May 22, 1998
Phoenix just came home! He has been owned by two other people and neither one of them took proper care of him. His cage was really in bad shape, urine-soaked newspapers in the bottom of the cage, rust on the tray, his water bottle was brown from dirt, slime and mold and he was walking on wire mesh. He didn't have much food and what little he did have was in a food dish that was moldy. He was also fed Alpo canned cat food still in the sharp can. That was his main diet.
He seems to be really sad, like he doesn't have any spirit left from being tossed around from home to home. His eyes don't even sparkle like a happy ferret's eyes should. He doesn't play, he just stares off almost like he's sleeping with his eyes open. He is so thin, his little hips stick out of his sides. His nails were so long that they were curled down into his feet. And from him walking on rusty wire mesh, his feet are in the beginning stages of foot rot. I put floor tiles in his cage, took out the dirty newspapers and gave him something he has never had....a bed.
I can't understand how his previous owners could do something like that to him. And why others treat their ferrets the same way. Phoenix is so gentle and loving and he never bites. He needs a lot of work, love and patience. I know with time, he'll be a normal ferret. I'm so glad that I could take him and give him a loving home.
I decided to name him Sir Phoenix. "Risen from the ashes..."
May 23, 1998.
When I woke up this morning, he had tried to use his litter pan, but he’s too big for it. He also got confused a few times and used the wrong corner. But, he did good for not ever using a litter pan before! He’s about 1 year old and a Marshall’s Farms Ferret. He ate a lot over the night, and drank about 7 ounces of water.
Phoenix is learning his name. When I went to clean his cage I called out his name and he looked at me. He seems to be a little more alert this morning. He doesn’t like cars...probably because everytime he has heard one, he’s had to go in one and leave for another home.
This afternoon I put him in the large ferret cage with the other ferrets. Sabrina was really nice to him, she didn’t attack the “new ferret on the block,” like she normally does. Phoenix really loves the other ferrets and is now living with them. I really didn’t expect the introduction period to go as well as it did.
I don’t think there will be any problems except him not getting enough food. The others are really aggressive when it’s dinner time and I don’t think Phoenix understands enough to go down and get his dinner. He’s lived by himself all his life. After dinner, I took all the ferrets in the ferret room to play. I was so surprised when Phoenix started jumping around! He was having the time of his life. Toys, snacks, other ferrets, boxes, tunnels and people to play with! He did a little dance and he was dooking with the other ferrets. Sebastian showed him how to play with the little balls that they have. He’s so good with his new brothers. Sylvester seems to be Phoenix’s best buddy.
They were running all over the room together and they slept in the ferret bed together for a while. I think that it’s best for Phoenix to be in the cage with the others. He’ll learn a lot more from them and be a little more sociable. There are just some things that us humans can’t tell ferrets. I worry that he doesn’t know that this is his permanent home. I hope that the other ferrets will make him more comfortable here and understand that he never has to worry about when he’s leaving again.
May 24, 1998.
Not much has changed with Phoenix. His new thing is that he won't eat out of the food dish. He wants to be hand-fed one little piece of food at a time. I took the ferrets in the ferret room again, they all played together like little furry angels! He likes to play in boxes with his toys.
For some reason he only stays in the top part of the cage. There is a water bottle up there on the shelf, so the only time he comes down is to use the litter pan. He's been really active in the ferret room, but only sleeps and acts depressed in his cage. The other ferrets are pretty good with him, but they are getting a little upset because Phoenix doesn't want to play. They will probably start fighting soon.
May 25, 1998.
Phoenix decided to venture to the bottom of the cage for his blanket. He still won't eat out of the food dish, only out of my hand. I would normally let him learn that the only way to get food is by eating it from the dish, but he's too thin to miss any meals. I'm going to start him on duck soup. It's a high fat, high protein supplement for ferrets that are malnourished.
I tried to get him to take some Ferretone, but he wouldn't eat it because it was sticky. He didn't like it on his whiskers and around his mouth. He tried to drink some water today from a different water bottle, but the other ferrets got mad and started hissing at him.
They also got in a big fight over the hanging bed. After about 25 minutes of fighting, hissing and dooking, Phoenix got the bed and all the others went to the bottom of the cage in their ferret sleep sack. Hopefully this territory thing will settle in a few days.
I took Phoenix in the ferret room again today...he was really active. Jumped around, played with his toys and discovered that corners are also good litter pans! He has to learn to use the litter pan outside of his cage yet.
May 26, 1998.
