documented. And as to ferret attacks? Please! Domesticated dogs, coincidentally, are involved in more than 15 deaths per year, as well as thousands of rabies cases.
But dogs are still legal in California. As are cats. Despite the evidence that cats and dogs are far more aggressive and far more likely to pose a health risk, only ferrets are euthanized if found by Cali Fish and Game. Innocent law abiding citizens are vilified and punished if found owning these harmless companions. And for no other reason than prejudice and ignorance.
It’s time for this to stop… ferret owners should not have to live in fear. Ferrets need to be removed from the banned list. There is no scientific justification for this law.
The Ferret Squad… Saving the World, One Ferret at a Time!
Connor Stanhope plays Max in The Ferret Squad
In 2011, director and ferret advocate Alison Parker filmed Jake and Jasper: A Ferret Tale, a short film about a young boy who learns to deal with the loss of his mother through the companionship of a delightful ferret (played by Falcor the ferret, Parker’s personal pet fuzzy.) The film was well received by ferret lovers across the world, and received several indie film awards as well. Now, as a follow-up to the success of Jake and Jasper, Parker hopes to produce another film that will not only delight and entertain ferret lovers everywhere, but alert and educate the public at large to the huge injustice that continues in California.
The Ferret Squad is about a young man named Max who adopts a ferret from a local shelter, before finding out that his father is moving them to California to stay with family. Instead of leaving his ferret, Digger, with his best friend, he sneaks Digger into the truck and smuggles him into California, into the home of his aunt and cousins. It is there he meets the Ferret Squad, a group of young people who rescue ferrets in need and get them out of harm’s way–a tricky feat considering two of the kids are the children of an employee of California’s Fish and Game. But when Max finds himself on the receiving end of California’s wrath, it’s up to the Ferret Squad, with the help of a compassionate neighbor, to execute a risky maneuver to get the threatened ferrets over state lines before the law catches them.
Why Does a Movie Need MY Help?
Donate to The Ferret Squad today!
Making a movie is expensive. Actors, sets, ferrets… it adds up quickly. Jake and Jasper was completely donor funded. The Ferret Squad is, as well. But it is important that this movie does get made. Not just for entertainment purposes and the collective delight of hundreds of thousands of ferret lovers everywhere, but because of the message this film sends.
Over 500,000 ferrets live illegally in California today. That is a lot of ferrets that will be euthanized if the state finds them. Alison Parker, through The Ferret Squad, hopes to enlighten more people to the injustice pet owners endure in California. In addition, she hopes to show the world at large how meaningful owning ferrets can be, and why so many people are willing to risk so much to share their lives with them.
And one more thing I want to share with you, why assisting The Ferret Squad is so important. There are a number of ferret goods manufacturers that will not support the movie, in any manner. They don’t believe ferrets will ever be legalized. Rather than rally behind a cause they should have a deeply vested interest in, they turn their backs on the very animals they are in business for. It is disappointing, to say the least. I really don’t understand their rationale. The inability to change the law in the past does not indicate that all efforts will continue to end in failure. But should we all just give up fighting the way they have, then yes, that does equal failure.
I want to see The Ferret Squad succeed. I want to see this movie made, and more people coming forward to demand their rights as pet owners. I want to see a brighter future for all those innocent ferrets on the wrong side of the state line.
What you can do is really very simple: DONATE. It doesn’t have to be much. There are perks for all donors. In addition to helping fund an important feature film, you will be donating to the fight to legalize ferrets. Alison Parker is donating 5% of all donations to LegalizeFerrets.org, to assist in their fight.
PLEASE DONATE TODAY! All donations can be made on The Ferret Squad Indiegogo page at http://www.indiegogo.com/TheFerretSquad.
Your support is imperative, but more than that, it is deeply appreciated. Whether or not you own a ferret, or a cat, or a dog, you understand how important our companions are in our lives. Would you ever want your state banning your precious pet? We all must stand together, to ensure that this injustice ends, and pets everywhere are protected. NOT victimized.
For more information on The Ferret Squad and how you can help, visit http://www.theferretsquad.com, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheFerretSquad.
If you like what you have read, please share this post on your social network sites!
*Historical information can be found at http://www.goldenstateferretsociety.org/pdfs/FerretHistoryWhyIllegal
THE FERRET SQUAD Needs YOUR Help!
