I hate people! Rant.

[sherrylynne]

I just wish I could get my hands on the people who so badly frightened my newest little ferret! She is one of the worst fear biters I've ever come across. I've had several bites to the bone trying to handle her, simply because she's terrified of the human hand. She bites, then tries to get away from whatever is going to happen to her because she bit, but forgets she's still got her teeth in my hand, and gets absolutely frantic because she can't get away! Which in turn causes the ripping and tearing, instead of a clean bite. She wants to play, but doesn't have a clue how to. More than 30 sec. to a minute is way too much stimulation for her, so she bites to get rid of the excess energy. She has no idea how to interact with either people or other animals(but she's learning quickly with the cats . She bothers them- they bop her). The other ferrets terrify her. Doesn't have a clue what a toy is. No idea what they are for, and is intimidated by them if you try to play.
I know this little girl can be brought around. It's going to take a lot of time, patience, love, and pain(on my part ). I actually went out and bought a pair of thick leather gloves to handle her with. First time ever. And I have dealt with nasty biters before.
The worst part is that none of this had to happen. Ferrets are by nature friendly, curious, gregarious creatures. Not frightened, angry, nervous.
I know this is just a rant, and there is absolutely nothing I can do, but it feels better to get it out

[Bonkers]

  Poor Willow. How old is she and do you know anything about her past? I am sure she will eventually come around, it is just going to take time. Thought you might like to know that "I hate people" is unfortunatley one of my favorite sayings.

[sherrylynne]

She is only 5 months old. And all I know of her history is that she has been switched between a few different pet stores because she "didn't sell". I do know that the manager in the store I got her from believes in the "old-fashioned" way of training ferrets, which means flicking them on the nose for biting. A ferret has the majority of their nerves ending in the nose. It is excrutiatingly painful for them to have their nose "flicked". When we got Boris(my first ferret), that's what we were told to do. We didn't know any better, so that's what we did. It turned him into a lunge biter. When we found out how painful it was for them, obviously we stopped, and it took 10 months before he started to trust us again.
I have no idea if she spent 5 months having her nose flicked or not. But whenever I pick her up- she starts to tremble, and quits as soon as I put her back down.

[Bonkers]

   I think you ought to go flick that manager on his or her nose a few times.

[sherrylynne]

Oh, believe me, I wanted to! She actually had the gall to start tapping her on the nose when we were filling out the "adoption" forms! So I told her "Not on the nose". She then started very lightly tapping her on the nose. Now, this little girl was shaking the whole time. At that point, I pulled Willow away, and told the manager again "NOT ON THE NOSE!!! NEVER ON THE NOSE!!!" She just smirked and finished filling in the forms. But she didn't touch her again! If she had, I think I may have decked her B***h.

[Bonkers]

But she didn't touch her again! If she had, I think I may have decked her B***h.

  I do not know how you refrained from doing so.  Is there someone or some agency she could be reported to?

[sherrylynne]

Unfortunately, since this is not considered abuse, no. However, I did write in a major complaint letter to the head office , including what had to have happened to turn a young ferret into such a bad fear biter. I do know that if I get a response, it's only going to be to offer and "exchange" . Like I'd turn her over in any case, let alone send her back to the people who did this to her in the first place!!
Bonkers- thanks for listening. As I said at the beginning, this was just a rant that I had to get out. It literally has me in tears when I think about what would do this to such a pretty little thing.
On the up side, when she bit today, she didn't even break the skin , nor was it more than uncomfortable! And then she let go of her own accord, and ran off to check things out