Emotional Support Animals

Ferrets are not commonly thought of as emotional support animals, but their kind hearts, social nature and silly personalities actually make them incredible therapy pets. The ferret-human bond is a relationship like no other. While we know that ferrets can make you feel better when you are blue, they sometimes can quite literally save someone’s life. Just as Eva saved Gavyn’s in our cover story, these are stories from our #FeatureFerret requests on Facebook that display the undeniable connection these ferrets and their owners share.

MACIE JANE

I have three ferrets, but this boy is special. He’s my first ferret, my heart ferret, my literal best friend. My boyfriend got him for me to help me heal from a miscarriage. I was struggling mentally, which started to make my physical health decline. Sometimes I couldn’t eat for days at a time and shower even less than that. I was a mess. My boyfriend took me to a Petco, and I went there with the intention of getting a guinea pig. I just wanted a little life to take care of. So we get to the pet store and started to walk past the ferret enclosure, and I’ll never know for sure why, but I stopped in my tracks and doubled back to the ferrets. This dude was just staring at me. There was something in his eyes that stunned me. It was like he knew who I was, and I knew him and had known him forever. I asked the pet store employee to get him out for me. As soon as Willie was plopped into my arms, I knew he was supposed to be with me. We’ve been inseparable ever since. He’s my shadow. He follows me everywhere. Anytime I’m down, he knows exactly what I need. He constantly makes me laugh with his heathen antics, and he provides me with so much love and comfort. As melodramatic as it sounds, without Willie, I probably would not have made it out of the hole my miscarriage left me in. He saved me. He gave me purpose again. I like to think he was sent to me by my angel to watch out for me. He’s the most wonderful little soul I have ever known, and I feel so blessed to be his mama.

RACHEL KING

This is Cheetos. My husband got him last Christmas. He is our support animal because my husband travels for his job about 70% of the time. He keeps me company when I am alone and is great stress relief for my husband when he is home. I send him pictures and videos of the cute things Cheetos does when my husband is away. We love our little man!

MINDY CORDER

This is Delilah. I got her two years ago after I lost my cat of 8 years. She has helped me go through the grieving process. Night is our special time to bond, where she lies on my chest and I rub her face and legs and she falls asleep on me. I treasure every moment.