Phoenix didn't eat his breakfast for some reason. He seems a little bit sad today, he's been staring out of his cage. I don't think he's sick, he is just acting depressed. The other ferrets were hissing at him, I think they might have been in a fight. Phoenix went in the back room to play today. He took some stuffed animals under the bed. He was so cute! Not much happened with him today, just the normal "ferrety business."
May 27, 1998.
Today Phoenix had his first bath! He was really good in the tub and he loved the shampoo. While I was bathing him, I noticed that part of his tail is missing. Looks like the first half inch. Probably someone picked him up by his tail, or he got his tail shut in the door of the cage. It happened a while ago, there aren't any sores or scabs on it now.
After his bath, he went in the ferret room with the other ferrets. They all played nice with him, no major fighting. Phoenix played in a box and chewed on some stuffed animals. I had some ferretone in the tube for the ferrets to snack on. Phoenix was showing some interest in tasting it, but he doesn't like the sticky stuff on his mouth. Hopefully he'll learn how to lick it without getting it all over the place.
May 28, 1998.
Phoenix went outside for his first walk today! He was a little bit scared of the different noises, but he adjusted right away. He wanted to get down so I put him in the grass. The neighbor's Cairn Terrier started barking and Phoenix didn't like that very much. We walked all around the driveway and over to the neighbor's yard.
He still likes to eat out of my hands, but I'm trying to teach him to eat out of the bowl. He has a hard time getting the pieces of food in his mouth because he doesn't have any teeth in the front on the bottom. Probably because he was starving the first year of his life, he didn't have the right nutrients to develope.
May 29, 1998.
Today the weather is really hot and Phoenix is upset about that! I have pop bottles filled with water and frozen for the ferrets to sleep on when it's hot. Phoenix was scared of it at first, but now he loves it. Sabrina was playing with the bottle and started dooking to Phoenix, then he went over and played with her. It was like she told him it was OK. They were all having some kind of ferret conversation today, all dooking like crazy.
Phoenix took a little food out of his dish. One more improvement!
May 30, 1998.
I took Phoenix's cage outside today. He really enjoyed it out there, he was watching the birds in the yard. The other ferrets were in the cage, too. They were all playing with some of their toys. The one thing I've noticed with Phoenix is that he's starting to get really attached to some of the stuffed animals in his cage. Sebastian is the same way, I think it has something to do with them being abused. Sebastian had a very similar life, he was abused and neglected just like Phoenix. I'm glad that Phoenix is starting to play with toys, but Sebastian is so attached to them, he's doing that "flat-ferret-I'm-psychotic" thing!!
May 31, 1998.
Phoenix did the very first "ferrety" thing today: He dumped his food dish! He is starting to get a little sparkle in his eye....he's a little wild today. I'm so glad to see that he is getting better. I really think that he was close to dying when I got him.
He learned how to climb up the side of his cage today. He fell the first time, but got right back up there and did it again. I think he's learning that he has a good, permanent home now. He's acting like he has been here forever! When the other ferrets come near him, he whines. They don't hurt him or bite him, he just makes a whining noise. Sylvester did that when I first introduced him into the cage with everyone else and that passed. So, I'm sure this will too.
June 1, 1998.
Phoenix was pretty quiet today. He ate his food from my hand, still won't eat out of the dish. He doesn't have any teeth on the bottom so he can't grab the food out of the dish. If the dish is full to the very top, he will take about two bites of food, that's the only thing that will go into his mouth.
I don't think he will ever be able to eat food on his own. I can't believe that his previous owners would let him get in the condition that he's in. Too many people bring a ferret home and put them in a cage and only care for them when they have nothing better to do. Some people don't read about ferrets before they bring one home, so they don't know how to properly care for ferret. In the end the only one that suffers is the ferret. Ferrets aren't for everyone, they take a lot of love, patience, and time.
June 2, 1998.
Phoenix got his claws clipped again today. He really didn't like it at all. He was crying the whole time, wiggling, and just being bad! But, I'm glad to see that he's starting to put up a little fight like a healthy ferret. I also cleaned his ears. He was good for about 5 minutes and then got bad.
June 3, 1998.
Phoenix was pretty good today. Just did the normal ferret stuff. We played in the back room, and the other ferrets were starting to fight with him over the toys. Phoenix has started this "carpet shark" thing where he scoots under the floor rug. It's cute, but we have to be careful when walking around the room! Now the other ferrets are doing it because they saw Phoenix do it. Oh well :-)
June 4, 1998.
