Unfortunately, there are many people in the world who do not view the ferret with the same awe and affection that ferret owners do. This includes Public Health and Animal Control departments in certain areas of the country that still view the ferret as a dangerous wild animal ready to leap upon humans with bloody fangs and spread dangerous diseases. Nothing could be further from the truth but, unfortunately, these are the people that make the laws. There has been a lot of progress over the last 20 years in the education of public officials on the true nature of the ferret. However, there are still areas of the country where ferrets are illegal or where ferrets appropriately vaccinated for rabies can be confiscated and euthanized if they bite a human.

It is your responsibility to be familiar with the laws in your area regarding ferret ownership. The following is a list of guidelines to consider when taking your ferret “public” wherever you live. They can also be followed in the home when curious visitors want to handle your pet. These guidelines can be used for other pets as well. With common sense and responsible pet ownership we can avoid tragedy.

Be Aware Of The Laws In Your Area

As mentioned, you should be familiar with the laws of your state, your county and your city because they all may be a bit different. There are cities within ferret legal states where ferrets are forbidden. Find out if there are any restrictions on ferret ownership, such as number of ferrets, areas where they are illegal, if licensing is needed, what the violation penalties are and what the exact procedure is in case a ferret bites a human. Call the Public Health department of the state or city and the Animal Control department of the county for this information. All of these numbers are available in phone directories. You cannot claim ignorance once an incident occurs, it will be too late at that point and you could lose your pet or pay hefty fines or veterinary fees.

Rabies Vaccinations And Quarantine

Keep your ferret current on its rabies vaccination, which usually mean yearly revaccination. Make sure your veterinarian is using a vaccine that is USDA approved for use in ferrets. Keep the proof of vaccination handy in case it is required. If your ferret bites a human, your ferret will be required to have an examination performed by a veterinarian to detect any signs of illness. You will then be required to quarantine your pet in your home for a period of 10 days at which time it goes back to the veterinarian for a follow up examination to make sure no disease is present. Some localities require that ferrets be quarantined at the veterinary office and not in your home. If the ferret is healthy on the second visit, it is released from quarantine. You are completely responsible for all veterinary costs, regardless of who you think was responsible for the bite incident. If you own the ferret, you are responsible.

Currently the only accepted way to test any animal for rabies is to euthanize it and remove the brain for microscopic examination. If you live in a state where ferrets are illegal or where the rabies vaccination is not recognized as protective, the only recourse is to perform this examination which of course means the death of the pet. There are still some areas of the country that do not recognize the rabies vaccination as protective in the ferret and even a vaccinated ferret can be euthanized and tested for rabies.

Tetanus Immunization

Anybody working around animals where a bite can occur should remain current on their tetanus vaccinations. These are inexpensive and in adults are only required every 7 to 10 years. Consult your physician or Public Health Department for more information.

Liability Insurance

If you are going to have any pets, it is a good idea to obtain good liability insurance to protect you in the event your pet injures another individual. This liability is often covered in homeowners insurance or an umbrella policy, but you should consult your insurance agent to ensure that you are adequately covered. Although the majority of ferret bites can be completely avoided or are minor, some can cause serious injury and costly medical bills. If you have other pets, such as dogs, the potential for expensive injury increases.

Handling Ferrets

Ferrets can be nervous when they are out in public. They are acutely aware of different odors and sounds and can become excited or frightened by this sensory input. If you are using your ferret for demonstrations, make sure the ferret has been handled by many different people over a period of time and is trustworthy prior to exposing him/her to the public. Do not use ferrets that have a history of biting, even if they are not biting now. Ferrets in a strange situation may revert to biting as a defense. It is preferable to use ferrets over 8 months of age because young ferrets have a greater tendency to bite when frightened or just out of playfulness. Do not allow ill ferrets to be handled, not only because of the bite potential if someone touches a sensitive spot, but the stress of an unfamiliar situation can aggravate the illness.

In general, do not allow strangers to handle your ferret unless you are extremely familiar with your pet's reactions in these situations. Instruct people to keep the ferret away from their face. Facial bites can be the most disfiguring, painful and expensive to repair. Ferrets have poor eyesight and a human nose can look like a really neat toy! Avoid having children under the age of 6 handle the ferret. Be extremely cautious around individuals that may be suffering from serious illness themselves. If a person wants to touch the ferret, hold the ferret's head and shoulders securely and let the person stroke the ferret's lower back. Do not allow people to stick their fingers into the pet's cage because fingers can look like exciting little toys to play with. During public demonstrations, it is helpful to have signs posted that advise people to keep fingers and faces away from the cage, or put your pet in a container that has solid, but clear, walls to avoid the problem altogether. Never leave your pet unattended at a table or booth.

Most ferret bites are quick and inconsequential, but occasionally a ferret can take hold and not let go. Therefore it is a good idea to bring along some isopropyl (rubbing) alchohol in a small bottle in case a bite occurs. A drop or two of this bitter tasting substance on the ferret's gums will cause the pet to release its grip immediately.

If A Bite Occurs

The bottom line is if a bite occurs and you own the ferret, you are legally responsible. So the first thing to do if a bite occurs is to stay calm and apologize. This may sound trite, but an apology can go a long way to help to calm the events to come. An owner that is busy defending their pet and accusing the victim of causing the bite only inflames the emotions of all involved. Apologizing is not a statement of fault, but rather a statement that you are sorry that it happened (which in fact you are) and that you sympathize with the suffering that the other person is experiencing. It is a gesture of comfort not an admission of guilt!

Next put the ferret in a secure area and attend to the person's injury. Blood coming from the wound is a good sign as it cleans the wound and shouldn't be stopped for a few seconds. If possible, wash the wound with warm running water for a minute. Place a clean bandage over the wound to slow the bleeding. Advise the person to seek medical attention within 24 hours. Fortunately ferret bites do not have the same problem with infection that is associated with cat bites. However a deep puncture, a wound that is not bleeding or a tear in the skin that might need stitches should be dealt with expediently by a doctor.

Finally, put everything in writing including the time, place, and circumstances of the bite, the names, addresses and phone numbers of all the people involved, the location and extent of the injury, the recommendations you made and the actions taken. If you have time to do this while the other person is there, you can have them read and sign the paper for accuracy so there are no questions later. If possible give them a copy as well.