FERRET TALES

SPRING 2013

PRESIDENT – OWEN MOODY

PRESIDENT – OWEN MOODY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

CHAIRMAN SALLY TRIPP 07903 390980

SECRETARY SUE RILEY secretary@hbferretclub.co.uk (or 07411 127770)

TREASURER SUE NICKELLS 01256 320676

P.R. OFFICER NICK WALKLET pr@hbferretclub.co.uk (or 07771 831013)

MEMBERSHIP SEC. ALAN SPENCER membership@hbferretclub.co.uk (or 07960 291365)

NEWSLETTER EDITOR JOAN JONES newsletter@hbferretclub.co.uk (or 01252 615494)

SHOW MANAGER PAUL TRIPP 07903 390980

MEMBER DAVID JONES 01252 615494

WEB & ASSIST SEC. SIMON ARTHUR webmaster@hbferretclub.co.uk

WELFARE OFFICER RACHEL BRANT welfare@hbferretclub.co.uk

Club Website – www.hbferretclub.co.uk

The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Committee of the HBFC. The Committee and Editor reserve the right to refuse submissions if they are deemed unsuitable for this publication, and amendments cannot be agreed with the author.

The Newsletter (Ferret Tales) is not to be reproduced in part or in full without the written permission of the HBFC Committee via the Editor. Permission must be requested in writing, stating the reason for the request.

If you have any articles, comments or views about ferrets in general, the Club, events or questions on any ferrety subject, please send them to me for inclusion in future newsletters – Ed.

Submission Deadline for the Summer newsletter is 15th May, 2013. Please send your articles etc. to davidjoan22@btinternet.com

Front Cover – Stanley Jones enjoying the snow Back Cover - Oliver Jones prefers lazing in the Spring flowers

Ferret Tales is the regular newsletter of the Hants & Berks Ferret Club.

The club was formed in 1998, has a membership of all ages and backgrounds and is intended for those who keep ferrets as pets as well as for those that enjoy working them. One of the Club’s main concerns is ferret welfare. In recent years ferrets have grown in popularity but the necessary know-how, literature and veterinary knowledge have been slow to keep-up, as their physiology is quite different from other species and, despite being hardy animals, they do have their share of vulnerabilities. Hence a Club main activity is the spread of well informed knowledge and experience and the availability of friendly advice and support in matters of ferret well-being.

An important part of this concern is the provision of financial support for local ferret re-homing groups whose expenses can include the provision of food, suitable housing and veterinary support. With this aim, and as an opportunity to undertake some gentle education of the public, regular ferret racing demonstrations are undertaken during the summer months. This can involve anything from local fetes to county shows and often provides an entertaining and exciting day out for members (and the ferrets too!).

TALES FROM GREEN FIELDS OR CHAIR CHATTER ( gosh, that’s my teeth!) It has been very cold, wet and windy but then the snow? The ferrets loved it! It‘s 2013 already. Here we are my friends, awaiting the start of our year‘s offering of fun, frivolity and ferrets. We had a really successful Jubilee Year thanks to Her Majesty. Every one wanted to have a party and of course they invited us. It seems we made such an impression at some of our first time shows that they have asked us back! This year it is the end of my chairmanship term, 3 years already, and I need to say thank you to all of you for your support and help in making it a success. This last year more money went to rescues than before and with luck, we can carry on doing the same but most importantly, we can spend the year travelling with our ferrets having fun and spreading the word about the amazing pets/companions that they are. The AGM is being held after the Open Show on the 7th April and voting for most of the committee places is on the agenda. Come along make your vote count. BCA is the start of our offical season, hot on the heels of the HBFC 2nd Open Show in April. I will be going home with the best ferrets around again but, I will be honoured to be out and about with you having a good time in great company. Be Well Sally

CLUB NEWS: SUBSIDISED NEUTERING As a way of thanking HBFC members for all of their efforts, and in an attempt to limit unwanted ferret pregnancies, we are in a position to continue to offer subsidised neutering of your ferrets. Please note that this offer only applies to members who have been in the Club for at least 6 months. The cost to you will be £25 per hob and £40 per jill. As long as you contact a member of the committee first, having first got a quote from your vet, we will reimburse the difference. If it is felt that the quote is too high, we may suggest going to one of the many vets we know who are a bit more reasonable with their charges. This continues to be run on a trial basis and if the committee feel it is being abused, the offer will be terminated.

