Ferrets Quarterly - Fall 2020 - Issue No. 4

A publication of MARSHALL PET

F E R R E T S Q U A R T E R LY | FA L L 2 0 2 0 | I S S U E N O . 4

MEET FELIX

M R S . M C D O U G A L’ S C L A S S R O O M PET HELPS KIDS THROUGH IN-PERSON A N D D I S TA N C E L E A R N I N G

THIS YEAR’S TOP GIFTS FO R F E R R ETS AN D F E R R ET OWN E R S

FERRET PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS WITH THE MARSHALL FERRET P R O F E S S I O N A L P H O TO G R A P H E R

2 | F E R R E T S Q U A R T E R LY F E R R E T S Q U A R T E R LY | FA L L 2 0 2 0 | I S S U E N O . 4

FEATURES

From developing the best practices for breeding, to developing the freshest and highest quality nutrition, to creating a catalog of products to fulfill all aspects of the ferrets’ lives and behaviors, the ferrets have guided our efforts. Our company of ferret enthusiasts works to engage and educate every household that chooses a ferret to be part of their family with the knowledge we have learned.

4

MEET FELIX

12

THIS YEAR’S TOP GIFTS

11

FERRET PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

Felix is Mrs. Mc’s Pre-K class pet.

Get a peek into his story and how he interacts with the children both in person and online.

AMANDA ALTMAN Editor AAltman@MarshallPet.com T

Start your holiday shopping early with Marshall’s top picks for ferret owners and their pets. Many of our top picks are fun for pets of all species in the family.

You’ve seen her creative photography on our Facebook page and in our infamous calendar. Get tips from Dietra Jo DeRose on getting good shots of your fuzzy friends.

800. 292. 3424

ABOUT THE COVER

Mrs. Carissa McDougal is a Pre-K teacher in Georgia. After owning ferrets as a young woman, she decided to get a ferret for her Pre-K students. Introducing the ferret to her own children at home helped to train Felix to be friendly with the students in school. Get the full story on page 4.

MARSHALL PET PRODUCTS Wolcott, NY 14590 Monday – Friday 8am–4pm www.MarshallPet.com E

T 800. 292. 3424 ferrets@MarshallPet.com FB @MarshallPetFerrets

MEET TIFFANY IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Tiffany works to keep the retail shelves stocked with your favorite products and helps to design and create the new products we release every year. Her seven years of working for the ferret experts has made her a ferret lover. Tiffany’s family welcomed Kodo and Podo as their ferret companions back in June of this year.

The adorable duo often model new products on our packaging and keep us entertained at our desks.

REGULARS 7

NEWS FROM HQ

8

ASK THE VET

9

ASK A FERRET

13

DIETRA’S PHOTO

14

#FELFIEFRIDAY

15

#FEATUREFERRETS

FA L L 2 0 2 0 | 3

LETTER FROM the PRESIDENT

I

can’t believe that it’s the end of the year already! This strange environment has made it feel like simultaneously the longest and shortest year ever.

As we look forward to 2021, we are planning to continue to bring you valuable information about the lifestyle of living with ferrets, share adorable photos from our ferrents and create awesome products both humans and ferrets love. In the new year we hope to become a resource for more ferret owners, both new and experienced, and increase education about ferret ownership within the community. You can help and contribute by following, liking and sharing our posts on Facebook @MarshallPetFerrets.

We rarely start a new year without a reflection on where we’ve been. While 2020 has proven to be a wild ride, it is nothing compared to the 80+ year history of our company. This shot is of me back in the early 90s when we were just launching ferret products into the marketplace.

We were determined to spread our knowledge and love for ferrets to a greater population.

Today ferrets are the number three most popular domestic pet in America! We knew you would love them as much as we do.

This issue is a celebration of all we have worked for over the past 12 months. It completes our first year of the publication as we continue to showcase our ferret families with pride. Meet Felix on page 4 is a heart-warming story about a classroom ferret. If you are a teacher or work with children in any capacity, you will relate to Mrs. Mc’s PreK class. And as you gear up for our yearly costume contest (back cover), grab some tips on taking the winning photo from Dietra Jo DeRose, our ferret photographer, on page 12. The holiday season prompted Ask the Vet (page 8) to compile some good reminders of how to best keep your pets safe.