Phoenix was really depressed acting today. The ferrets were giving him a hard time over the night and wouldn't let him sleep. He was laying in the bottom of the cage on his blanket and didn't want any other ferrets with him and when I tried to hold him he just cried. He's not eating much today, when I went to feed him he only took two little pieces of food.
Some things set him off with his moods. I don't exactly know what makes him upset, but it seems like when the other ferrets are hyper or wanting to play, Phoenix gets in a mood. I guess something that will go away with time.
We went outside for a walk today, I thought he would enjoy the warm sun. We ran all around the driveway and up the sidewalk. He did pretty good on his leash, only he second time being on one in his entire life. He's almost to the point where he's ready to learn some tricks, but his attention span isn't the best.
June 5, 1998.
I've had Phoenix for two weeks today! It doesn't seem like he's been here that long. His coat is starting to look a little bit better, he's not shedding as much. Time for another bath sometime soon, I don't want to give him a bath while he's in this mood.
He didn't eat his usual amount for breakfast, just a couple bites. He did drink a lot of water overnight, so I'm not too worried. He still uses the litter pan like a good boy, very rarely does he go on the floor. He went on the floor once when the other ferrets wouldn't let him use the pan. Argh!
June 6, 1998.
Phoenix was home by himself for most of the day. When I came home, he woke up like he was so happy to see me! I gave him his dinner, he really ate a lot. Last count, he was eating 82 pieces of food at a time. Takes about an hour to feed him one meal.
We went in the ferret room and he got his picture taken. He was really good around the camera, he's like Sabrina, always wanting to be in front of the camera.
June 7, 1998.
Today Phoenix met my friend. He was really good around her, he didn't try to bite and didn't get wild. I think he's going to be a social ferret like Sabrina. I don't know how he will act around a group of people, there are certain people that he doesn't like for some reason.
Sebastian was being mean to him today. They were in the ferret room playing and Sebastian bit him for no reason. I don't know if it was a territory thing or not. Sebastian has been acting psychotic ever since Phoenix has been getting extra attention. Every time I look in the cage, Sebastian is "Flat ferreting."
June 8, 1998.
Big news! Phoenix ate out of his bowl without any help from me!! He can only get food out of the bowl right after it is filled. He gets frustrated after a little time and leaves the bowl. He's still thin so he can't afford to miss a few meals while learning to eat by himself.
His feet were rough so I thought I would put some lotion on them. Well, he just hated that! He was dooking, squirming, and having a fit! I don't know why he didn't like the lotion, I guess just because it was a new feeling to him.
June 9, 1998.
Today Phoenix learned how to sit up!!! I worked with him for about a half hour and finally he sat up! He looks so cute when he sits up, Sylvester ran into him the first time. I gave him some ferret snacks as a reward. Tomorrow I'm going to work with him some more.
This was the first morning that I didn't have to show him the food dish. He went right down there out of the bed and ate his breakfast. He does great as long as he plays in the ferret room for some, odd, reason. He needs to be stimulated or he won't move around in his cage at all.
June 10, 1998.
Phoenix was really depressed acting again today. For some reason he gets really sad acting every once in a while. He gets like that when the other ferrets start harrassing him, or start fighting with him.
He slept the whole day, and didn't eat very much. I hope he's better tomorrow.
June 11, 1998.
Today Phoenix was in a little bit better mood. At least he played in the ferret room! He had a bath today, so he's nice and fluffy now. All six ferrets had their baths and Phoenix was drying off Sabrina when she went back in the cage.
June 12, 1998.
The weather was pretty hot today, so Phoenix slept pretty much all day. He played with a frozen pop bottle, he had so much fun! There was a bad thunderstorm in the evening, Phoenix was pretty scared but I held him and he was OK.
June 13, 1998.
Today Phoenix was pretty playful. We went in the ferret room and he started to dig in my plants and he tried to climb up the side of the chair. The other ferrets were being nice to him for a change, so I think he was pretty happy about that. I cleaned his ears and he wasn't as bad this time as he was before.
June 14, 1998.
Phoenix isn't using the litter pan today, just the bottom of the cage! I don't know what his problem is, he's being really bad. I have to tell myself, "a bad ferret is a healthy ferret!" I'm actually glad to see him acting like a "normal" ferret. After dinner he went to play with the other ferrets in the ferret room. He was trying to open the door and get out before me. He was so cute!