REMINDER - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 2013 Just to remind you, this year we have picked the date of 7th April, 2013, at the Grazeley Village Hall, Grazeley (near Reading), RG7 1LD, (there is plenty of parking) You will see that this is the same date and venue as our Open Show. The AGM will start around 5pm (hopefully the Open Show will be finished by then).

S.T.A.RESCUE – Claire Shuttleworth (Telephone: 01189 690435) NEWS FROM THE RESCUE

It’s been a surprisingly quiet start to the year in the rescue so far. Shouldn’t say things like this, as it’s when the phone starts ringing – in fact, I have 2 boys coming in tomorrow... In the middle of January, we had a call from Companion Care Vets (Pets at Home) in Slough. “Could we take a ferret that had been handed in who was in very bad condition?” Apparently found in a garden shed, she had been brought in. Roy went and got her – and what a sorry

state she was! A sweet little sandy-mitt jill (see left) about 18 months old, what coat she had on her head, tail and legs was ‘summer’ coat – the rest of her was bald patches and ‘bum fluff’. It looked like the worst case of Adrenal you’re likely to see! Amazingly, someone tried to claim her the next day! “I’m phoning for my uncle – he’s at work. His ferret got stolen on Saturday night and the thieves handed her into Pets

at Home – they gave me your number” (Stolen? Handed into a vet? You can only assume it was a ‘rescue’ – if it was true!!) “I did pick one up. Would you like to describe the ferret to me?” “Don’t know, it’s my uncles’ – it’s female”. I told her I had picked up a jill, in such a bad state, she was booked into the vets the next day for tests. Could her uncle phone me after work? “Fine, but I won’t be happy for her to go back, she’s in such awful condition!” Luckily, I never heard another word. Purdey went in for an exploratory/spay – spay if she hadn’t been, implant if she was. I’m pleased to say, she was entire and now spayed. Whether it’s because she was left in season/neglected/stressed – I don’t know, but her undercoat is growing – no guard hairs yet, but hopefully with a spring moult she will be back to being the pretty ferret she once was. I’ll keep you updated.

Claire

ANNUAL QUIZ NIGHT – Saturday 19th January, 2013. It may have been a cold winter’s night outside but inside of the Headley Village Hall it was decidedly sunny and warm. The tables at the end of the room groaned under the weight of all the food goodies and the raffle table housed some super prizes. There was so much catching up to do with friends as most had not seen one another for a number of months. Everybody was invited to “pick out the hat” a piece of paper showing which team they would be allocated to for the quiz; albino, polecat, silver or sandy. The questions had been researched by Neil Brant and Nick Walklet read these out and kept control of the audience! I’m pleased to announce that the raffle (run superbly by Abbie and Siobhan) raised £46 – thank you everybody. The Best Team on the Night were – The Albinos!

The all ladies Albino team (above) are from left to right: Barbara, Sue, Rachel, Claire, Heather and Fiona. As you can see, not only did they receive a medal but they were certified as well! Well done the Albinos.

Joan Jones

TV WITH ALAN TITCHMARSH Who says it is hard being the chairperson? Not me any longer as I spent an afternoon with Alan Titchmarsh and his vet, Steve Leonard at The London Studios in "the smoke" on Monday, 4th February, 2013. Well, it wasn't all plain sailing as my companion for the day, Fiona, had to drag me out of the

cafe as I went "OMG It's Colin and Justin!" She did say gushing wasn't attractive so I resisted the urge to do just that and was lead away and went onwards to reach Him (Alan). We had quite a giggle with the production team as they were not happy about the ferrets being in the green room, (it's a health and safety infringement!) So our roadie (tv technical term) Paul said okay, we will go home then!

Quick back track and found a spot for us and the ferrets in the animal room next door to green room with puppies! Ahhh. The snakes were in the office as the room was full by then. The poor pigeons never left the car until it was almost time to go on!