More than anything, this time of year reminds us to be grateful for all we have. We are so thankful for all of you, our ferret-loving community. We asked you what your ferret would be thankful for and you delivered! Check out the responses on page 9’s Ask a Ferret.

Get a head start on your holiday shopping list with 2020’s Hottest Gifts for Ferrets and Their Owners on pages 10 and 11. Be sure to share your photos with the #MarshallFerretHoliday on Facebook and Instagram.

From our family to yours, thank you and cheers to a fertastic new year!!

Sincerely, Peter Reid

4 | F E R R E T S Q U A R T E R LY

By: Carissa McDougal

Meet Felix, MRS. MC’S

Class Pet Hi there,

my name is Carissa McDougal. My Pre-K classroom calls me Mrs. Mc.

I had a pet ferret when I was a teenager. His name was Mika and he was by my side through high school, college, and the first couple of years into my married life. He lived with me at college, where I taught him to roll over as a psychology project using Pavlov’s dog. When I entered into early childhood education, the thought of once again having a ferret, this time as a class pet, really intrigued me.

FA L L 2 0 2 0 | 5

After speaking with Denice at Marshall’s a few times early in spring 2020, we were able to make that a reality. I was so excited to introduce this class pet to our students. We talked about ferrets and watched videos about them. The kids were so anxious for his arrival.

Then, in March, our school had no choice other than to close due to COVID. Hoping we would reopen after a short break, I proceeded in getting a ferret for the class.

He stayed with my family in our home while we anxiously awaited the return to school.

We named him Felix C. Ferret. The C standing for nothing other than COVID of course. So, Felix COVID Ferret joined my family. My 6-year-old twins, Jaxtin & Adalynn love him. He is absolutely adorable!

Weeks out of school turned into months stuck at home, and before we knew it the school year was over.

I was so disappointed my class kids were not going to get to enjoy time with Felix. I shared photos, videos and Zoom calls featuring Felix with my Pre-K kids.

While we awaited the hopeful return of the 20202021 school year, I trained Felix to roll over just as I had done with Mika. We worked on behaviors with him and trained him with small children, seeing as I have two young children myself. Finally, we received word that we would be returning to school in fall 2020!

We began the school year with modifications as many schools have: social distancing, masks and lots of hand washing. But the moment the kids saw this mysterious animal next to my desk, they were such curious little kids.

Most of them, if not all of them, had never seen a ferret before. They asked so many questions: What is he? Is he a hamster? What does he eat? Where does he go to the bathroom? Can we hold him? Once we got through answering all of their questions, I introduced Felix to the class. Their eyes got big and their sweet little faces just lit up. Some wanted to touch and hold him right away, while others were a little more timid. But for the most part, the curiousness overcame the fear.

We talked about how to hold him and pet him and decided we should pass him around. Which anyone that knows ferrets can probably figure that he squirmed his little wiggly self away from a few of the kids. Which turned into me and the other teacher, Mrs. Zoe, chasing

him throughout the room, behind the bookcases, into the cubbies, and so on until we caught him. The kids thought it was just hilarious.

Over the past few weeks, Felix has really bonded with some of our children. We have a child that gets overwhelmed easily that has really taken to Felix. Felix helps calm him down, and he looks forward to seeing Felix every day.

Some students have gotten the opportunity to feed him as well as give him treats when he rolls over.

We have an old claw-foot bathtub in our room that we use as a reading center. The kids love to climb in there and play with Felix. It is a space we can easily contain

him in while the kids get to enjoy playing with him, giving him his toys and occasional cuddles.

Felix goes home with me every day after school.

At home, he gets some time to run around more freely and have a bigger space to relax. It’s his home, but he is almost just as cozy at school. He has his yellow banana hammock there that he loves to sleep in and hide from the kids. We usually get him out during social time. But his home is right next to our block center, so occasionally they like to share the blocks they are building with Felix.

It doesn’t bother him one bit. But he will try to pull things from them through his cage and hide them under his blankets.

