Motor City Ferrets Application for Adoption

Please complete this form honestly and completely. Your information is confidential and will be used by the shelter only for the purpose of considering an adoption. The questions are designed to make sure that folks interested in adopting a) know what they're getting into and b) are responsible people who will offer a loving, permanent home. We would never pick a ferret for you, but we do use the information from your Application to try to figure out who might be a good personality match before we invite you for a visit. Since we get to know our ferrets while they're our guests, it's our job to get to know folks interested in adopting!

Notes for potential first time ferret owners: ferrets are becoming more and more popular as pets, but they are still plagued by much misinformation about proper care and keeping. Careful research is vitally important to anyone considering adopting a ferret. Ferrets require specialized vet care and finding a qualified vet with ferret experience is, unfortunately, very often difficult. Additionally, because ferrets are something akin to a two year old human child combined with a kitten, thus delightful and cute but often exasperating, gleaning a proper understanding of the impact a ferret will have on the whole family is important. We would never assign potential adopters "homework" if you will, but we simply can't stress enough the importance of learning what's in store before you bring your first ferret home!

You must be 21 years old to adopt. If you are under 21, your parent(s) must be fully involved in the adoption process, starting with this application. If you already own ferrets, you must bring them to the adoption appointment for a meet and greet so we can rule out personality conflicts. An adoption donation of $75 is required for each adopted ferret, save those who are placed into homes under special circumstances. As a private organization we receive no public funding, thus your contribution is essential to keep us up and running and able to provide the best care for all our guests. All adoptable ferrets are altered, have had a veterinary exam, are free of contagions to the best of our knowledge and are up to date on their vaccinations for Rabies and Canine Distemper (unless a medical condition would prevent the ferret from receiving vaccinations, in which case the condition and particular ferret's situation are disclosed and discussed).

If you decide to adopt a ferret from Motor City Ferrets you will be required to sign an adoption contract. This contract is basic in its requirements, but do be aware of and consider that you will be adopting from a private rescue. We follow up after our adoptions and an adoption client's participation is mandatory. We will tailor a schedule that best fits the situation and the schedules of everyone involved to make the follow up as easy for a client as possible. We also strive to provide what we consider an enhanced service by tracking ferrets throughout their life, since we only see them for a short time in their overall lifespan. We welcome any health and behavioral detail about adopted ferrets for the rest of the ferrets' life; of course we also delight in hearing happy stories any old time our clients want to share! Our system would fail without the participation of our clients, thus we strive to keep the necessary process simple, unobtrusive and helpful to all.

A significant line item in our Adoption Contract is our requirement for custody. We expect our adoption clients to adopt our ferrets to be treasured companions, kept for their lifetime. If for any reason you become unable to care for the ferret(s), you must return the ferret(s) to our shelter. We consider our rescue practices to be professional and reputable; therefore, we will never try to pass on a sick ferret or one with behavior issues to an unsuspecting owner. Because our goal is happiness for all involved, we never consider any adoption "final" because we will always be ready to help handle any unsuspected issues that arise after adoption.

Please remember that our little ones have been through enough stress in their lives already, having lost their home at least once. Thus our adoption process is designed to help us secure loving, permanent homes for all our beloved fur babies. If at any point during this process you aren't sure you can make a total commitment, please ask questions to gather more information, or reconsider your decision to adopt until such time you're sure you can provide a loving, permanent home. You are always welcome at the shelter to learn more, to make sure adopting is the right choice for you!

We will not - under ANY circumstances - ship our ferrets!!!

City, State, Zip:

Home Phone:

Other Phone:

e-mail address: 

Best time/method to contact you? 

Please tell us how you heard about Motor City Ferrets: 

Are you 21 years old or older?*    * You must be 21 years old or older to submit an Adoption Application! 

For the applicant who has never had ferrets - Please tell us about your knowledge/experience (played with ferrets, books, etc.):

For the already enlightened (snicker) among you who already have had or currently have ferrets, please use this section to tell us about them.  Please include any health issues your ferret(s) had during their lifetime, a bit about their lifestyle within your home and what became of the ferrets you had in the past (found a new home, lived out life to age X, etc.).  Also, tell us about the fun you had with your furries - what did you like best about each little personality?  

Please tell us about the members of your family - including children's ages, perhaps a comment on younger children's responsibility with prior pets or chores, any relevant schedule details (work long hours / one adult doesn't work outside the home, etc.) and especially any health problems, such as allergies or asthma. Ferrets do not usually cause trouble for allergy sufferers or asthmatics, but in too many cases we've found out only too late (significant cause for surrenders). Information and testing is available through your doctor, should rubbing your face in the fur of 20 or so critters not be sufficient (HA), and these types of health concerns will not automatically prohibit any adoption.