Rehearsal time. Talk to the man himself, exceptionally nice, friendly and interested in our animals. Purdey took centre stage for this. Stand on this mark, look into the camera, talk, run ferret, No mention of up trousers leg on air anyway, well it makes a change. Did we know the history of ferret racing? Sadly an oversight I didn't, so Steve (first name terms with vet by now) googled it and it came over from USA as the ferrets were used more and more for cable laying etc. and started as in house competions with the owners there, more people heard about it and the sport crossed over the pond, where we have perfected it! We talked to some lovely people. Fiona as always was a star with the PR job, Asbo was hugged and greeted with varying amounts of horror and joy.

Some people have no idea do they of the awesomeness of ferrets? The Stig took it all in his stride, came out was hugged, admired, as is his due and was put back and fell asleep again.

Sally - Ready to meet Alan!

Coleen Nolan, Linda Robson and Danny Dyer were all happy to give them a go. And so to the recording... Alan, Coleen and Steve each handled the ferrets. The race is on Hagrid, Asbo and Purdey each took their places at the starting tube. Do I spoil the surprise and tell you who won? – NO! Sadly the day drew to an end, Alan was still filming as we left after 6pm and we are told that we would be on television on March 21st – tune in and see us!

Sally Tripp UK FERRETS ADRENAL SURVEY 2012 Background From mid-2011 rumours started circulating the ferret owning communities that, due to the high incidence of AD (Adrenal Disease) in ferrets in the UK, veterinary practices around the country would be pushing owners towards chemical neutering instead of the traditional surgical methods. The implant Desloflorin/Supraflorin used in the treatment of AD, as researched and developed by Dr Nico Schumaker in the Netherlands as pallitive care, was now going to be used as the neutering agent in both jills and hobs.

Figures of 6, 7 and 8% incidence (of AD) were being bandied about along with general disbelief that it could be anything like as high as this. Research on the internet didn’t turn up any previous surveys that could have provided these figures except for ones run in the USA. It was now looking like the USA statistics were being used as “proof” of the high incidence of AD in the UK ferret population.

I then decided we needed at least a “ball park” figure to work with and put forward, on the available UK forums, the idea of doing our own survey which was greeted with enthusiasm. To this end I created a simple questionnaire that would cover areas such as housing, neutering and general husbandry so that patterns could be determined and it was circulated via the internet, clubs and shows to as many owners as we could reach.

This survey was not a scientifically benchmarked excercise as I do not have that sort of expertise. The cases of AD noted in the survey were not all clinically proven but, taking the experience of the ferret owners into account, I would say the probability of diagnosis of AD in the animals concerned, especially in its latter stages, has a high chance of being correct.

The Data Pool Of all the questionnaires distributed, granted that we could not reach all UK ferret owners, 43 were returned of which a high percentage were from, but not limited to, Southern England. Rescues were requested to only list those animals who had REMAINED in their care for the duration of their lives and not those adopted on thereby reducing the probability of duplicate reports.

The 43 respondees had an average duration of experience of 18 years and between them had owned 1851 ferrets.

Results Overview Total Ferret Population Surveyed 1851 Incidence of AD in population 44 % Incidence in population 2% Of the 44 AD Animals: Housing Indoors 11 25% Outdoors 23 52% Mixed 2 5% N/A 8 18% The following data had elements not completed or not known by the owners and therefore no percentages could be calculated with any accuracy.

Neutering Timing Neutered under 3 months 0 Neutered at 3-6 months 1 Neutered at 6-12 months 28 Not Neutered 0 Type (where definitive answers were given/known) Surgery Only 24 Jill Jab (Jill Only) 3 Breeding (Jill Only) 0 Vas. Hob (Jill Only) 0 Not Known 0 Chemical Implant ONCE then surgery After 12 months 0 Chemical Implant more than ONCE Before Surgery 0 Surgery then ONE chemical implant 2 Surgery then MULTIPLE chemical Implants 2

Summary So it can be seen that the UK Ferret population has a far lower incidence of AD at 2% than those in the USA (6%). While this is no consolation to those owners whose ferrets suffer

with this disease, it gives the owners a better risk assessment when faced with husbandry choices for their animals.

