Vicious and scary or just cute and cuddly ferrets? - SLIDESHOW
THEY may look vicious and a bit scary - but ferrets are really cuddly. At least that's what Sheffield couple Dean and Debbie Wain say - and they should know.
The Wains, from Popple Street, Grimesthorpe, are the man and wife team behind Ferret Hutch Rescue - an organisation which cares for ill and abandoned ferrets.
At the moment they have 34 of the hairy beasts - 15 of their own and nine which they are looking to rehome.
Dean, aged 32, who works as a security guard at the Northern General Hospital, has been caring for ferrets for years.
And he fully recommends them as pets.
"Some people think that ferrets bite and scratch but ours are all very friendly," said Dean.
"We wouldn't allow one to be rehomed if it was likely to bite someone."
Working with the RSPCA, the couple take lost, found and injured or unwanted ferrets.
Dean said: "Some of them have been very badly treated and are quite poorly. One we are caring for at the moment had been kicked and punched and was in a very sorry state.
"Once they are well enough we try to find them owners but if we are unable they stay here.
"Before we rehome them we do home checks and ask the new owners to sign a contract stating they must register the ferret at a vets and get them castrated or neutered and microchipped within six months."
Debbie, 21, who is studying business law at Sheffield Hallam University, is caring for a one-year-old ferret called Storm.
She said: "Normally we feed the ferrets on special biscuits and small animal milk but as Storm is quite poorly I have to hand feed her every four hours.
"Thankfully she is sleeping for the best part of the night."
Debbie said ferrets are "a bit like a cross between a cat, a dog and a rabbit".
She added: "They're very cuddly, you can keep them inside or outside the house in a hutch and they love to play, especially with our two dogs.
"I just love to cuddle them and they really like it too."
If you can offer a ferret a home give Dean and Debbie a call on 0114 328 3540.
Log on to www.theferrethutch.com for further information.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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