Jake and Jasper: A Ferret Tale
Directed by Alison Parker 
Starring Connor Stanhope, Andrew Jackson, Nina Hagerty, Blu Mankuma, and Falcor the Ferret
Jake and Jasper: A Ferret Tale is a short film about a young boy who is having a hard time coping with the death of his mother. Then Jake (Connor Stanhope, Smallville) receives a gift from his sister, Jessie (Nina Hagerty) a precocious ferret he names Jasper. Suddenly Jake isn’t so lonely anymore, as he developes an unbreakable bond with his new fuzzy buddy. That is until his special friendship garners unwanted attention at school, and gets him in more trouble than ever before. When his father (Andrew Jackson) decides that it’s time to separate the boy from his pet, Jake takes Jasper and runs away. As the pair tries to get through the woods to Jake’s sister’s house, they encounter dangers that threaten to keep them apart forever.
Falcor the ferret makes the finest fuzzy leading man in Jake and Jasper.
Family friendly movies are hard to come by these days… family movies with a real live ferret just being himself, well, that’s one in a million. Hollywood and the media have both played a part in the past in misconstruing the nature of domesticated ferrets, so a film such as Jake and Jasper is a welcome respite in today’s cinematic offerings. Those unfamiliar with the personality of ferrets can get a small taste by watching this movie, and those already won over by the charismatic little critters will be tickled to see an authentic fuzzy in action on screen.
If you are looking for an endearing movie that will be equally adored by people of all ages, Jake and Jasper will be an excellent choice. It is a refreshing change of pace from today’s CGI heavy, unbelievably graphic films.
Still not sure this is the movie for you? Check out the trailer:
Hollywood Gets Fuzzy!
Now, before visions of gorgeous starlets and beautiful hunks of man candy all clad in furry jackets invade your brain, allow me clarify - FERRETS will soon be invading Hollywood! Okay, maybe not a lot of ferrets (California is still a butthead of a state for keeping them illegal) …but at least one ferret is about to make his mark. And here he is…
But Falcor won’t be promoting the latest fuzzy rawhide snackie-doos or extra healthy vittles or even the newest designs in luxury hammocks. Falcor is starring in a movie.
Sure, you’ve seen ferrets on television before. Diet Dew, Verizon, Budweiser… they’ve all banked on da’ fuzzies. Oddly enough, they’re usually pretty evil, sound way too much like handicapped raccoons, and like to steal jobs and pose nude. (At least two lizards out there will never recover…) And don’t forget about that misplaced white ferret in Furry Vengeance. Seriously? White ferrets are too domesticated to survive in the wild, and you would never find them in a forest, of all places. I probably shouldn’t admit that I’ve watched that movie several times now, and every time I find myself yelling at the screen, cause that’s the most ridiculous ferret EVER.
Which is why THIS movie will be revolutionary. For once, ferrets will be portrayed in a realistic (and all the more lovable) manner. Now everyone will be able to see what fantastic companions ferrets really are, and why they are the 3rd MOST POPULAR pet in the United States. The movie of which I speak:
Jake and Jasper: A Ferret's Tale
The story is about a young boy named Jake (played by Smallville‘s Connor Stanhope), who loses his mother and finds an only friend in his sister’s pet ferret, a fuzzybutt named Jasper (played by Falcor!) It’s a family film about relationships, loss, love, and not least of all, what an amazing companion a ferret can be. It is written by Alison Parker & David B. Beleznay, directed by Alison Parker, and will include music from The Crash Test Dummies.
So, why have I interrupted my personal fuzzy introductions for this? Because my friends need help. They’ve been raising funds for the past month to add animals to the film. Not a cheap endeavor, by any means, but they’ve almost done it. Almost.
It’s not like they need thousands. Many people already have come forward to contribute, myself included. There are perks available for those that choose to help take part in ferret cinematic history. Signed videos and posters, a spot in the film credits, and for those with deeper pockets, an EXECUTIVE PRODUCER credit! Look at you, making movie magic happen!
Look, my ferrets wanna see this movie be the best it can. Yes, imagine me sitting around with them, having an intelligent conversation about movies and stereotypes and breaking the bad ferret mold. (Then imagine me donning a snug white coat and a soft cushy apartment… hee hee!) Isn’t it about time the public at large have an opportunity to see ferrets as they really are? Enough bad press for innocent fuzzies! Be a part of history sort of!