As it is also known that the implants are EXCELLENT palliative care for those suffering with AD (the authors own 2 ferrets that had AD and lived four further years using the implant and passed away at 7 years and 9 years) the onset and diagnosis of AD is no longer an automatic death sentence.

An Overview by Dawn Bradfield (Jan 2013)

A REMINDER!

HANTS & BERKS FERRET CLUB

Annual Open Show

SUNDAY APRIL 7TH 2013

DOORS OPEN 8.30AM Registration 9am

JUDGING STARTS @10AM

CLASSES ARE; ALBINO HOB/JILL

POLECAT HOB/JILL SANDY HOB/JILL

COLOURED HOB/JILL WORKING HOB/JILL

Not Quite (broken teeth, small tail etc)

DISABLED VETERANS 6YEARS+

£1 Entry per ferret

Per class

RAFFLE REFRESHMENTS RACING FERRET MERCHANDISE

LOCATION : Grazeley Village Hall, Church Lane, Grazeley, RG7 1LD

www.hbferretclub.co.uk

We hope to see you all there, don’t forget, the HBFC AGM follows the Open Show

POLECAT DIARIES – February 2013

Firstly, Happy New Year Polecat lovers! What a start to the New Year it has been at, what I will now refer to as, ‘Polecat Wood’. In the last edition we had settled the polecats in the soft release pen on 14th November and Lily and I were going to the site daily to leave them food for the first week until the release day. Their diet was consisting of rabbit, which our friend shoots and freezes for me, also a few little chicks. On the second night of visiting the Polecats to feed them we discovered that one set had self-released! (Remember, there were two different groups). They had chewed /eaten their way through the wire, however, the group in the main pen were still there and seemed quite happy. The day of the release came around on the 21st November. We aimed to do the release at about 3pm so we still had enough light to modify the cage, whereby we could continue to leave food that the Polecats could access but larger carnivores (mainly foxes) could not. We simply cut a small hole in the wire similar to what the first set of polecats had done when they self released. As always, the moment is quite emotional being both exciting and sad at the same time. The best part is seeing them all enjoy their new environment.

For the next month we continued to visit the site daily to feed and observe the polecats in their new habitat ‘Polecat Wood’. After Christmas from 27/12/12 we reduced the frequency of the visits to every other day. From 2/01/13 the frequency was reduced to twice a week, this was reduced again after a week to once a week. By reducing the frequency of visits it allowed the polecats to gradually become more independent. Left - Posing for the camera. This was taken outside the two original holes, about 5m. away from the release pen

Here are a few of the key things we discovered: 1. The first set of polecats which self released dispersed N.E. further into the wood. 2. When released the second set of polecats remained within a 20m. radius of the release

pen. 3. Between 21/11/2012 and 16/12/2012 we spotted the Polecats on 19 out of 24 visits to the

site. 4. 2 females, Dot and Dori were the most frequently spotted. 5. Females were mostly spotted during the late evening. 6. Males spotted during afternoon times. 7. 90% of their time appears to be spent underground in a vast network of tunnels. 8. Originally two ex rabbit holes were used which rapidly expanded, as the group moved

north 10m. from the release pen to a new den site. 9. The original holes were still used as a look out over the release pen to monitor for food! 10. After the 27/12/2012 the group of 5 appeared to split leaving - 2 jills and 1 hob. 2 other

hobs moved away from the site. 11. The expansion of the tunnel network moved in an Easterly direction towards the edge of

the wood and nearer the open field. 12. When collecting food from the release pen the females were often seen working together.

One would remain in the look out hole whilst the other ran to collect food. On return to the hole the 2nd female would go and collect food. This meant that only one was left in the open at any time.

13. The polecats always use the same tracks between tunnel entrances. They appear to not deviate. The pictures taken in the snow illustrate this very clearly.

Left - On the look-out for food. This male polecat is venturing out of the hole behind him. After this photo was taken he followed a small track to collect food from the release pen.

The next set of photos were taken when there was lots of snow; it provided a great opportunity to see where and how the polecats moved around the area. It highlighted the extent of the polecat’s territory.

