Ferret Experience

Small Pets-Big Hearts, Inc. is currently searching for a person or family that has a lot of ferret experience. As either a foster parent or family or an adoptive parent or family. We recently took in 2 ferrets from a local shelter. They are both 3 years old and are bonded to each other, so they must stay together. Their names are Masi and Beatrice. Beatrice has a history of biting , this is what led her to be transferred to Small Pets-Big Hearts. She has also bitten while in our care. Masi does not bite. Beatrice is a red eyed white ferret. She isn't deaf , but her vision is limited. She bites the most when you enter her cage, especially is she has just woken up. She will take treats gently from your hand, and you can handle her and pick her up while she is munching on a treat. We would also like to see both of them transition to a much better food than what they are eating now. So far, they are stubborn about eating anything else other than Marshall's food.
We would love to have someone take in Beatrice and Masi. Work with Beatrice and hopefully rehabilitate her. Just be forewarned, a bite will happen. Please if you are interested in fostering or adopting these girls, please e-mail us at rachel@smallpets-bighearts.org. Or if you know someone that is full of ferret knowledge and is great with them, please pass the word to them. Thank you.

Mindi's Babies

We have named Momma guinea pig , Mindi. Mindi's skin looks so much better, she doesn't have any scabs anymore, and I can see some fur growing in where she is bald. Her babies are at the point today where all sons need to be taken away from Mom, because they are officially sexually mature. After sexing all 5 babies, Mindi has 4 boys and 1 girl. Her sons are now in a seperate cage from their Mom. And, her daughter is staying with her. Now, I need to come up with suitable names for the babies.
We have a few new arrivals here at the rescue. We have two ferrets that were transferred to us from a local shelter. Beatrice is a 3 year old, white with red eyes, ferret. And Masi is a three year old Sable ferret. Beatrice has a history of biting people. We plan on training and correcting her during her stay at the rescue, and hopefully finding an experienced Foster parent or adoptive parent for her. So far, she is taking ferret treats gently from my finger and letting me pet her white she munches the treat. She does seem to go for my arm when I pick her up. I plan to start picking her up during the sessions with the treats, and hope she will learn that picking up is fun and good. When she attempts or does bite, she will get a "time out" in a carrier. Another new arrival is a female dwarf hamster that was abandoned at a local pet store. We have named her Cici, and she is a friendly and active little gal.
We also have had some adoptions. Mack the hamster was adopted. Sam and Charlie the ferrets. Mona Lisa and Aurora the rats. And Goober the guinea pig were all adopted. Himi the rat and Might Mouse the mouse are now in foster care. And Franklin and Freddie the ferrets, Molsen the ferret and Esmerelda the rabbit are adoption pending.
We have been very busy. But that business is a great thing for all the little ones. We love when they go to their forever homes or foster homes.
Pictured above is Goober the guinea pig. He is now loved by every member of his family.

More Adoptions and a Momma G-pig

Over the week , Sam and Charlie the ferrets were adopted. Rambo the male degu was adopted and also Mira the Holland Lop rabbit.
We also took in a Mom guinea pig and her day old babies. Their previous owner was having difficulty distinguishing males from females and unwanted/accidental babies were being born. Momma has a mite infestation. She is missing a lot of fur, has many scabs on her body and was even bleeding on the day she arrived. She has been treated and looks better already, her sores and scabs are healing. Once her babies are old enough they will also be treated for mites. Her babies are now 6 days old and doing well. Momma is very attentive to them and is taking good care of them. It will be weeks before Mom or the babies are old enough and in good enough health to be adopted.
Pictured above is Mira, isn't she absolutely adorable?

Budha adopted!

I am pleased to announce that Budha the Panda colored hamster has been adopted! Everyone loves him. He is a fantastic hamster, he loves attention and he is very gentle.

More Adoptions and New Arrivals

Over the weekend, we found homes for 4 female mice. Also, Tia and Mia the sister hamsters were adopted by a wonderful family. And Salem the chinese dwarf hamster was adopted. We are happy with their new families. Adopting truly does save lives! :)
We also have 2 new bunnies and 1 guinea pig here at Small Pets-Big Hearts. I am not sure if I have mentioned Esmeralda in the blog yet. Esmeralda is a female Holland lop rabbit. She is a dark brown color with white. She is really sweet and is litter box trained. She will need to be spayed before she is adoptable. Mira the female Holland Lop rabbit also arrived. She is calico colored, she is beautiful and stunning! She is loving her new two level cage she has here at the rescue. She will adoptable very soon. Then yesterday we took in Bella the guinea pig. She is a cream colored piggie girl with pink eyes. She is still getting used to a new environment and home, I know she is a lovely girl.

Derby

Derby the guinea pig had his surgery today. The lymph node abscess was removed, as well as his lymph node. Dr.T wanted to make sure the abscess wouldn't reform. In order to remove all of the abcsess, the lymph node needed to be removed as well. Derby was squeaking and talking in his carrier on the way home. He started eating as soon as he was settled back in his cage. He is still on antibiotics for a while and will have his stitches removed in 10 to 14 days. He has bounced back so well, it's as if he didn't even have surgery this morning :)

Athena

A little less than a week ago we took in two female guinea pigs that were not being cared for by the children they were bought for. After they were surrendered , we instantly noticed that one of them has a head tilt and her left eye is cloudy. The girls came with the names Daisy and Buttercup. I felt that the head tilted girl needed a stronger name to go with her special needs/disability and to help overcome her physical obstacles. I renamed the head tilted girl, Athena. And her cage mate that has no obvious physical ailments ( just overgrown nails that are now trimmed) , Xena. After picking up and watching Athena , we also noticed how thin she is. She also would stay quiet in a corner and breathe heavily. After taking her weight- she weighed 714 grams , an adult female guinea pig should be at least 800 grams or more. Athena saw the vet and was found to have an ear infection, upper respiratory infection, a perforated cornea and angled incisor teeth. Poor girl!! Her eye was punctured and suffered trauma what our vet estimated to be months ago. We cannot do anything for her eye now. It healed the best it could. She may have limited vision, or most likely, no vision out of the left eye. She is now on antibiotics for the ear and respiratory infection. And then she will have dental work once she is feeling better. After three days on the antibiotic I can already see her spirits start to rise. She has more energy, more appetite and she is squeaking and exploring. She has gone from 714 grams to 719 already! I hope that she will steadily gain weight. Our vet said she may loose the head tilt. But, if she had the ear infection for a long time it may stay with her even after the infection is gone. Sometimes there is a residual head tilt even after treatment and good health. I am already completely in love with her. It would be a perfect story for her to be 100 percent healthy and be adopted with her best friend , Xena.