The kids in my class are 4 and 5 years old. They truly love having Felix. They can sometimes get a little excited and hold him a little too tight. It is important to make sure that they are being observed when playing with Felix at all times. They do require more care than a typical class pet, but it is absolutely worth it! I love that the kids have a class pet they can interact with, cuddle and love on. Felix has been an absolute joy to them.

In this age range, and even into kindergarten and first grade, kids thrive on these types of interactions.

They teach responsibility, social and emotional skills, and not to mention, how many kids get to say they have a ferret in their classroom? If there are any teachers out there contemplating getting a ferret as a class pet, take it on! Immerse your kids into all of it. They are only this small once and the pure joy you get to experience makes it even that much more purposeful.

FA L L 2 0 2 0 | 7

NEWS FROM HQ

Here we are in September of 2020 and over seven months into COVID-19!

The global pandemic has turned the pet industry upside down for many reasons; however, we see no slowing down of sales or demand! Of course when this all started, our crystal ball was in the shop for repairs and we never saw it coming.

Typically, June, July and August are three of the slowest sales months of the year, but not in 2020! The demand for our ferrets, diet, supplements, litter, and fan-favorite toys and accessories has never been higher.

Like most of the industry, our company is struggling from supply chain issues around the world. All we can do is thank you for your loyal support and patience as we all navigate these difficult times together.

This virus won’t last forever! If you are seeing empty shelves and petters in stores, know that we are working very hard to get our stock levels back up to 100% as soon as possible.

While industry shows have been canceled until 2021, we are still making and releasing new products! Products you have been waiting for since you’ve seen them in the first stages of prototyping back in 2019, like the Better View Gate and our Fresh and Clean Litter from the Global Pet Expo back in February, are now available at select retailers. Our new cage system includes connections for our playpen and thru-ways.

All of these can be found on pages 10 and 11. If you ever want to share an idea you have for a product, we would love to hear it!

Private message us @MarshallPetFerrets on Facebook.

This issue starts one of the most exciting quarters for us at Marshall. We celebrate all season long starting with our Ferret Costume Contest in October.

Celebrate the holiday seasons with us!

Thank you for your long-standing support of our company and our animals.

Paul

Some of you have called to inquire about the so-called ferret shortage. I am here to tell you that there isn’t one. We have ferrets!

The lack of animals in your stores is due to a couple of reasons. Paul had mentioned that this pandemic has turned the pet industry upside down. A major issues that we are having is that we are simply unable to get ferrets to some of our more rural customers. And in other cases we are dealing with changes in store or distributor policies that limit or prohibit the sale of live animals due to COVID. This, combined with the clear spike in demand, and it would appear that there is a shortage! We understand the concern.

If you are looking to add a ferret to your family, we are here to help if we can. The best resource is our online Find a Ferret tool. You can find it on our website www.MarshallPet.com. Simply type in your ZIP code and the Find a Ferret button and a list of retailers that carry live animals will be provided.

Please give them a call before you visit. Inventory moves fast. If they say there is a waiting list, we encourage you to get on it. If there are multiple locations with waiting lists, get on them all. And know that we are most likely doing all we can in that area.

If you have a local pet store that carries live animals and you don’t see ferrets, ask them about getting Marshall ferrets. They can get information from their distributors or ask them to give us a callus a call at 800.292.3424 and we will get them all set up in our system.

Under these circumstances, we simply cannot take special requests for genders, colors or patterns. Special orders cannot be placed at the store level or directly with Marshall to arrive at any retail location.

Marshall will only sell to professional pet retailers. A customer cannot call our customer service line, order and pay for a ferret, and get it delivered to their door. Our ferrets must arrive at a safe pet facility by experienced pet handlers.

To all of the new ferret owners out there, thank you for welcoming these amazing little creatures into your lives. We encourage you to learn all you can about your new pet. It isn’t a dog or a cat... that’s for sure! The Ferrets for Dummies book is a solid quick resource to get some high-level instruction on caring for your pet. Picking up this publication is an awesome start, too. Know that if there is ever a burning question you can’t find the answer to or you would just like some additional insight, please give us a call at 800.292.3424!

Denice

Paul touched a little bit on supply chain issues, but we are starting to see things happen a little quicker as businesses across the globe are beginning to get back up to speed. As mentioned, the Better View Gate is now available, and that has been in the works for quite awhile. And you can now get the Fresh and Clean Litter at select retailers!