If you would like more information about Jake and Jasper or what you can do to help, visit their page HERE.
You can also follow them on TWITTER or look them up on FACEBOOK.
Don't let bad effects happen to a good film... donate today!
UPDATE!
Mere moments after this post went live, Jake and Jasper received enough donations to reach their goal! Congratulations to the cast and crew! I can’t wait to see the finished product!
Donate today and get a pre-order for the movie on DVD! August 12th will be the last day for pre-orders, so don’t miss out!
Show your continued support by following them on Twitter and checking out their Facebook page. I know they’ll appreciate your encouragement!
Shiva …Hear No Evil?
Yes, that is Shiva's foot stretched over his head.
Sex: Male
Color: Silver & White
Age: 3 years
There I stood, aquariums of hyper kits frolicking and putting on their shows for my amusement. But I didn’t want to be there. My eyes were sore from tears, and I felt like it was too soon to look for a new ferret. I just wanted to get it over with.
As I’d mentioned in previous posts, my first ferret Popcorn was put to sleep, leaving Beelzebub alone. I wanted him to have companions to distract him from the fact that Popcorn was gone. In my mind, I kinda hoped and even prayed a little that Popcorn was still with me and could show me which ferret to buy. There were so many. Maybe I even hoped that Popcorn’s spirit was already there waiting for me in one of those babies. I know, I know, sounds ridiculous. Honestly, I was just trying to get through it, and at the time I desperately needed to think that.
So I decided whichever ferret was most interested in me would be the keeper.
Aww, baby fuzzy! Shiva was such a cute baby.
One baby approached the glass, staring intently at me. He was white, with lots of dark silver fur that covered his back and tail. He had a small silver spot by one of his ears. He didn’t take his eyes off me. I asked to hold him.
Once in my arms, he was a typical kit, squirmy and playful, trying to pull the oversized black sunglasses from my face. I needed no further convincing. I wouldn’t even look at the other babies.
“I want this one.”
“Are you sure?” My husband and daughter were playing with a little sable, but I’d barely looked at her. I knew the coloring of my baby was a little similar to Popcorn and it might make everyone sad, but all I was interested in was that he seemed to want me.
“Yes. This is the one.”
So they reluctantly put the sable back. Of course, I think I might have mentioned before, we left the store with TWO babies that day. The poor little sable did everything she could to get out of the aquarium once they put her back. “Aww. Look at her. You can’t leave her now!” I pointed out.
So, even though it was a stretch financially, we got them both. And that afternoon, BB had two new companions to play with. I went to work, still heartbroken over Popcorn, but also eager to return home to the new additions.
Whoops! He didn't quite have enough energy to crawl from under the dresser!
The ferrets, after a few days, were named Shiva and Kali. (When I looked up the Hindu deities, they were listed together as consorts. I assumed that meant ‘Shiva’ was male. I found out later it’s a female, but I can’t change his name. He is Shiva now, all the way through.)
Within the first several weeks, I noticed that Shiva seemed under the weather. He was playful enough, but his potty habits were, well… messy and noisy. So I took all the ferrets to the vet. At the time, he was the only sickly one, so he was given meds. Once all better, he became the typical fuzzy boy.
Shiva got HUGE! I mean, BB went through a chunky phase, too, but Shiva was enormous. We jokingly referred to him as a whale. Or a chimichanga. Both BB and Kali together were still smaller than Shiva. And it wasn’t until after we’d gotten Loki that he slimmed down.
By contrast, Shiva is now the smallest male I own. He is almost as tiny as the girls. A lot of his silver fur lightened to the point that you’d barely notice it, but the light spot is still by his ear. However, even though he got a clean bill of health a few months back when he received his Lupron shot, he has since lost almost all the hair off his tail. Many ferrets will suffer from alopecia and lose hair as a result.
What stands out most about Shiva is his unique personality. But despite that, he has some very typical ferrety quirks.
Shiva likes to climb on occasion, most often scaling my record player and knocking stuff off the shelves… most often my 45s. He loves stealing anything with rubber, especially pens, wallets, and cell phone cases (usually with the cell phone still inside!) I will often see him darting under the bed or dresser with a pen in his mouth, and I’ll have to scramble to retrieve it. He also loves sneaking out of my room. Usually he makes a beeline for my daughter’s room, and as soon as he gets through the door, he dances. I swear, it looks like he’s doing a touchdown dance!
