10 Things You Never Knew About Ferrets…

LONDON -

- With Photo

- Ferret Education & Research Trust / James Wellbeloved Survey, 2009

- Forget northern stereotypes about flat caps and a ferret down the trousers - over a quarter of Britain’s ferrets live in the south east, compared to just 12 per cent in the north west. - Forget diamonds - ferrets are a girl’s best friend! 61% of ferret owners are female. - Ferret owners like to do it in pairs - 67% are married or living with a partner. - A single ferret is a lonely ferret - 88% of owners have at least two…. while one respondent has an amazing 160 ferrets! - Almost half of owners have acquired their ferret in the last five years - revenge on the ‘handbag’ dogs trend maybe? - Ferrets no longer work for their living - only one in five ferrets is in employment! - Ferrets come in a range of different colours - the sable, or polecat is the most popular (78%), followed by albino (57%), sandy (43%), silver (27%), dark eyed white (14%). - Most ferrets are fed on special dried food, sometimes combined with fresh meat (survey sponsors James Wellbeloved Complete Ferret Food is used by 85% of respondents). - Over half of ferret owners take their pet to the vets for a regular check-up, but that still leaves 40% of owners who don’t bother… - And finally - 21% of male ferrets have had a vasectomy.

The survey was carried out to provide a snapshot of Britain’s ferret population, and behind the fun facts are serious messages about ferret welfare. Ian Kearns from the Ferret Education & Research Trust, the only registered national charity for ferret welfare in England and Wales, says: “Ferrets have had a bit of a bad press over the years, but in fact they are clean, intelligent and attractive animals. Many are now ending up in rescue centres, because people haven’t read up on them before taking on one. We’d urge anyone to consider a ferret as a pet - but do your homework first, make sure you understand their housing and dietary needs, and of course register with a vet. As well as vaccination, your vet can also microchip your ferret, so if he does make a get away down a rabbit hole, he can be returned to you quickly and easily.”

Notes to Editors

The Ferret Education and Research Trust (FERT) is the only dedicated national registered charity in England and Wales promoting the care and welfare of the domesticated ferret. TV vet Steve Leonard has recently become a Patron and adviser, and The Yorkshire Regiment is also a supporter - the Regiment has two ferret mascots, Imphal and Quebec, who are currently deployed with the regiment in Munster, Germany. Their names commemorate two major battles where the regiment received honours.

www.ferrettrust.org

James Wellbeloved is a leading manufacturer of complete dry foods for dogs, cats and ferrets, available from good pet shops throughout the UK.

www.wellbeloved.com

The survey was carried out on behalf of FERT and James Wellbeloved by MSS research throughout summer 2009. Almost 1400 ferret owners took part, completing a survey either online at www.ferrettrust.org, or a paper questionnaire inside selected packs of James Wellbeloved Complete Ferret Food.

www.mssresearch.co.uk

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA Photowire. It can be downloaded from www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or viewed at www.mediapoint.press.net or www.prnewswire.co.uk.

Source: The Ferret Education and Research Trust (FERT)

For further information, please contact: Cressy Brooks, James Wellbeloved PR, +44(0)1303-872933 / +44(0)7876-162461, cressybrooks at gofast.co.uk or Ian Kearns, FERT trustee, +44(0)303-300-0247, ian.kearns at ferrettrust.org