I couldn’t be more excited for all of the new products we have rolling out now. Improvements to our Octo-play and new Hide-N-Play toys are in development. We’ve also formulated two new canned diets — one with lamb and one with turkey (page 8)! Be sure to take a peek at 2020’s Hottest Gifts for Ferrets and Their Owners on pages 10 and 11 for more.

The holiday season is my personal favorite. As a new ferret owner, I am going to be looking at our family decorations and toys with a much more discerning eye. I encourage all of the new ferret families to do the same.

Best wishes for a very happy and healthy holiday season!

Tiffany

8 | F E R R E T S Q U A R T E R LY

Ask the VET Over the next few months we will be celebrating a number of holidays. Traditional foods, decorations and plants can sometimes be harmful to your pets.

Make sure your space is safe when your ferrets free roam with these timely reminders. As always, keep your ferrets in a ferret-proof cage when you have guests over. People that are unfamiliar with your pets may not know how to handle them or forget they are even around. When the numbers climb in your house, it may become more difficult to keep track of your ferret. A few safety measures will ensure your ferret stays happy and healthy. Happy holidays and merry New Year!

THANKSGIVING

HALLOWEEN Costumes

Food

Whether you are dressing you or your ferret, make sure that all embelishments are well attached. Ferrets are known for gnawing off gems, buttons and charms.

While it is very tempting to share your holiday meal with your little buddy, we highly recommend you do not. People food isn’t created for the delicate digestive system of the ferret.

• •

Dressing your ferret can be lots of fun, but do so carefully.

Getting those wiggly, fuzzy noodles into a costume can be a challenge. Patience will ensure you are not hurting your ferret as you dress them.

•

The fitting of the ferret costume is important. Make sure that there are no pieces of the costume that are too restrictive or could cause a problem with your ferret getting stuck.

Candy

• The more candy you can get the better! But make sure it is properly put out of your ferret’s reach. Sugar can be very dangerous ingested in large quantities. Chocolate and nuts could cause a variety of medical issues, and the wrappers could cause blockage.

•

A ferret-proof cabinet would be best for your sweet haul.

Stash it as they would their little treasures, where they could never get it.

• You may be opening and closing your door a lot to happy trick-or-treaters this year. Make sure your ferret is safely put away so the curious fuzz-butts don’t make a run for it.

•

While they should ideally never be left unsupervised wearing their costume or with your candy, taking the extra measure to make sure that your ferrets are safe and secure could make all the difference.

•

•

Yes, even turkey can be harmful to your ferret if it is cooked with certain spices or vegetables.

•

If you’d like to include your ferret in your holiday meal, we suggest creating a Thanksgiving meal for your ferret with our Premium Diet topped with our new canned diets in Original Chicken, Chicken with Lamb, and Chicken with Turkey.

DECEMBER HOLIDAYS The end of the year celebrates traditions from all cultures. Be aware of the foods, plants and decorations that can be harmful to your ferrets.

Food

•

Again, sharing with your ferrets should only be done with a ferretfriendly meal. Many spices and vegetables could cause serious medical issues for your ferrets.

Plants

•

Lilies, poinsettias, mistletoe and cactuses of all kinds can be dangerous if ingested. While pretty to display during the holiday season, make sure that they are high enough away from your ferret’s reach.

Decorations

•

Gift wrapping and tree trimmings are hazardous to your ferret! They love to climb the tree and steal the treasures from the branches.

Glass bulbs and small pieces can be dangerous to your ferrets if ingested. Not to mention the problem that small, sharp pieces could cause for them if the decorations broke.

•

DID YOU KNOW?

Ferrets have a very in-tune emotional intelligence. That is why they come to comfort you when you are sad. They know and care.

Don’t use tinsel! For the same reasons you don’t want your cats and dogs to ingest the tinsel, you don’t want your ferret to do it either. The medical bills and harm caused to your ferret isn’t worth it.

FA L L 2 0 2 0 | 9

Ask a FERRET Our community is so loving and supportive of each other. So many of you have shown your affection for these sweet pets time and time again with adorable photos, silly stories and charming antics. For this issue, we wanted to know,

What would your ferrets be thankful for?