Left - Track leading from original holes to the release pen can be seen to the right of the tree.

Right - Movement between two different den entrances can be seen.

Left - This photo was taken from the release pen looking towards the original ex rabbit holes that the polecats used as a den. As the weeks progressed and the territory expanded these holes were used more as look out holes and provided cover whilst they collected food from the release pen. In the next issue I will attempt to map the territory so we can see where all of the den entrances are. This will give us an insight into the polecat’s behaviour. We are also raising money for a night vision camera so that we can observe the behaviour at night of theses remarkable animals. Until next time

Steve

WEEKENDS? WHAT ARE WEEKENDS? WE’LL HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING FERRETY TO DO! Oh no! it’s the end of the ferret racing season, what to do with our weekends? A short time later and with a little help from Google and Google mail, my daughter Rachel had some answers. She’d found some ferret clubs with forthcoming open shows. Our first outing took us to Norfolk and the Cambridgeshire Ferret Welfare and Rescue Society Open Show; the distance meant a very early start for us, Sally(Tripp) and the ferrets. After a long drive, in horrible weather, we arrived early and had a very warm welcome from the Society’s members. The hall was a very large converted barn, the size of which allowed them to move the racing inside. The racing was rather different to what we’re used to, the ferrets were started by their owners and raced along tubes which went up and over a wooden stand. Sally soon made herself useful helping with the racing, catching the ferrets at the exit of the tubes (perhaps she was trying to ear-mark the ones she wanted to steal!!). Also hobs raced hobs and jills raced jills to find the winners. The Race Champion was decided by a race off, hob versus jill. Rufus was the fastest hob on the day. Yes, Alan he got beaten by a beautiful little silver girl called Pudding!! Rachel was naughty at this show, taking home two albino angora cross ferrets, a hob and a jill, both with pedigree papers (oh, very posh!) and a lovely Black Eyed White hob Gabriel. We had a good show, Rachel’s ferret Lucifer was first in the silver hob class and went forward for best in show. Imagine Rachel’s delight when he won. Azriel got a 3rd place; Rocksteadie and Frantic were second in their classes. I was lucky to get a third place with my ferret Frantic! Soon corrected to Frankie after Rachel pointed out that one: Frantic wasn’t a sandy hob and, two: Frantic did not belong to Barbara Jack (his name must have been written down by a man!!).

Rachel loved the angora ferrets; we all had lovely cuddles with some, especially beautiful Trey seen left, owned by Bobbie-Jo Bass. (Photo courtesy of Bobbie-Jo) Our next trip took us to Sussex and the Gem Ferret Care Group Show. Rachel was unable to go, so Neil was ‘enlisted’ to join me. Once again we arrived early and had another warm welcome. There was no racing, but they had some novelty classes, biggest ears, longest tail and teacup ferret and yes the ferret did have to fit into a teacup. Rachel’s ferrets did well again, Mojo and Rocksteadie getting 2nd in their

classes and Gabriel and Peek a Boo winning their kit classes. My ferret Bubbles gained her first class win and became my first ever ferret to go forward to best in show – very exciting.

Then came another trip to Norfolk for the Norfolk and Suffolk Ferret Club Christmas Show. Rachel had spent a couple of evenings making costumes for the ferrets as they had novelty classes – Mr. and Mrs. Claus and Santa’s Little Helper, and also decorating the cage for the best decorated table or cage class. We left this show with Lucifer having won the Mr. Claus class and my Frankie gaining another 3rd place.

(Right) Our cage complete with bauble lights, bells, stockings and a large gift-wrapped box, which Gabriel wrecked within 2 minutes of being put onto the cage We came away from these shows having made some new ferrety friends and also took the opportunity to spread the word about our Open Show in April. We’re hoping to see some of them there. Barbara Jack (with some editorial assistance from Rachel Brant)

Lucifer as Mr. Claus Mojo as Mrs. Claus

Santa's Little Helper - Gabriel

RACING AT HAYES 16th February, 2013 - Weekend for Valentine's Day Mission: Ferret Racing at Hayes and Harlington Conservative Club Team: Rachel and Neil Brant, Barbara Jack, Alan Spencer, Paul Tripp and I

We had 16 finely tuned race ready ferrets - well some of them anyway!

