Can You Help Ferrets used in Medical Research? Yes!
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Money Talks
Do you give to a hospital or college? Check the USDA animal research reports to see if they have ferrets. You may have attended a university and had no idea the research department used ferrets. Some are places you’d never expect – St. Jude Children’s Hospital, for example. While St. Jude has a wonderful mission to help children, they use ferrets in disease research. One effective way to protest is, when asked for a donation, reply with a polite note that you are suspending gifts and request they consider alternate methods to live animal use. Unless you are super-wealthy, your gift won’t outweigh what they earn from government grants, but enough of those notes and the people working to collect donations will take notice.
Can You Adopt a former “Labbie” Directly?
Why not try? If you live near a lab using ferrets, ask them if they have an adoption program. You can address an inquiry to the Institutional Animal Use & Care Committee (IAUCC). It might take a bit of website digging, but you will find an address or email somewhere on their website. If nothing else, this will let the Committee know there are people in their community willing to give a home to an animal that has sacrificed for our welfare.
Can You Adopt through a Shelter?
Sometimes! Former lab animals might be surrendered to a ferret shelter. The Ferret Association works with shelters across the country. If we obtain ferrets from one state, we try to coordinate with nearby shelters to rehome them. We will usually announce a release of lab ferrets on our Facebook page, and include contact info for participating shelters.
You can find a list of dedicated ferret shelters on the Ferret Shelters Directory. Please see Ferret Association info on adopting under our Adoption tab.
Is a “Labbie” for me? Is there anything “wrong” with them?
Laboratory ferrets are like any other ferret. In fact, nearly all come from the same breeder that sells ferrets to pet stores.
We encourage their adoption to multiple-ferret families. In the lab, they found comfort in each other and get along very well with other ferrets. Most readily accept Marshall ferret food but can be easily switched to your food of choice.
No laboratory would release an animal with a communicable disease. Most who experienced invasive testing are euthanized. It is unlikely a lab would release an animal disfigured by surgery. But that leaves room for many animals that are releasable and very adoptable.
The circumstances of each ferret will vary. At first, many may be nippy (some bite hard!), be frightened of loud noises or run to hide when you enter the room. Shoes & socks are new to them, so watch out for your toes! They might find the vet office, with distrusted white coats and steel tables, frightening, or might react poorly to being scruffed. Some may not be descented. (We do not allow descenting by shelters or those they adopt to. Here is info about descenting.)
Hopefully the lab spayed or neutered each before release, but no shelter should adopt out an unaltered animal. Some may need first or updated vaccinations. Ask the individual shelter about vaccination status.
Former laboratory ferrets are best suited for a quiet, patient adult home. They need someone understanding, who will give them a little extra care while they adjust to life outside a cage. In time, each will become a loving, trusting member of your family.
We call former research ferrets “labbies.” It’s a happier way to describe these animals who have sacrificed so much in order to help human health. You can truly make a difference in the life of a ferret who deserves the same thing as every ferret: a loving home.