Shiva is not afraid of anything... including dogs!
Once, he paused briefly in the middle of his celebration, spotted a dog staring at him, and immediately jumped on the dog’s face! The dog, Yoda, was startled but didn’t snap. In general, the dogs are never allowed around the ferrets unsupervised, and will shy away from them completely if we’re not holding the ferrets. My cousin once brought a small puppy over, and Shiva was the only ferret undaunted by it’s prescence. After they sniffed each other over, they even played for a little while. He’s a fearless little guy, but also easy going.
I have commented before on Shiva’s strange way of staring when he’s picked up. Of all the ferrets, he takes the longest looks at whoever holds him. I joke that he’s analyzing us, studying us. And after some research, I realized he probably is. But not because he’s overly curious or nosy.
I am pretty sure now that Shiva is deaf.
I’d always noticed how Shiva never responded to being called. He never noticed at all. It is always difficult to get his attention. And aside from the items he likes to hoard, he isn’t as interested in toys as the other fuzzies. While a squeaky toy will get everyone else riled up, Shiva just seemed… indifferent. After reading about common behaviors of deaf ferrets, I realized that actually would explain a lot about him.
There’s the intense staring. Deaf ferrets look at everything closely. They also tend to hang their heads upside down and stare at things when they’re being held. Shiva will stare hard at you, and then lay his head all the way back and stare at everything else. And he’s really still when he does it. Very calm. The other ferrets may look at you, but not for as long. And they are very squirmy. Shiva is like a lagoon, unruffled and peaceful. Unusually composed. Gentlemanly, even. (Okay, that might be pushing it a bit…LOL!)
Shiva has to check out everything!
Except when he’s playing. When he was younger he would on occasion get a little too rough with his playmates. Poor Loki got an injured back paw due to Shiva when he was a baby. But deaf ferrets can’t hear the cries of their fellow ferrets, so sometimes they get carried away without realizing they’re actually hurting their companion. And Shiva has what I jokingly call ‘grumpy old man dooks’… if he’s annoyed, he dooks loudly. He used to hiss a lot too, always during play.
Deaf ferrets often dead sleep. ‘Dead sleep’ is when a ferret sleeps so deeply that you can pick him up and he wouldn’t notice. Now, all ferrets can dead sleep, but deaf ones do it more frequently. And almost every time you pick up a sleeping Shiva, he will hang there like a wet rag, completely unaware that he’s being moved. He and BB both have given me a few scares with their dead sleeping, but I’ve come to expect it from Shiva now.
A few weeks back, we took Shiva out of the cage. He was placed on the bed, and while he was sniffing around, checking out the comforter, my youngest, Xavier, came up behind him with a noisy toy and squeaked it behind Shiva’s head. He didn’t turn around, didn’t pay any attention. He ears didn’t even slightly flinch or prick up at the noise. Meanwhile, almost all the ferrets in the cage were going nuts. To me, that was pretty strong evidence.
I try to make sure that we don’t sneak up on Shiva or startle him now. Knowing that he may not be able to hear anything, I am concerned about trying to keep his stress to a minimum. But aside from his tail and the fact that he’s so small, he is a happy ferret who still does his dances and races around the room with his companions. He will probably be the next ferret to go for a check-up, so I can be sure there are no underlying health causes for his hair loss.
But even if he lost every hair on his body, I will still adore Shiva. After all, on that day that I stood in the pet store, heart aching, not knowing which ferret to choose but wanting to make the right choice…
He chose me.
And I am the luckiest hoomin in the world because he did.
Beelzebub: Adventures of a Cute Devil
Sex: Male
Young Beelzebub
Color: DEW (Dark eyed white)
Age: 3 1/2 Years
Beelzebub, affectionately referred to as BB, is my oldest ferret. (Or at least as far as I know.) He was purchased as a companion for Popcorn the summer of 2008, not long after my cat of 15 years, Leo, passed away. As I said in my previous post, Popcorn was such a good ferret that we wanted to give him a playmate, so that summer evening we headed to Animal Jungle to see what they had.