The event manager was waiting for us, he was excited to see us again, as he knew what a good night's enterainment we would provide. The ferrets were set up on their tables waiting for the admiring audience, the race track and barriers all prepared, our betting table done....

The night started with the audience coming in, talking, stroking, and contained anticipation. The 1st race was announced, the ferrets were introduced to the crowd and the auction was on... £1, £2, £5, £8, winning bid, by the time the last ferret was "sold", Benny made £16, so the owners were playing for a £47 pot.

We had 4 races of heats all with the same format, bring out the ferrets, "sell" them and racing for the glory! By the time the final race was announced the bidding for the ferrets was huge, the last owner's pot was £95!

The race tickets were flying off the tables before the races, the winners were popular but we still made £201 for club funds (wow!) Plus attendance fee, so it was a successful night and they are looking to have us back again later on in the year too.

Azriel, Frankie, Ruff and Tiberius raced for the final time, head to head, through the chicane, the tube of doom, the commando crawl, turning circle, check out where the others were and rush back to be the ultimate winner for the night!

And the winner was Azriel!

A good night was had by all.

Mind you Purdey's tv stardom has gone to her head, she wanted her own dressing room (cage) a star on the door, treats and then the Diva didn't race well, stopping every few minutes for her photo shoot opportunities! No wonder she lost her race! (but her Dad still thinks she is the best girl around) Sounds like we will have the Diva to cope with all year!

Sally Tripp FERRET FRIENDLY VETS

Unfortunately, ferret friendly vets are not numerous, however, please see below some tried and tested veterinary practices that certainly make the grade:-

Falkland Veterinary Clinic Carl Gorman or Sue Forester Newbury – Telephone 01635 46565

Kelperland Vets Stephen W Cooke Nr. Holyport – Telephone 01628 624935 / 633973

St. Vincents Veterinary Surgery Michael Morrow Wokingham – Telephone 0118 979 3200

Antonvets (Andover) John Chitty on 01264 729165 (24 hour service)

Clifton Veterinary Surgery

Alton – 01420 82163

Endell Vet Group Salisbury – Telephone 01722 333 291

Purdey - The Diva!

Purdey - The Diva looking at the ferret friendly vets!

Hampton Park Vet Centre Salisbury – Telephone 01722 416 245

Mildmay Vet Clinic Winchester – Telephone 01962 854 088

Nine Mile Veterinary Hospital Tel: 01189733466 - www.ninemilevets.co.uk

Great Western Referrals SWINDON - Tel 01793 603 800 Available 24x7x365 for Emergencies 01793 603 800

St. Kitts Veterinary Centre Hartley Wintney Tel: 01252 844044 Hours: 08.30 -19.30 Mon – Fri and 08.30 – 16.00 on Sat and Sun. Cobham Park Veterinary Clinic Cobham Guy Heilpern on 01932 590022 Mon – Fri 9 – 7 Sat 9 -2

EASIPETCARE 106 Crockhamwell Road Woodley Reading RG5 3JY (Next door to Woodley’s Waitrose!) Tel: 01189 699 526

WHEN YOU ARE ON HOLIDAY

Ferret Rescue Surrey Lily and Steve - Telephone – 0845 837 9695 Ferrets United Cathy - Telephone – 07885 082109 STARescue Claire and Roy - Telephone – 01189 690435 Chez Tripp Sally & Paul Tripp can help with holiday boarding – Telephone – 0118 348 6992

Ferret boarding is usually charged by the day and by the cage. This means that you don’t pay for each of the ferrets housed but if you have a group that live together they would be homed in one cage.

If you know of any other tried and tested ferret friendly vets or ferret hotels, please let me have their details for future inclusion - Ed.

INSERTS

A copy of the Club accounts have been inserted in this newsletter. The Club accounts are for Club members only.

