Need advice....

Yesterday I answered a criagslist about free farrets. I went up and got them an fell in love with them. My roommates love them as well. I get an email this morning saying they want their farrets back. I don't want to give them up. Would I be wrong in keeping them?

it really depends on the situation of where you adopted them from.. Why were they given up?

On one hand, I like to keep pets with original owners, but on the other hand I don't trust owners who are willing to give up their pets except due to extraordinary circumstances, in which case why are they able to take the ferrets back now??

Personally, I'd say no. They shouldn't have put them up for adoption if they didnt want to part with them.

I'm going to assume there was no written agreement, but I don't think it matters. Tough luck for them.

Now...if they had decided to keep them while you were on your way over there and informed you of this when you arrived, I would have probably agreed, despite the inconvienience of the drive. But the ferrets have been in your possession at your residence for 12 hrs or more.

Did they give a specific reason for wanting them back? or did they just realize what they had now that it was gone and miss their pets?

Is there any way you can prove that they put the ferret's up on craigslist (print out ad)? Did you exchange money?

I would not give the ferrets back. They put them up on craigslist and you brought them into your home. A store can't call you up and tell you they want those pants back because "Oops, they were not supposed to be on sale." or "We don't want to sell them anymore."

The ferrets are yours fair and square so no, do not give them back. And anyone who puts their animals on craigslist to find them a new home and then says they want them back shortly after their gone has no business keeping the ferrets in the first place. Obviously they do not have the ferrets' well being in mind.

Also if you want any info on keeping ferrets, let me know. I have three and I do the whole natural thing. At least let me know what you plan on feeding them because about 90% of commercial ferret diets are not good diets. They can even cause your ferrets to develop adrenal disease.

No I would not give them back. They put them up for sale/adoption and they should have thought about that befor hand if that is what they really wanted to do in the first place.

The ferrets where free. I drove over 1.5hours to get them. The reason they gave for giving them up was they fought with their other 20 farrets. No contract was signed, no mention of even if you want to give them up again contact me was even said. I went out and got food, nesting stuff, material to make hammocks. But what concerns me the most is my roommates have fallen in love with them. Like I said I don't want to give them up. I feel bad that they are missing them but I feel they should have considered that before they put them up for adoption. They had plenty of time between the time I emailed them and the time I picked them up. My "nice" side says I should give them back, but my other side say NO NO NO. Thanks for letting me vent and giving me advice.

I'd keep them. They should have thought it over better imo.

I wonder if they want them back because they miss them? Or maybe they found someone who wanted to buy them. I would not give them back. You spent the time and money to pick them up and provide housing for them. And you are already attached. I say keep them. :gj:

They have 20 other ferrets??? Wow. I would say no. You have already put a pretty good effort into giving these guys a home. I know there are people that keep that many animals and they do just fine with them, but the fact that these people put the ferrets on craigslist, with out a rehoming fee to kinda weed out the more iffy people interested, makes me want to say that they don't want them back b/c they miss them. It just seems kinda cruddy that after you did all of that they want them back, especially when they have so many other animals to fill their day with. It seems a bit iffy to me. :2cent:

I wouldn't bring them back. That's kind of crappy sending someone home with animals and then telling them you "miss them" lol. Especially when they have 20 other ferrets! Just curious are they spayed or neutered? From the sounds of it these people might be breeding them which is pretty rare from what I've heard what with the Marshall Farms monopoly on ferrets and the fact that they spay and neuter ALL ferrets they put out.

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Originally Posted by snakecharmer3638

I wonder if they want them back because they miss them? Or maybe they found someone who wanted to buy them. I would not give them back. You spent the time and money to pick them up and provide housing for them. And you are already attached. I say keep them. :gj:

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I completely agree! Sounds like they got another call off their ad for a better offer.

Now she is telling me that she is afraid that I will feed her ferrets to my snakes. Never mind that the ferrets could kill almost any snake I have. I told her flat out that she could not have them back. She said "I would never have given them to you if I had known you had snakes"

How did she find out about them AFTER the fact?

They're yours. I had someone try to take back a Bearded Dragon they had SOLD me. The poor thing had been in deplorable conditions in their care, so I said no.

20 ferrets is a lot. I have to wonder how they care for them. Are they a rescue group? If you know that you are going to give them a good home, then never mind what they think/say.

&, really, who would attempt to feed a ferret to a snake?

I guess she looked my email name and my photobucket acct came up and it has my snakes all over it. Now if she had thought a minutes the ones on the first pages are my babies at less than 100g. I actually thought hard before getting a ferret because I know THEY can kill snakes. That is what happens when all of your accounts are under the same name. ;)

Lame. :rolleyes:

Don't give them back.

DO NOT GIVE THEM BACK!!!!!!

They are more yours now then they are theirs. You drove a LONG distance, bought supplies, and are already attached.

There is nothing in my mand that would say you need to give them back.

There is also nothing legal that they can do to you, so I would say you are good to go!!!!

You could look at this as an opportunity to educate them a little more about this wonderful hobby of ours.

First of all, if the crazy loon is genuinely concerned you are going to feed the wretched things (sorry, I hate ferrets...lol) to your snakes, maybe scan in the reciept of all the supplies you just bought and email that to her. If she has any sense, she would realize how illogical it would be for you to drive so far and spend so much on "snake food."

no don't give them back, and as far as breeding them they could be. at the exotic animal and reptile show about 2 years ago there were about 3 breeding pairs of ferrets for sale.

I would not give them back. Hopefully the other 20 are well cared for, but that is a lot of ferrets. You spent time and money to provide a home and help them out. I also wonder gow intelligent the original owners are if they actually think someone who likes snakes would risk their snakes well being. If they were that concerned they should have asked more questions of you. Other pets, experience, being able to properly care for them ect. I had a ferret as a kid, I hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoyed my ferret. Even shelters who have animals besides a lenghty adoption form, references ect. require an adoption fee. It helps cover the cost, and shows the new owner is willing to invest in their pet monetarily.