Locally, Animal Jungle has the largest selection of ferrets. (That said, if you’re looking for a fuzzy, best to check local rescues first and see who needs a good home.) When we took Popcorn in, there were two large aquariums full of feisty babies, all going crazy. But on both cages was a large sign, reading ‘Quarantined’. There is a mandated two week quarantine when new shipments arrive, and we were a day early. Amazing how things work out.
When we asked the clerk about the babies, she replied, “Did you see that ferret down there?”
On the floor, under one of the aquariums, was a small metal cage with a single ferret inside. He was bigger than the babies above. No telling how long they had him, or how long he had been in the cage on the floor. He was visibly months older than the babies. He was also $50 less. And he looked incredibly lonely, all by himself like that where no one would notice. So we figured, what the hell? We asked to see him. We needed to see Popcorn’s reaction to the strange fuzzy.
This is one of several LOLFerret pics I made. Featuring BB and Popcorn up to their usual antics!
Popcorn took to him immediately.
So by the time we left, we had Popcorn, and a cardboard box with a fidgety fuzzy inside. I held the box in my lap as we headed for the grocery store to pick up stuff for dinner. I agreed to stay in the van with the furballs while they went in for groceries.
As I tried to make a shopping list (gently using the box as a makeshift desk top) a small white claw would dart out and try to grab my pen or my hand. It proved challenging to keep him balanced in my lap and write simultaneously. Suddenly, he pushed through the small opening, just enough to snatch the shopping list from my hands and disappear back inside. I wrestled it away from him, but not before he had chewed up one corner of the paper.
For that, we decided to name him ‘Gobbles’ — after Timmy’s turkey on South Park. But just like Popcorn’s, the name didn’t stick.
BB was so rambunctious, so spirited. Popcorn was downright mellow and laid back by comparison. When Beelzebub came to mind as a name, I thought it was hilarious. No disrespect intended, but for all the different names that basically mean ‘Satan’, Beelzebub is the silliest. And BB was devilish, but hugely SILLY. It was a perfect fit. (It was also the start of my themed fuzzy names.)
Another LOLFerret pic with Beelzebub, showing off his inner monster!
BB, the Stunt Ferret
One night, I was putting the boys away when I realized I couldn’t find BB. Popcorn was tucked in his cage, but I could not find BB in any of his hiding spots. On the few occasions that I couldn’t locate one of the ferrets, I would lay awake, waiting until they’d run out in a frenzy of scratching, and then I’d put them away. But that night, BB never came out.
Come morning, he was still no where to be found. I frantically searched the room, with no luck. Then by chance I noticed behind my drawn curtains that one of the windows was open just a few inches. Upon closer inspection, I realized the screen had come loose at the bottom. I knew BB had fallen out of the second story window.
I searched the flower beds below. No ferret. I was sick with panic… there are cats, foxes, and raccoons constantly prowling our streets at night. A ferret cannot survive alone for long as it is, adding the predator factor made for an even grimmer outcome. The drains along the curbs had big openings and I knew a passing (and often clumsy) ferret could easily fall in. I paced up and down the block in the middle of the road, searching in bushes and under cars. My BB was gone.
Terrified, I grabbed the memory cards for our digital cameras and had the kids continue to search the streets. There were city workers out and about cleaning the storm drains, and the kids asked them to keep a look out for our stray ferret. Meanwhile, I rushed up to Office Max and purchased everything I needed, and then proceeded to make about 100 missing ferret signs.
I divided them up between the kids and had them post them on every corner, and every street pole, on all the surrounding blocks. They put up every single flyer before returning home. I was losing hope fast. It just seemed unlikely that I’d see BB again. I mean, he’d already fallen from the second floor. He was likely injured. He wouldn’t stand a chance at escape if a predatory animal spotted him.
As I headed into work, I got a call. A gentleman saw my sign, and let me know his family had found a ferret in his yard the night before, somewhere around 10 pm. Last time anyone recalled seeing BB was somewhere around 9 – 9:30 pm. But his description was dead on. They lived two blocks away. Seemed BB moved pretty quickly after his spill off my windowsill.
And in a turn of unbelievably good fortune, they also had a ferret.
BB will fall asleep just about anywhere. Including on top of my laptop.
