I have adopted from GCFA in the past, and am currently fostering an older ferret with medical…read moreissues as well as volunteering at the shelter on a weekly basis. I've scooped thousands of litter pans, scrubbed cages, conducted phone screenings for potential adopters, washed poopy laundry, and I am writing this review to clear up some of the complaints others have had, because those comments need to be taken into context and with a grain of salt (read: angry people shout the loudest).
Yes, the shelter is selective and does not just hand out ferrets like candy. People who have no experience or knowledge of ferret-care are not going to walk out of the shelter with a ferret. That said, it only takes an hour or two of (online) research to learn pretty much everything you need to know as a new ferret owner. You don't need to buy a book or become an expert, but you do need to know what the warning signs of a sick ferret are, because they tend to mask illness and if you aren't somewhat knowledgeable, you might notice something is amiss too late. That said, if you walk into the shelter and are not knowledgeable, you can expect the staff to take some time educating you. That's for your benefit, as well as for the benefit of the woozles.
Having gone through the adoption process (and the fostering process) myself, here's some info for anyone who wants to adopt a ferret from GCFA:
First, you will go through a basic phone screening, then an in-person interview. To be eligible for adoption, you need to have basic ferret-care knowledge, as well as ferret-appropriate supplies (cage, food, toys, etc), and we will ask you what veterinarian you plan on going to (ferrets are considered exotic animals, and not all veterinarians treat exotics). Shelter staff can give vet recommendations, and often has extra cages and other ferret supplies on hand available in exchange for donations, but having that stuff in stock isn't guaranteed. Finally, ferret ownership can be expensive - they are wonderful pets, but they are also prone to various ailments as they get older, so it's important that new ferret owners are aware of the financial costs of ownership before adopting.
GCFA is a volunteer-run, no-kill, non-profit, and serves as the source shelter for lost / abandoned ferrets in the Chicago area (meaning, nearly all ferrets that are brought into any shelter in the Chicago area will be transferred to GCFA). All donations go towards paying rent, buying ferret food and supplies, and paying for utilities. Some years, the shelter has barely scraped by. But because GCFA exists, thousands of ferrets that would otherwise be euthanized at other shelters have been placed in good homes with good people.
It's true that many people who volunteer here are simply better with animals than with people. No one and no shelter is perfect. I hope this post will be helpful to anyone looking to adopt from GCFA.