He's finally eating food by himself. It only took three weeks. I don't think I've fed him by hand in four days. He takes one piece of food and rests it on the rim of the food dish and then flips it in his mouth.
June 15, 1998.
Today Phoenix played in the ferret room by himself for the first time. I was throwing stuffed animals for him to chase, he was so much fun! We played in the chair and he was tunneling under the floor rug. He took a stuffed animal to the very top of the cage today. He never did that before. He's starting to be like Sebastian and getting attached to his stuffed animals.
Since this page is getting so large, I will only be updating this journal when there is something exciting to report. Thanks to everyone who sent me the wonderful e-mails about Phoenix, it was nice meeting you all!!
June 22, 1998.
Today is Phoenix's one month anniversary! It doesn't seem like he's been here that long, I can't believe how much he has improved. He's about 3 1/2 lbs. now and his tail doesn't look as bad as it did at first. He doesn't have days where he acts sad, he's always up and playing with his brother.
Phoenix now eats on his own, I haven't fed him by hand for over a week now. He still gets treats from my hands though! He loves his bath so much, and he likes meeting new people.
At first it seemed as though he would never get any better. But, all the hard work and patience paid off and he's a wonderful pet once again. To those of you who have ferrets that have been abused before, never give up on them...after time, they will be your best friend!!
June 29, 1998.
Phoenix has been doing great over the past week. Now he is so fat he has a hard time fitting through the tunnels I have for him!! He loves to play with me now especially when we're in the ferret room. He's eating some human food now like peanut butter and crackers.
He has a hard time remember which end should be in the litter pan and which end should be out. So, there is an occasional accident on the cage floor. I'm sure he will learn sooner or later!!
July 6, 1998.
Phoenix weathered the fireworks over the holiday weekend! He didn't seem to mind the loud noises, I'm glad. He started a fight with Sabrina over a treat the other day. He never used to like human food now that's all he cares about! Well, that and his regular food :-)
July 13, 1998.
This past week was the first week that Phoenix was playful and happy acting each day. He didn't pout or act depressed at all. His favorite toy, now, is a plastic bag. We always play with it in the ferret room. Phoenix is doing good with learning the tricks that I'm teaching him, he looks so cute when he's sitting up!
July 20, 1998.
Over the past couple days, Phoenix's ears have been bothering him. He rubs his ears on the ferret cage. He has a lot of wax in his ears, he does not have ear mites from his old cage mates, we've checked into that. I'm going to start using a special ear wash on him and see how that works.
July 27, 1998.
More progress over the week for Phoenix! Now he has learned that the floor is a great place to run around! He was weasel war dancing yesterday all over the place, on the floor, in the chair and he was dooking.
Phoenix was sleeping in the ferret bed and Sabrina wanted to get in with him. After she settled down, Phoenix took her by the neck and threw her out of the bed! I guess she learned her lesson :-)
August 3, 1998.
Phoenix has been playing a lot over the past couple days. He likes to dance around in the chairs and play with his brother. The one thing I have noticed is that he is getting really aggresive toward Sylvester. Every time Sylvester tries to eat when Phoenix is eating, Phoenix tries to bite his ears and hurt him. I hope he stops being so mean to Sylvester!
August 10, 1998.
Today Phoenix had a bath. He was really bad in the tub, he was scratching me and dooking up a storm! Then he went into the ferret room and dumped a plant over. I guess he is making up for all those years when he didn't move around. Oh, well!
September 8, 1998.
Phoenix is so big now! He is about 5 pounds and beautiful. I can't believe how much he has changed since he first came home, but I am glad he is doing so well. He is always a happy little boy and he loves playing with me and the other ferrets.
His fur is starting to change colors for the winter months now and his fur is longer than before. He doesn't even look like the same ferret as he did when he came home.
I am glad to report that he is just like my other fuzzies - happy and thriving!
September 29, 1998.
I can't believe it! Phoenix finally learned how to give ferret kisses! Before when he tried to give a ferret kiss he would always act like he was afraid that he would get yelled at or something. Now he's just like the other ferrets. He has also started to eat wet ferret food as a nighttime snack. All my other ferrets would eat it, but not him.
He learned how to sit up, roll over, sit on my shoulder, and walk on a leash, in about a month's time. He has a very proud Mom! I never thought that he would progress as far as he has.
When I first got Phoenix, he was missing about 3 inches of his tail. It finally grew back, you can't even tell that there was something wrong with it. I think a good part of his problem was that he felt that he wasn't wanted and his diet.
October 13, 1998.