Not only had they taken BB in, they let BB bunk out with their little girl fuzzy, Fiona. Apparently the two were getting along fabulously. If I hadn’t put out those signs, BB still would have had a safe environment and a cuddly companion to keep him happy. Of course, I was overjoyed that BB had been found. We paid the gentleman’s daughter a good reward, and gifted them with gourmet cheesecake. I have never been so ecstatically relieved in my life! BB was reunited with Popcorn, and it was a happy home yet again. (Fiona was brought over for a couple visits to see BB, until they broke down and got her a permanent playmate.)
A few months after that incident we would lose sweet Popcorn, and everything would change.
The day after Popcorn’s death, my plan for dealing with the loss was to do nothing other than sleep, cuddle with BB, and work. In fact, I was curled up mid-nap with BB when my husband woke me up and said, “Let’s go to Animal Jungle. BB needs a new playmate.”
My heart was not into looking for another ferret so soon, but I was worried about how it would affect BB. My daughter had stayed home from school because she was as upset as I was. So for her and BB both, I relented. When we returned, we had not one, but two baby ferrets. Within a couple days, I’d named them Shiva and Kali. And BB immediately took to them. I know now that BB had still grieved for Popcorn. He was such a fat ferret before, so plump and playful, and within months he lost so much weight, he was almost unrecognizable. He slept a lot and seemed to lack energy. But he curled up with the babies and looked after them like they were family. He was such a good little trooper.
And a quick note here: When bringing home new ferrets, you should keep them quarantined from your other ferrets for the first several weeks. Limit their exposure to each other, and monitor their playtimes carefully. Not just because they may have personality conflicts, but because often ferrets come home from the pet store with mites or parasites, and can give them to your other fuzzies. I didn’t do that, and I should have. I was so eager to take BB’s mind off Popcorn that I didn’t factor in the health risks. So we ended up having BB treated for ECE, which was a result of his unrestricted exposure to the babies. Don’t follow my lead. Acclimate your ferrets slowly so they adjust with fewer troubles.
BB and baby Shiva, 11/12/2008. One of my very favorite pics. So sweet!
Even after his treatment and cure, BB wasn’t quite himself. Ferrets, once attached, will mourn loss much like we do. It was heartbreaking to see him lose himself in his sadness. Eventually, he did bounce back, and he’s a much fluffier, happier fellow now. He gets along with everyone else, and is… well, benevolent. As much as any ferret can be, I guess.
BB’s quirks are distinctive. He’s one of my climbers, and once he decides he wants to get somewhere, he will keep going back to try again, even after he is lightly scruffed and told ‘No’. He is also huge into junk food, and I have to be diligent about keeping cookies, chips, and chocolate well out of reach. I have seen him drag the occasional loaf of bread under my bed. He’s also a toe nibbler. When he’s playful, he will run up to me and nibble my toenails, or pounce on my feet, much like a playful cat. If I run from him, he will chase me, only leaping towards my knees when I stop. He has horrible aim, though, so he always misses. Which is hilarious to see this little white ferret take a flying leap at you… and miss by more than a foot. He brings me lots of laughs on a daily basis.
My youngest son is particularly close to all the ferrets. See how he lets BB nap on his face?
I have a special bond with BB because we both lost someone very dear to us. But even with that aside, BB is a marvelous fellow. He’ll sleep in my arms, occasionally giving me ferret kisses when I lean in to whisper that I love him. He’s had more health issues than the others, and that makes me extremely protective of him. Sometimes he seems more fragile than the others. And while I’m tempted to spoil him I learned a painful lesson with Popcorn. BB does not have the freedom he used to enjoy… like all the others, he is let out to play for several hours every day, but spends most of his sleeping time safely confined in a roomy two-story Ferret Nation enclosure. I no longer take such chances with the safety of any of my ferrets. Windows and doors are always closed, and everyone steps very carefully around my room. I feel bad for BB so often, wondering if he remembers the freedom he used to have… and if he does, is he missing it?
But I want my Beelzebub to be with me as long as possible. And my theory is that as long as he has a comfortable place to sleep, he won’t be too picky about whether he’s in or out of a cage. That’s what I hope anyway. Beelzebub’s happiness is important to me… he’s lived through enough sadness already. He deserves to be the happiest ferret in the world. And I will always do whatever I can to make him exactly that.
My favorite shot of Beelzebub, and the second time I've posted it on this blog. It ALWAYS makes me laugh!
