Vent Have to give my ferret back.

Discussion in 'Brainbent' started by ChelG, Jan 12, 2022.

  1. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    I already kinda went through all the possible pet types I could have and they all have drawbacks. The ones I could best live with are ferrets and cats, and I'm not allowed cats in my flat. I've had rats before and they chewed off half a foot of wallpaper and died in what felt like about five minutes. Rabbits are so fragile I'd be terrified of frightening one to death by accident and it's hard to litter-train them, and I used to volunteer at a guinea pig shelter and I loved them but I really couldn't handle living with the noise, and they and chinchillas also have the gnawing problem. I'm not allowed dogs either and they fuck with my sensory processing issues anyway, and reptiles and fish aren't exactly much for emotional support.
     
  2. KarrinBlue

    KarrinBlue Magical Girl Intern

    The rats chewing through wallpaper sounds like a problem with their enclosure? But if you're having trouble keeping pets generally in a safe area, it might be worth trying to figure out what kind of habitat you need? Also, I think probably no pets are going to start out being good for emotional support - I think most of them need that from you first, then they start giving it back once they know that you're a safe person to be around.
     
    • Agree x 1
  3. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    The wallpaper chewing was during free-range time, their cage was fine but they need roaming time outside it. And I'm aware of that, but I'm planning for long-term emotional support - reptiles don't usually ever provide that.
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2022
  4. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    Messaged the breeder, ferret is happy. I'm not upset about him specifically anymore, just kind of wrecked in general. I think this triggered a general mood downswing and it's gonna last a while.
     
  5. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    Going to talk to rescues about fostering ferrets to see if I can cope with them. I probably just need to build up confidence. If I really can't deal with them I don't know what I'll do, but I'll deal with that if it happens.
     
  6. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    Right now I don't think I can deal with ANY pet.
     
  7. rats

    rats 21 Bright Forge Shatters The Void

    yeah its good to take a break to recoup and reasses right now. in the longer run, it might be worth seeing if your landlord will allow a cat with a therapist/doctor note? my apartment allowed cats with heavy fees but because i emotionally need my cat (true) my psych wrote me a letter describing why i need the cat and all the fees were waived, that's pretty standard in the US but im not sure about the UK :( but it does seem like cats are a better fit in general, they're lower maintenance than ferrets imo and you dont have to worry about finding a vet that will take cats the way you have to worry with ferrets
     
    • Agree x 2
  8. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    I had to spend months and months nagging the landlords over ferrets because the contract didn't specifically say I could have them, I don't think they'll take kindly to doing the same with cats when the contract specifically bans those. Also, all my local family members have dogs so no one could help me by taking temporary custody of a cat if I was sick or anything, and my sister is violently allergic to them. She doesn't visit me so I could handle that by changing clothes before visiting her, but it's still extra hassle.
     
    • Witnessed x 1
  9. TheOwlet

    TheOwlet A feathered pillow filled with salt and science

    okay so this is going to come off a bit harsh, but: from knowing people who foster animals, and from having had formerly fostered animals: i feel like that's a terrible idea. Rescue animals have a higher chance of having behavioural issues like aggression or fear. They're potentially going to be a lot more fragile than a well-adjusted animal from a reputable breeder, never mind potential health issues.
    People who foster animals are going the lord's work, and it's not just in feeding and housing these animals, it's in assessing what sort of person this animal could fit with, and making the first inroads towards the stage where an animal CAN be a companion animal to begin with.

    Fostering animals is NOT the beginner's stage of animal keeping, it's the super advanced course.
     
    • Agree x 3
  10. KarrinBlue

    KarrinBlue Magical Girl Intern

    Volunteering to see if they're a good fit sounds like a good idea, but I think rescue animals are probably going to be in need of even more support without giving much back? They tend to be very stressed and suspicious of other people, since they're rescues. And a foster wouldn't be a good choice for emotional support even then, because part of your job would be to let go of them.
     
    • Agree x 1
  11. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    Okay, thanks for telling me. There is no suitable animal rescue within easy travelling distance of me, though. We had to make special day trips to go see the breeder, the closest ferret rescue is two hours away on public transport and I have no car, and the cat rescues in the area are fostering only with no central animal-keeping location. There's a ferret breeder in the area but she doesn't want people coming and going because ferrets can spread COVID.
     
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2022
  12. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    There is a dog rescue, but as I said I do not want nor enjoy being around dogs.

    Demonstrating I can't deal with animals at the moment, I had one of my black mood days where I could barely even get up, but it was caused by the prospect of never having animals :( I know I'm not ruling them out forever, just for now, but delayed gratification is hard. I think I need to talk to a professional about all this.
     
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2022
  13. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    Asked the two-hours-away one if they have volunteer openings. Can't make it daily or anything, but monthly or fortnightly could be fine and it'd give me a chance to read on the bus.
     
  14. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    Asking the rescue if they'd have a problem with me taking one on a trial basis to see what living with it is like. I'm sure this can't be the only time this has happened, or will happen in the future. Trouble is it might be a problem for the animals. I don't know how well ferrets deal with separation from someone they've only known a short time.

    Cleaned up a ton of trash, makes me feel a little more in control.
     
  15. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    Nearby rescue has some already-nip-trained ones. I'm at least going to go and handle them and think about things.
     
  16. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    Found source for rescue ferts which are a bit older and already neutered and nip-trained. Cautiously hopeful.
     
  17. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    Obtained said older rescue ferrets on a trial basis. Will see how it goes.
     
  18. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    You might all be right. I had a very severe emotional breakdown this week and having animals here is stressful and I don't know if it's just newness or if I genuinely can't handle it. I can't exactly just send them back till I get used to the idea. I don't know how long a chance I should give it.
     
  19. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    I'm not good at telling when I just need to get used to a thing and when I need to quit.
     
  20. ChelG

    ChelG Well-Known Member

    I wish there was some way to know which option would have a better outcome. I hate the idea of giving up on pets but I don't know if I can handle responsibility.
     
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