Phoenix went outside this afternoon and had fun in the yard. He was watching the birds eating in the birdhouse and he was watching the cars driving around on our street. His coat is starting to change colors for the winter season. It's a lot lighter than it was when I first got him.
All things are going good with Phoenix this week. Lots of happy dooking!
October 26, 1998.
In the past week Phoenix, along with 4 other ferrets, have been sick with some kind of flu-like virus. He has been throwing up, but he seems to be better now, just a little tired. He is eating and drinking like he should be with no other signs of anything wrong with him.
He is starting to gain his winter weight and his colors are so much darker now than they were last summer.
November 12, 1998.
Phoenix is starting to gain all his winter weight and his colors are changing. Out of all of the ferrets, he has taken the illness the hardest. He is still not acting like his normal, spunky self. He still eats and drinks and plays, but there is just something that isn't right. I'll keep you all posted.
November 18, 1998.
Today, Phoenix really scared me. Over the past couple days he had stopped eating by himself and he was sleeping all the time. I have been waking him up every 4 hours and feeding him his ferret kibble. He takes it right away, almost like he has never eaten before. I don't think he is very strong because he is old. My Vet told me that he is around 6-7 years old.
I have put him on special vitamins because he doesn't like duck soup. I sure hope that he starts gaining weight again soon.
November 28, 1998.
Over the past week Phoenix has gained some weight! He is eating his food regularly and he is waking up on his own. He loves his vitamins. His little eyes are starting to get that devilish sparkle once again!
He may not be around for much longer, but he has had a great 7 months with me and I will continue to love him extra and spend as much time as possible with him while we still have the chance.
Owning a rescued ferret has been a great joy to me. Phoenix has made me realize just how special ferrets can be. If nothing else is accomplished with this journal, the ferrets and I hope that someone will get the inspiration to take an abused ferret into their home, give them unconditional love, and encourage just one more person to do the same. We must realize that we cannot save the world, but we can change the life of one ferret. If you are interested in adopting a ferret from a shelter, please contact me at fuzzbabies@aol.com and I will get you in contact with a shelter in your area.
December 25, 1998.
Phoenix had a wonderful Christmas this year! He loves looking at the lights on the Christmas Tree and he enjoys jumping in the wrapping paper. He took a roll of tape and hid it somewhere under some of my furniture and I have not seen it since! He's as bad with wrapping paper and tape as he is with socks. *S*
There for a while he gave me a scare with his weight dropping so quickly, but he seems to be doing a little better now. He is eating his food regularly and drinking. He is still somewhat thin, but I think that may be an age thing. All is well in ferretland!
Merry Christmas!
February 26, 1999.
It certainly has been a while since I added something to this journal. No time like the present! Phoenix is doing great. He gained a lot of weight back since he was sick a few months ago and he is eating regularly. He is on special vitamins twice daily and will be for probably the rest of his life.
He loves his new sister and plays with her in the ferret room all the time. He even gives her a bath! Shivers is not sure if she likes this treatment from her big brother, but I think she is getting used to the idea. Phoenix loves these new treats that I got for him. They are these little peanut butter disks. He will do *anything* to get some of them!
May 4, 1999.
Sir Phoenix has gained a lot of weight in the past month or so. He is no longer living on a teaspoon of food a day. He eats a normal, ferret-sized amount of dry Marshall's Ferret Food. He is still on his vitamins and is taking them daily. Other than that, he is a perfectly normal ferret. When I took him into the ferret room to play this morning I also took the video camcorder in and got some wonderful pictures of him. So as soon as I convert them over to computer format I will post them on my web site.
It has almost been one year since Sir Phoenix came to live with me. As I look back through the old journal entries and as I look at his old pictures, I cannot believe how much this little ferret has changed in the short year that I have owned him. He looks different, acts different, plays differen and is a totally different ferret now that he is a happy, thriving boy.
May 22, 1999.
Happy Anniversary!
Today was Sir Phoenix's one-year anniversary. I can't believe that I have had him this long. It seems like just yesterday that he came home to live with me. He is so happy today. I gave him his favorite treats, his favorite dinner and he got to play in the ferret room with his favorite toys. He has improved so much over the past year. He seems like a totally different ferret.
September 14, 1999.
It has been so long since
I have updated this journal! Not much has changed with Phoenix over
the summer. He is about 4 lbs. now and thriving. He learned how
to roll over when I ask him to, he plays tug-of-war with an old sweatshirt
sleeve, and he runs around the ferret room like a wild ferret!