Time for Ferret Owners to Stand up & be Counted!

LONDON -

- 1st National Ferret Census

Despite popular myth, not all ferret-owners wear cloth caps, or keep their ferrets down their trousers! Anecdotal evidence and sales of ferret food suggest that there are millions of ferrets in the UK - but until now there has been no reliable data about the ferret population or lifestyle.

The Ferret Education and Research Trust (FERT) and pet food firm James Wellbeloved are undertaking the first ever British ferret census, with a view to establishing not only UK ferret numbers but also whether they are kept as pets or working animals and their living conditions - housing, diet, veterinary treatment - geographical concentration, rescued or rehomed or not, and how long owners have kept ferrets.

Ian Kearns from FERT says: “Ferrets are fantastic little creatures, very clever and lively, and they make clean, loving pets - as well as being working animals. We now want to establish the definitive picture of ferrets in the UK today.”

Ferret owners can take part in the survey online at www.ferretcensus.org.uk, or through a paper questionnaire in selected packs of James Wellbeloved Complete Ferret Food. Each completed survey will automatically be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a year’s supply of James Wellbeloved Ferret Food, plus 50 prizes of a luxury Hansa toy ferret.

Peter Lancaster from James Wellbeloved is delighted to be supporting the census: “Ferrets are possibly Britain’s most secret pet, and it’s time to shine the spotlight on them.”

Note 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

Source: The Ferret Education and Research Trust (FERT) and James Wellbeloved

For further information, please contact: Cressy Brooks, JWB PR, +44(0)1303-872933 / +44(0)7876-162461, cressybrooks at gofast.co.uk OR Ian Kearns, FERT trustee, +44(0)870-803-1475, ian.kearns at ferrettrust.org