Preparing to Evacuate

 

Now:   Get your ferret a Microchip.  Make your contact person, someone who lives away from the evacuation area.  Someone who knows you very well.  Keep in mind that animals displaced from Katrina that had ID tags on, will still not find their home (or owner) because those homes do not exist anymore and the owners are scattered to and fro.

 

Locate someplace that will take your ferrets and other pets.  Animal friendly Motels, Friends or Family.

Prepare

1.                 Make a ferret traveling kit.

a.                 Extra Food   Rotate the food so it is a fresh supply

b.                 Container(s) to hold Plenty of water.  We had over 5 gallons and used most of it before we returned.

c.                 Treats, FerreTone, and Nutri-cal/Ferretvite or white Karo:  Rotate so it is a fresh supply.

d.                 Litter Scoop and Extra Litter

e.                 Extra blankets and hammocks

f.                  Syringe to administer water, medicines or Duck Soup

g.                 Cleaning cloths

h.                 Light weight towels or cloths to use wet for wrapping around your ferret.

i.                   Toilet Paper and Paper Towels

j.                   Harnesses with name tags  & Leashes

k.                 A light weight cloth or towel, preferably something that will allow air to circulate, to cover the cage to block direct sun light coming in the car windows.

 

2.                 A cage or Carrying Case with as much open space as possible.

a.                 Litter Box (dollar stores carry small plastic containers that will fit in a carry case)

b.                 Water Bottle, more important than food and if possible a water bowl under the water bottle (water bottles leak).  Twist tie the water bottle to the cage for extra security.  If you have time, fill the water bottle half full and freeze. When you are ready to leave fill the frozen water bottle the rest of the way with water.

c.                 Food bowl

d.                 Have on the cage:   Names,  ages, Description or picture of ferrets, Microchip Tag, Allergy List or things not to be given,  Medications and how they are given,  Owners name address and phone numbers

 

3.                 Ice Chest

a.                 Medicines (for sick ferrets): Try to keep an extra supply for evacuation.  Rotate the  Medicines with each new prescription so it is a fresh supply.  It never fails that an evacuation is called for just as you need a refill on medicines.

b.                 ÒDuck SoupÓ (for sick ferrets): Most people freeze their ÒDuck SoupÓ in ice cube trays. Frozen ÒDuck SoupÓ melts very easily.  To transport place ÒDuck SoupÓ in ice cube trays, to keep it from running together into one big glob.  You may try Press and Seal to keep the cubes as individual cubes.   Rotate the ÒDuck SoupÓ so it is a fresh supply

c.                 Ice packs, Ice blankets, or Frozen bottles of water, when thawed these could be used for water.

 

4.                 Important papers

a.                 Rabies Certificate

b.                 Veterinary Papers showing proof of Distemper Vaccination

c.                 Veterinary Records

d.                 Microchip Information

 

5.                 In the car have a SPRAY BOTTLE in a Very handy place

 

6.                 Extra water to pour on ferrets or for wetting down a light weight cloth. You could even take one pre-wet in a plastic bag.

 

If possible try not to travel alone, so the other person can help you keep an eye on your ferrets.  If it is impossible to have someone with you try to place your ferrets so you can watch them at all times.  Heat is a KILLER. 

 

Warning Signs

 

 

1.                 Ferrets Stressing

2.                 Ferrets Panting

3.                 Ferrets Lethargic

4.                 Get Scared if your ferrets do not respond to you.

 

Things to Do

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I.                  Run car air conditioning as much as possible

II.                Put a wrapped frozen pack or frozen bottle of water in the ferretÕs cage

III.             Spray your ferrets with water as often as you think is necessary.   Essential Oil of Lavender, has a calming effect.  It was suggested that this be put it in the water in the spray bottle.

IV.             If your ferret starts to pant, wet your ferret down.  When wetting ferrets down, pour water on the ferret, wipe off the excess, repeat this procedure 3-4 times.  Dr. Dori says for ferrets Òcool them down quickly, warm them up slowlyÓ.

V.               If your ferret gets to hot, wrap wet cloth around your ferret and hold them close to the AC Vent

 

 

Houston Area Ferret Association                                 Houston Ferret Meetup Group

HoustonÕs Ferret Support Group                                      Visit our Web Site and become a Member

Furthering Ferret Education                                                               http://ferret.meetup.com/                     

Community Awareness                                                                           

Through Association                                                                          For The L♥VE of FERRETS

http://www.houstonareaferretassociation.com/                                  Gail & Jimi Hummel

                                                                                                                                           ferret@hal-pc.org

                                                                                                                                            281-332-4948