Jay Hufty I am pretty sure Keiko Jane would give me a big thank you for rescuing her when I found her scared and hiding under a ramp to a house two years ago. She just sat there and let me pick her up and take her home to Fert-Topia. She is a very happy and energetic girl.

Stephanie Currier All my ferrets come from irresponsible, neglectful and abusive owners. Mine would say. “Thank you for the warm blankets, clean beds, healthy food and tender scratches. Thank you for rescuing me!”

Sherry LaDuca They would say thank you for a good spoiled life, with lots of attention, treats and toys.

Alicia Smallwood Williams Thank you for putting those white pads down for me to tunnel and play under and for allowing me to poop on the bare floor in the opposite corner!

Krystal Gransbury My Mocha would thoroughly thank me for her snackies. She’s always begging for some, she’s so food motivated. She’d probably profess her undying love to me for being the giver of the snackies. My Latté, on the other hand, loves to play fight and jump at me when I instigate her. She loves it cause her BFF Mocha likes to eat and chill, she doesn’t play fight with Latté much so her human has to provide some play time for Latté.

Amber Burgess I think my Pixie would thank me for driving three hours from PA to NY to pick her up during the COVID ferret shortage and giving her a great home. I would like to thank her for helping heal my broken heart after my little soul mate Bandit crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Tessy Weigold Thank you, Mommy, for kisses when we wake up and at bed time. Thank you for the Duk Soup and Bandit treats, especially the bunch you give us when Dad is not home.

Thank you for not putting us in a cage and letting us free roam in your bedroom and sometimes the whole apartment. We enjoy snuggling with you in your bed.

Thank you for taking care of us when we are sick. Thank you most of all for your love, attention, allowing us to explore and spoiling us.

Shona Busch Chupacabra would thank me for keeping her even though she’s a bit of a biter. Love all my babies. They are my lil’ loves.

Anni Chance Thank you for rescuing us, loving us no matter what, and making our lives worth living.

Elle Stanwood My baby was underweight and being handled roughly by unsupervised children when I rescued him. — “Thank you Mama for getting me away from the grabby hands and only giving me soft warm snuggles, and for getting me onto a delicious balanced raw diet!” And my girl would definitely say, “Thank you for taking me from your coworker who had me living in a hamster cage, on nothing but Tidy Cat litter, eating Meow Mix and living in their dark storage shed.”

1 0 | F E R R E T S Q U A R T E R LY

Octo-Play With five tunnels, eleven openings and a cozy cave in the middle, this plush toy will have more than a few ferrets busy for awhile.

Ferret Shark Hide-N-Play Ferret Shark Hide-N-Play gives your ferret a fun place to burrow and snuggle.

Openings in the front and back make it perfect for a couple of ferrets.

2020’S

HOTTEST GIFTS FOR FERRETS AND THEIR OWNERS

Marshall Fresh & Clean Ferret Litter Marshall Fresh & Clean Ferret Litter is a dustfree and no-additive paper pellet made from virgin cellulose fiber. 400% more absorbent than traditional litters and with natural odor control.

24” Ferret Swimming Pool 24” Ferret Swimming Pool is an awesome gift year round with many uses indoors and out.

Pop-N-Play with Extra Balls The 8 Panel Play Pen (middle) is equipped with the Pop-N-Play with Extra Balls (below), Super Thru-Way (left), 2-Cup Capacity Snap ’N Fit Food Bowl and High Back Litter Pan with Marshall Premium Ferret Litter.

8 Panel Play Pen The new and improved 8 Panel Play Pen features secure Thru-Way connector openings and Mansion door connector openings to expand your ferrets’ safe space. The matching Play Pen mat is sold separately.

Get two and have a canopy on top to help contain those special flying ferrets.

Leisure Lounge This Leisure Lounge is available in Nylon and Fleece.

Folding Mansions Folding Mansions come in three sizes to accommodate any area.

All mansions feature secure thru-way connector openings and play pen connector openings to expand your ferrets’ safe space.

Ferret Finder Collar Ferret Finder Collar connects to your mobile device via Bluetooth® technology to keep track of your business.