END OF YEAR WELFARE REPORT Well, what a fantastic year we have had! Firstly, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone for their hard work over the season raising money for ferret welfare. It’s been raining constantly, muddy, windy but filled with fun for ferrets and owners! But surely that’s all part of the fun? So how much money have we donated to rescues? The total for 2012 was a whopping £4908.19 - an impressive amount that reflects all the hard work of the season. Where did it go? Well, as everyone is probably aware, we are still working on Surrey Ferret Rescue’s medical room. That seems to be a never ending project but, we are nearly there. This year the supplies have cost us £644.15. I’m sure most people have met lovely Linda Head and at least one of her many, many ferrets from one of her whole “housing estate” of courts. Linda very kindly takes in un-wanted, stray and rescues ferrets, however, they have a tendency to enter one of her vast courts and never leave! We have helped Linda with £127.43 towards veterinary expenses. Next there is Liz and Tony, who officially no longer run a ferret rescue but still seem to be collecting little scraps of fluff. £575 has been given to them to help with vet fees. As many of you may or may not be aware, we also buy bags of ferret food at various points throughout the year and deliver them to various rescue and foster homes, including myself and Paul and Sally. For which I (and I am sure Paul and Sally agree) am extremely grateful for and it helps make fostering financially viable for myself and Neil. The food donations for 2012 totalled £960. At some of the shows that we attend we donate the race money back to them. The total race money returned was £201.61. It was also decided that at the end of the year we would send a cheque for £300 (totalling £2400) to each of the following rescues to be used as they wish within the rescue: Paul Pountain - Avon Valley Ferrets Claire and Roy Shuttleworth - STARescue Cathy - Ferrets United Lily and Steve - Surrey Ferret Rescue Liz and Tony - Berkshire Ferret Rescue Linda Head - Ferrets are Fun Chrissie - Cheshire Ferret Rescue Also to National Ferret Welfare Society (NFWS)

Rachel Brant

Following are some lovely “Thank You” notes we have received regarding our donations:

Top letter from Avon Valley Ferrets Bottom Left - Bennie Lye at NFWS and Bottom Right from Cathy at Ferrets United

Top - Linda at Ferrets Are Fun and Bottom - Camilla at NFWS

Liz & Tony - Berkshire Ferret Rescue

TALES FROM THE FERRET SHED Christmas with the boys was, as always, great fun. Not only did they put up lights and their

socks in the Ferret Shed but, on 12th night they insisted helping take down and pack away the decorations. Yes, it is a thing that nightmares are made of! Not only did Eric (left) knock over a box of assorted Christmas items, drag them out but he then jumped up on to the box and as you can see, it has started to collapse! The one room in the house they are NOT allowed to play in at Christmas is the sitting room which houses the tree. Eric (well it would be wouldn’t it) did manage to rush through my legs one day and in a flash was under the tree sorting through the presents and made it to the bottom branch of the tree – caught just in the nick of time before any real damage was done!

I mentioned in the last edition of Ferret Tales that we had started Wells on Protexin Bio-Premium (probiotics). I would like to report that this appears to be working reasonably well. He gets a teaspoonful morning and evening mixed in his food and I am pleased to announce that his poo is now in good shape!! No longer pure liquid but it has form and on occasions looks normal, something that hasn’t happened for well over a year (apologies if you are reading this at the breakfast table!). On the plus side he is now able to take a mix of lacto-free milk and soya milk (which he absolutely adores) without any adverse results and his weight, although not great, is now fairly constant. Wells will be seven this year and he still insists on rushing around the house and behaving like a kit – wouldn’t have it any other way.

It always amazes me just what food my ferrets will eat outside of the normal dried food. If there is a break-in to the fridge or vegetable drawer then all sorts of items are grabbed, run off with, eaten and/or hidden. As you can see (left) we have Ripley, Tolly and Stanley with their evil little noses in the fridge and trying to find what they can steel. Little did they know that their chicken livers and other such “stuff” had already been removed and put up on the work surface. Other items they also like to run-off with are, sprouts, potatoes, cucumber, anything at all in crinkly wrappers or anything they can reach and drag out before they get spotted and the fridge door firmly closed! They believe in cutting out the middle man!

