Adoption Process
We are often asked if we have ferrets for sale. We do not sell ferrets but as a rescue we have ferrets available for adoption. Welcoming ferrets into your life, or adding more to your existing group, can be an incredibly rewarding decision. Getting them from a rescue also means you are helping a ferret or two in need. Ferrets can live for 10+ years, although the average is 6 to 8 years, and so any owner must be aware of the big commitment that adopting a ferret brings.
Covid: As there is a risk from Covid to ferrets we, as with other rescues, have put some restrictions in place to minimise the risk. We are slowly working through our adoption requests. This extends the amount of time between each adoption.
Our location: We are in the south west of England, not far from Weymouth in Dorset but will consider adopting to other counties. Please though be prepared to travel to us if needed.
Rescue back up: As well as offering permanent sanctuary to unadoptables, we offer rescue back up so if your circumstances change then the ferrets must come back to us, always giving the ferrets a secure future. It is also for this reason that ferrets are microchipped to the rescue.
Our ferrets: We always have ferrets looking for their forever home. We assess our ferrets before releasing them for adoption and work hard to match ferret personalities with new owners. Those that may still be working on fully trusting humans again must be rehomed with experienced ferret owners who are capable of continuing that rehabilitation. When ferrets leave us they will have been neutered, microchipped and hopefully matched with the perfect forever home. At the moment all of our ferrets must have the companionship of another ferret.
Adoption requirements: Before committing to adopting ferrets you will need to find an exotics vet who is experienced in treating ferrets. If you are renting, then please ensure you have written approval from your landlord in advance. Ferrets need the company of other ferrets as well as demanding a lot of time and interaction with their owner. We do not promote the keeping of ferrets without the company of another ferret. They require a large space to live in with lots of room to run and play. As a home based rescue our ferrets are used to large outdoor pens. We will check your ferret accommodation to ensure it is big enough; a hutch is not enough.
Feeding: It is essential that you feed your ferrets a good diet. Ferrets are obligate carnivores and require a high protein diet to survive. Feeding a diet high in carbohydrates can lead to future health problems so with a few exceptions cat food is not a suitable option. Our ferrets have constant access to a variety of ferret kibbles and an evening meal of raw meat. For more information see our page on feeding.
Single ferrets: We do not promote the keeping of ferrets without the company of another ferret however very occasionally we have single ferrets for adoption that cannot be housed with another ferret. We will not adopt out any ferret to live on its own unless we know that they do not get on with other ferrets. Single ferrets will be looking for an indoor home so that they can enjoy human companionship since they dislike ferrets so much. At the moment all of our ferrets require the companionship of at least one other ferret.
Kits: Kits can come into the rescue from any age. Sometimes we have pregnant jills, whilst most common are adolescent youngsters. Kits need a lot of handling, eat a lot, will nip and are constantly exploring. Those too young to be neutered will only be rehomed to experienced owners that we know will neuter them when they reach maturity. We rarely list kits on our available ferrets page.
Choosing your ferrets: Where ferrets are to join your existing group of ferrets, a successful introduction will be required prior to adoption. We can mix and match some of our ferrets for those wanting a pair or more however some ferrets have a specific friend that they must be adopted with.
Where ferrets are to be rehomed with a particular ferret or two then we will state this. We will not split a bonded group up. If there is no suggestion of who a ferret should be rehomed with then we can try to match them with someone else; it does not however mean that they are to be rehomed without a ferret friend. We suggest that you do not choose ferrets based on their colour as twice a year when they moult their coats are liable to change colour and pattern.
If you are still interested in adopting then take a look at our available ferrets page, although it is not always up to date. To avoid disappointment we will not reserve ferrets. If you cannot see any that appeal, then let us know what you are looking for and we will see who might be suitable.
The adoption application: On completing our adoption application please provide us with as much information as possible about your set-up, home situation etc. We will ask for photos of your set-up prior to conducting a home check. If you need ideas or inspiration for your ferret enclosure please feel free to browse our website, our Facebook group and Facebook page where you can see examples of the accommodation here at the rescue and those of successful adopters. Please explore our website for more information on keeping ferrets. This saves valuable time when you contact us.
Home check: We will ask for a photo of your set up which will need to be validated and confirmed as suitable. We reserve the right to refuse adoptions where we feel that you cannot offer the best home for our ferrets. We sometimes take ferrets with us to home checks, allowing you to meet potential adoptees in the comfort of your own home. We find that this helps speed up the adoption process as if all is well then the adoption can often take place immediately after the home check. Home checks vary at the moment depending on the Covid-19 situation.
Adoption terms: We ask for a minimum adoption donation of £50 per ferret to cover some of our costs and signed agreement to our adoption terms. The minimal adoption donation only goes towards part of the vet fees so any additional donation is much appreciated. Due to the situations that many of our ferrets come from, we like to ensure that our ferrets go to the best homes possible. All ferrets are neutered and microchipped before leaving us.
Applications: If you have any further questions or need advice please do not hesitate to get in touch. If we cannot help you directly we can always point you in the right direction. Please remember that the rescue is run from our own home around full time work. With just one person dealing with all enquiries we are not available to respond to queries immediately so please be patient and we will get back to you as soon as we can. To start the adoption process take a look at our available ferrets and complete our adoption application.