1 2 | F E R R E T S Q U A R T E R LY

FERRET PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS Photography has long been a passion of mine. When I became a pet parent, they became my inspiration and my subjects.

Photographing animals and children pose a few challenges. I often get asked how I get my pets to sit still long enough for a crisp shot. Here are some tips:

PATIENCE is the most important

aspect of taking a good photo with pets. If the animals aren’t in the mood to cooperate, then it’s best to come back to it at a later time. When the subjects aren’t into the shoot, you will see it in the photos. It takes time to get that perfect shot, and it can take many frames to get the photo you are looking for.

Sometimes you will get lucky in the first couple of takes, but most good shots are the result of time and patience.

FUN is the second most important

element to a great shoot. When taking photos of animals, remember to keep it fun for both of you. I like to use treats or favorite toys while shooting. If your pet is having fun ,then you will see their personalities shine in your pictures! A lighthearted environment with treats and toys keeps your pets entertained and makes it easier to get their attention when you want it.

EQUIPMENT can make capturing your quick little subjects much easier.

It is very hard to get a photo of a ferret with the camera on your phone. Ferrets are inquisitive animals and very quick to move onto something else. Be ready to snap a shot before they move at the last second resulting in a ferret-shaped blur! If you have a DSLR camera, you will have a better chance of creating more detailed photos. This type of camera also has extra settings that can be used for action shots. The quicker shutter speed gives you a better chance of catching those moments before your ferret is ready to run off on his or her next adventure. I have been using a Canon 800D.

TREATS & PRAISE will make your photoshoot a positive experience in their memory and help to train them to better behave for you in front of the camera.

When taking photos of pets, it’s always good to have their favorite treats. This reward for doing a good job will be something they look forward to. The positive reinforcement makes taking photographs with animals more upbeat and fun.

POSING & PROPS is not easy, but I find that using props can be a fun and creative way to showcase your pet and your talent. We all know how quick a ferret can move or lose interest, so remember to be patient and ready to snap a shot at any moment. Sometimes it pays off to just let them roam and check out the setup you have. Random shots of your subjects interacting or exploring can make some beautiful photographs. These photos are usually more natural and really showcase their individual personalities.

EDITING can add to the story you

are trying to tell. Aside from making the colors more vibrant or adjusting the brightness, you can get creative.

Adding to the staging of the scene can take an average photo and make it great. Or adjusting colors and using filters could generate a really beautiful and memorable, one-of-a-kind piece of art. Many photo editing tools have a trial version available before you buy.

Make your pets the star of your home and get out there with your cameras!

By: Dietra Jo DeRose

FA L L 2 0 2 0 | 1 3

1 4 | F E R R E T S Q U A R T E R LY

#FELFIEFRIDAY

Der Metzger Meister

Alicia Tomasa Zapata

Brittney Reeves Causey

Brian Schuetz Danyel Soulier

Heather Malisa

Monica Morley

Mikaela VanTassel

FA L L 2 0 2 0 | 1 5

#FEATUREFERRETS

TARA LYNE MURHIB JESS C. STYLES

Sisters.

This is Rambito. He likes to take naps in our mop bucket.

AMY MOULTON Honey Badger and Possum love their canine brother, Chup. This 8-week-old chihuahua puppy has tons of fun playing with these fuzzy noodles.

DANIELLE HARRIS This is Marshmallow and Snickers. Marshmallow is hyper and snickers is calm.

THERESA EATON KARINA RILEY Mia takes on Lake Tahoe! On the Nevada side where she’s legal.

LIZ CLARK Draco Malfoy and Kingsley Shacklebolt enjoy trips to the lake and the beach. They love digging in the sand!

These are our ferrets, Lily and Lola, with my daughter’s Coke sandwiched in between. Lily and Lola were rescues. We drove five hours to get them! Here they are debating whether or not they want to test out the pool. They don’t.

FOLLOW, LIKE AND SHARE our posts on Facebook @MarshallPetFerrets

LUCKY WINNERS will receive one of our brand new Better View Gates, with an MSRP of $99!

All details of the contest will be posted and pinned from Oct. 1 - Nov. 1.

Good luck!

Don’t wait… start planning and snapping pictures now! #FerretCostumes2020