How to Start a Ferret Club

Ferret clubs are becoming increasingly popular, corresponding with a rise in ferret ownership. Ferret owners are often quite enthusiastic about their furry friends and seek out the company of other ferret owners. If you'd like to start your own ferret club, here are a few pointers.

One of the easiest ways to get started is to form a Yahoo Group (at http://groups.yahoo.com). If you include your geographical area in the title or description, people can search and find your club. A Yahoo Group is a great way to let members know about special events you're planning on holding, and members can discuss ferrets with like-minded people.

After starting a Yahoo Group, you should prepare some paper handouts. You'll want to make flyers to post in pet shops, supermarkets, veterinary offices, and libraries. Keep the flyer simple, but make sure you include the name of your group and contact information. If you're leary of putting your home number on a flyer for everyone to see, there are several Internet companies that give out phone numbers, like eVoice. You can also include the web address of your Yahoo Group, or your email address. Brochures are another good thing to make. Many pet stores have places for brochures, but remember to ask before posting any of your advertising.

You can also advertise on the web-websites like www.ferretcentral.org have databases for ferret clubs. Many states have central ferret associations, and advertise local clubs within the state. You can also put notices on websites like www.craigslist.org.

When you get some members, you can think about setting up your first meeting. For safety reasons, it may be best to meet in a public place first. Parks are great for meetings, and your ferrets will have a great time playing in the grass, too. When you get to know your members better, you can rotate meetings at members' homes. Most ferret clubs have monthly meetings that are more informal, and then they also have public "ferret frolics" a few times a year. These bigger events usually charge admission (proceeds can go towards paying club costs or towards ferrets in need) and include fun events like raffles and ferret games.

Games for ferrets to play are one of the best parts of ferret frolics. Some games you can play with your ferrets are Bag Escape (which ferret can get out of a bag the fastest), Tube Races (which ferret can run through a tube fastest), Cup Tip (which ferret knocks over the most cups set upside down on a table or the floor), Pinkest Nose, Longest Tail, Best Costume, and so on.

There are some safety factors to keep in mind when ferrets get together. All ferrets in attendance should be vaccinated for rabies and distemper. Many public ferret fun events require all ferrets to have proof of vaccination before they're allowed out of their carrier. Every ferret (or business of ferrets) should come in a pet carrier, and each pet carrier should have a litter box. Ferrets should be kept away from other ferrets' litter boxes to minimize the risk of catching diseases. In case of accidents, there should be plenty of cleaner and paper towels on hand.

Many ferret clubs do some sort of charity work. Sometimes this just means donating or volunteering at ferret shelters, and other times it means helping to rehome needy ferrets. Many ferret clubs run auctions or raffles where proceeds benefit local ferret shelters. Other ferret clubs do public education-they go to schools to teach children about ferrets, or they set up tables in pet stores where they educate people who are thinking about buying ferrets and people who are shopping for their ferrets.

The main point of have a ferret club, of course, is to have fun! With a little bit of work, you can start your own ferret club and share your passion for ferrets.