set your ferret free?

[Brandon16166]

http://www.petguidelines.com/small-furry/do-ferrets-make-good-pets/

in the link above it says that the cage can be 18x18x30 and to set them free if you donnt want them???

ive researched ferrets and im sure this isnt true. why would a ferret guide say that

[julztoni97]

It sounds to me like they mean not to set it free because a domestic ferret could not fend for itself in the wild.  I don't read it as saying to set it free.

[Brandon16166]

oh  well i guess i dindnt think of it that way.

[~*ChaoticSerenity*~]

"You have to be one hundred percent sure you are ready to take on the responsibility because most shelters are not willing to take it back and this creature will have a hard time adjusting to the wild if you choose to set it free."

meaning to make sure you are ready to have one because a lot of shelters dont have the facilities to take on a ferret and if you set it free it will have a hard time adjusting..

i dont see where it says you can set it free..to me it seems they are saying dont because they will have a hard time living

[Eileen]

Wording it that way leads you to believe that while they will have a hard time, it is possible for them to survive. People looking to dump their pet will absolutely read this that the ferret might do ok in the wild.

They have to be very clear, letting people know that setting their pet free is cruel.
If you don't have native ferrets running around your area, they are not meant to be there. It needs to be clear; people will take the "out" when they can, and this is a big out.

[NutKitty]

Ferrets are clever enough, but they're also agonizingly...  not smart in some areas.

I could totally see a ferret running right up to a massive dog wanting to play with it. 

Ferret outside usually = dead ferret.

[nakedrats]

UGH!!  That is a horrible article!  Did they do any research?

Please don't listen to what these people say- most of it is completely wrong.  Ferrets are friendly and sociable in that they generally don't mind being held for 30 seconds or less, and need to have a friend.  They can absolutely not be 100% litter trained and will most certainly ruin any carpet you have- not only will there be poop on the carpet they'll also wipe their butt on it afterwards, they will dig and shred the carpet especially around the door trying to dig out of the room, and their natural musky coat oils will get rubbed all over the carpet until it smells like ferret.  18x18x30 is a tiny cage that is far from "ideal" for housing a ferret, one that I wouldn't dream of trying to keep a ferret in.  Ferrets need a multi level cage at the very least, and aren't "small" pets as males can grow to be 5lb or so.  The food is half right in that they need high protein, but they also need high fat since fat is burned for energy.  Kitten food is often substituted for ''ferret" food since they contain the same ingredients and frequently are better nutrition.  While ferrets certainly love to tunnel, jumping from high places is extremely dangerous for a ferret and should be discouraged as jumping ferrets break legs, teeth, and can get other serious injuries.  Also, every ferret shelter I've ever been to has a return clause in the contract stating that if you can't keep the ferret, you HAVE to give it back to the shelter.  I don't know where this jerk gets off trying to give out false information, but I hope nobody sees this site ever because it does more harm than good.