God I hate these people that think just because a snake eats rodents that it's gonna automatically kill babies, eat your little yappy dog, your cat (not that I'd complain if it did but that's another story lol) along with every other small animal in a mile radius, and rape your mother. Ferrets are bred to kill snakes! in 9999 out of 10000 cases of a snake getting out I would be more worried about the snake getting hurt than any other animals in the house (unless you have a mouse infestation or a rat colony the snake can get into).

That's why I won't get ferrets until we can have a whole room dedicated to just them. For 1 they need the space and 2 if one of my snakes worth hundreds of dollars ever (God forbid) got out and got near the ferrets thinking they smelled like food they would tear him/her to shreds.


Sorry I'll get off the soapbox now lol. Don't give them back though that's just stupid them thinking they can give you something then take it right back after you drove 1.5 hours and bought all the carp.

I really hope the other 20 are being cared for properly. I'm not sure if you mentioned breeding but I did see someone reply to you about breeding them. Unless the person you got them from breeds ferrets, your new ferrets are probably spayed/neutered. If they are not, I urge you not to breed your ferrets. The females go into a permanent heat and if you don't breed her she can develop anemia and get very ill. Not only that, but there are so many homeless ferrets already.

We hope to adopt a ferret or two this upcoming year from the local ferret rescue. Ferrets are so awesome to have and make great pets. Make sure they have tons of stuff to hide in, places to hide toys (they love toys) and a dig box. (Boy do they love digging). I feed mine a natural raw/whole prey diet which is one of the best diets to feed them. Ferrets are strict carnivores and require a diet completely comprised of meat. No plant matter, so if you are going to feed them kibble, try to find one with the first four ingredients being meat products.

Congrats on your new family members. I hope they turn you into a ferretholic like I am. :D

id tell them where they could go in a nice manner or in a way they could better understand lol. i would not give them back and liek the other post earlier said if u can still find the add on craigs list print it out and keep it just in case.

Basically....I agree with the majority of the people posting.

People are loons. You can take the time and energy to persuade them, but I wouldn't bother. What are they gonna do? Arrest you? Yea... good luck on that.

I too would use this opportunity to educate them. Get some pics of your snakes with tape measures OR other simple objects so they can get a sense of the size of the snakes.
And if you can find you tube vids or articles showing ferrets or other mustalids killing and defending themselves against snakes. Send them those links.
Deluge them with good information on how the ferrets will be fine, and that you do keep your reptiles and mammals seperate.
Also try to help them to understand that you as a responsible pet owner would never allow either ferrets or snakes to come to harm in any way.
And keep the ferrets.
Also keep ALL emails from them, and if you can do a screen capture of their craigslist ad.
So they can't say you stole them.

Carol

nope, they are yours! Thankfully they dont know where YOU live (im pretty sure they dont) I also feel its none of their business that you have snakes, there was no stipulation in the add regarding snake owners they have no right to put input in now. your ferrets, your snakes, none of their business. I would ignore their emails/phone calls. They shouldve thought about it before putting their "pets" up for adoption like that.

Ferrets have been used for centuries to hunt rabbits. They are a relative of the mongoose, and weasels. My bet is that your snakes have far more to fear than the ferret.

Sell them back to them for a very steep price.

I'd just like to add - if they wanted them back because they are genuinely worried about them with the snakes it doesn't hurt to have sympathy. I'm not saying give them back - they are yours. If someone gave her pet mice that she intended to use as pets (not food) and the woman found out she would probably be worried about them being fed to snakes - it is the same for these people - they don't know anything about snakes and they don't know that they don't eat ferrets and they are worried.

I'm sure some gentle reassuring that they won't be food will put them at ease.

Thank you all. I was half tempted to be mean, but my soft nature came out and after (what seemed like) 1000 emails back and forth I convinced her that the boys (ferrets) where going to be ok. I sent her a photo of one of the boys next to a coke can, then took the same photo with one of my snakes next to the coke can (the ferret was put away). She could SEE that even if they wanted to eat the ferrets they couldn't eat them any more than they (the snakes) could eat me (and I am BIG). lol I honestly don't have anything that big to eat a ferret and I love them too much to even think about it. They are sweet, courious and very friendly.

Well seems like it has all worked out. Very good news!! :gj:

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Originally Posted by akaangela

Thank you all. I was half tempted to be mean, but my soft nature came out and after (what seemed like) 1000 emails back and forth I convinced her that the boys (ferrets) where going to be ok. I sent her a photo of one of the boys next to a coke can, then took the same photo with one of my snakes next to the coke can (the ferret was put away). She could SEE that even if they wanted to eat the ferrets they couldn't eat them any more than they (the snakes) could eat me (and I am BIG). lol I honestly don't have anything that big to eat a ferret and I love them too much to even think about it. They are sweet, courious and very friendly.

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Sounds like you did a great job reassuring her! I'm glad your soft side came out because it really sounds like she was just worried about the animals and that is what really counts.

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Originally Posted by SecurityStacey

Sounds like you did a great job reassuring her! I'm glad your soft side came out because it really sounds like she was just worried about the animals and that is what really counts.

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i agree 100%

Great job bringing this potential problem to a good end!

Glad to hear it all worked out. I'd like to see some photos of your new boys.

Definately DO NOT give them back. Print out the Craigslist ad, and wait it out. Do not accept any contact from this person either.Talking or communicating with this person will only serve to enturbulate you even more. They were advertised, You wanted them, you adopted them, you cared for them, you love them. No one has the right to take that away. They want to take you to court, then let them. False advertisement baby!!!