Please tell us a bit about other pets you've owned, making sure to include any pets that an adopted ferret will have contact with.

Many owners employ a cage in the keeping of their ferret. You may choose to use a cage for your ferret to spend time in when you are away. If you choose to use a cage, your ferret will need a minimum of 4 hours out of it's cage EACH DAY for play, which includes play time with you.
Do you plan to use a cage to keep your ferret?
Will you allow your ferret a minimum of four hours play time out of the cage each day? 

While your ferret is out of its cage for play time each day, it must spend it's time in a "ferret proofed" environment. This may involve modification to your home. Not serious construction, but the simple things: protecting carpet & electrical cords, blocking off of any "access holes," installation of multiple litter boxes, etc.

Are you prepared to offer your ferret a safe environment to play in? 
What sort of modifications might you have to make to your home to allow your ferret a safe play area? 

Proper nutrition can only be found in premium kitten or ferret food. "Grocery Store" cat or kitten food, which you can usually identify by the colorful shapes and so forth, is NOT appropriate nutrition for your ferret. Most often ferrets adopted from the shelter will already be on a diet of proper premium food (unless they're extra finicky and attached to a certain brand). 
Are you prepared to keep the ferret on proper food, spending more for a premium brand? 

Your ferret will require annual vaccinations for Rabies (required by Michigan Law) & Canine Distemper at a cost of anywhere from $30-$75 per ferret. Too often folks skip vaccinations for their ferrets, thinking that an indoor animal is not at risk. Please be aware that Distemper can enter your home in a variety of ways and therefore does pose a risk to your ferret(s) here in Michigan. Distemper is a terrible malady that is 100% fatal in ferrets - but it's so preventable! 
And so, having read the vaccination sermon, tell us if you will vaccinate your critter annually?

Like other mammals, ferrets can experience a wide variety of health/medical troubles. Are you familiar with the common ailments ferrets can suffer during their lifetime? You can mention books/web sites you've read, vets you've spoken with or, if you already have ferrets, what health troubles they may have already had. Of course this is not a test, your answers simply help us to tailor an adoption packet especially for you.

Whether or not you're already familiar with common health troubles or will learn by visiting the shelter, reading books/web sites or talking with vets, we'd like to go ahead and ask about your willingness/ability to provide for common situations at this time. Some critters will get stepped on and need expensive reconstructive surgery. Some will become stressed (for a variety of reasons) and need force feedings every 4 hours for a period of a few days to a few weeks. Some will develop cancer and need either a surgical remedy or twice daily medication for the remainder of life…

Do you feel ferrets are deserving of veterinary care? 
Have you found a ferret knowledgeable vet in your area? 
Vet's name/practice/city: 

We will never ask questions about your financial situation, but we do feel it's our responsibility to make sure that finding good homes for our critters includes making sure folks are financially able to provide for the needs of critters they're taking on. 
Have you read through our worksheet about the potential / real world costs involved with having a ferret friend? 
Do you feel you are financially able to afford a new ferret? 

Do you rent your home?
If so, will your landlord or lease allow you to keep ferrets?** 

** Renters who are not allowed to have/keep their ferrets make up a significant portion of our surrenders.
For this reason, we will require a copy of your lease or a note from your landlord indicating that you are allowed to keep a ferret.

Ferrets can live 6-10 years or more. Have you considered the potential commitment you may be taking on?

Are you a member of the Armed Services (active or reserve)? 

If so, please tell us about your commitment:

Please tell us about your dream ferret. Hey - NO ferret is 100% with a litter box, so don't even try it!  :)  Laid-back, super-playful, color, gender - please list any specific feature or characteristic you are most interested in. Also, since you've read "So you're thinking about a ferret…" tell us if you've narrowed your search by leaning towards a bonafide single, bonded pair or a couple of swingers? You might also mention what factors went into your decision so we'll have the best possible understanding of who might be the optimal match for you and your family.

Many times people who are not familiar with older ferrets think they'll be boring, lazy critters. In fact, a ferret will stay playful it's whole life, although of course as the ferret ages he/she will need more frequent naps! People also have the misconception that to truly bond with your ferret you must begin your relationship when critter is a baby…not so! In fact, the older ferrets that have already felt the pain of abandonment sometimes appreciate their great new homes most of all! 
Would you consider an older ferret (4+)?   

Please explain:

Anything we missed that you'd 1) like to ask us or 2) like us to know to best consider your application?

Click the "Submit" button to send your application to the shelter.  Clicking "Reset" will clear the form for you to start over.