Prior to Christmas, Oliver had lost a lot of weight (which I mentioned in the Christmas edition of Ferret Tales). I’m so very pleased to say that his weight growth continues and when he was on the scales last week he weighed in at 1.7 kg which is very nearly what it was this time last year; so much better than the well under 1 kg which he hit back in October. On a sad note, we lost Fred Bear on New Year’s Eve. A few weeks before Christmas Fred was in some discomfort and was taken to see Mr. Cooke who felt that some nasty teeth needed removing, they had caused an infection in the airways. After a course of antibiotics to kill off the infection said teeth were removed and Fred appeared to be making progress. He was on a diet of soft food but over the weekend prior to New Year his breathing became laboured again, he stopped taking food/drink and passed away in my arms before we could take him back to the vet on the Monday morning. A gentle boy, a grand racer, an excellent PR ferret, age unknown but we felt he was around five years – he will be so sadly missed. What will happen to his brother Harry? Fred and Harry were related and had lived together all their lives and so often when one dies the other can become withdrawn. It is now the beginning of February and Harry (touch wood) is showing no signs of becoming withdrawn, in fact quite the opposite, he is becoming quite cheeky and follows me down the hall to the kitchen, something Fred used to do but Harry had always been too refined for that sort of behaviour. A beautiful gentle but large (nearly 2 kg) boy (seen in photo right) who can now barge with the best of them in the kitchen for early titbits before the bowls of chicken or chicken livers that are put down for general consumption. Harry is rather a lazy ferret, when he comes in at playtime he will go for a wander, visit me for a treat and then after a light snack from the ‘yum-yum’ bowl will retire to a day-bed before the bowl of chicken appears. Harry now goes for a daily walk/route march around the garden or a walk down the road to keep his joints moving otherwise I think we might end up with the first 3kg ferret on record! We think Harry is probably six years of age and will be seven later this year. Hopefully when spring arrives he will throw off some of his surplus weight and not only fit into the tubes but win a few races. Much love from the boys in the Ferret Shed who are looking forward to seeing you all in a green field sometime soon.

Joan Jones

Rachel and Neil on their Wedding Day (with family and friends)

My thanks to the following for their help with this newsletter Derek Harding for arranging the printing

Photographs from many sources (including Simon Arthur and Barbara Jack) All contributors

And of course David for his proof reading!

Barbara Jack (Mother of the bride) Some of the "ferrety" guests blowing bubbles! Left to Right – Sue Riley, Alan Spencer, Steve and Janet Rowbury

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 2013

MARCH 26TH CLUB MEETING

APRIL SUNDAY 7TH HBFC OPEN SHOW, GRAZELEY VILLAGE HALL, GRAZLEY (NR

READING) RG7 1LD AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE OPEN SHOW AND FROM APPROXIMATELY 5PM WE WILL HOLD THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IN THE SAME HALL AT GRAZELEY VILLAGE HALL 23RD CLUB MEETING 27TH/28TH BERKSHIRE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

MAY 6TH WOKINGHAM MAY CARNIVAL 18TH ST. ANDREWS SCHOOL, PANGBOURNE 26TH/27TH HIGHCLERE GAME AND COUNTRY FAIR 28TH CLUB MEETING

JUNE 2ND TADLEY TREACLE FAIR 8TH WOODLEY CARNIVAL 15TH SILCHESTER FETE 16TH SPEEN HORSE, HEROS AND HOUNDS 25TH CLUB MEETING

JULY 6TH/7TH COTSWOLD SHOW 23RD CLUB MEETING

AUGUST 3RD GILBERT WHITE HOUSE 27TH CLUB MEETING

SEPTEMBER 7TH ALRESFORD SHOW 21ST/22ND ROYAL COUNTY SHOW 24TH CLUB MEETING

The above is correct at the time of going to print If you would like to help at any of the above shows, please contact

Paul Tripp (Show Manager) on 07903 390980 or 0118 348699 Club Meetings are held in the rugby clubroom at the AWE Aldermaston commencing 20.00 hrs.

Contact any committee member for directions or look at the Club Website www.hbferretclub.co.uk for maps, further details and any changes /

additions to the above

Spring has arrived

Hoorah!