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Taking your Ferret ...
 

Taking your Ferret abroad.

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[#13535730]

When looking at official instructions for taking our dog on holiday to France, all the regulations cover dogs, cats and Ferrets. Why include Ferrets? I have only known one person have them as pets on my life, and that was 40 years ago! 

What if I want to take my Budgie or Axylotyl? Why are they apparently excluded?*

*Neither would need worming tablets on return. 


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 10:00 am
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Budgies can be smuggled.


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 10:31 am
BigJohn, Matt_SS_xc, Tom83 and 13 people reacted
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Ferrets aren't allowed in the hold, under seat or overhead lockers - only allowed on if stored down trousers.


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 10:34 am
Tom83, nicko74, blokeuptheroad and 1 people reacted
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I know someone who had ferrets! My partner's daughter had 3 of the stinky ****ers. A few years ago, partner was away and daughter was dog sitting in her house. I went in the house (we live in separate houses) a few days before her return, to check all was ok and there was this awful stink filling the place. I seriously thought one of the dogs had shat in the house and it hadn't been cleaned up. I checked each room and found this cage with 3 sleeping vermin inside. Made me proper retch. Grim things. All dead now thankfully. 🤣 


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 10:46 am
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Posted by: desperatebicycle

All dead now thankfully. 🤣 

Harsh.  They're apparently very affectionate pets.

They don't half stink though, no arguments there.  A friend of mine's flatmate kept them, I don't know how she coped with it.  At the time I assumed he wasn't keeping on top of cleaning them out properly but seemingly not.  "Grim" is a very appropriate word .


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 10:58 am
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All dead now thankfully.

 

Low iron levels?


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 12:22 pm
Ambrose reacted
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I imagine its an historic thing, they are pets and they are also hunting animals. I think they also carry a significant overlap with cats and dogs about controlled diseases like rabies. 

So there is enough of reason to cover them from a social perspective and a risk perspective.

I don't know any keepers but after cats and dogs they are definitely the most common mammal* have seen being taken for a walk. They fun things, really playful.

*Probably seen more parrots and once a dove that was flying back and forth between trees and its owners head.


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 12:33 pm
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It's a cold war hangover from the 1950s. The regs were updated by the work experience person who didn't know any better


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 12:36 pm
Tom83, CountZero, matt_outandabout and 3 people reacted
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A euphemism surely?


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 8:21 pm
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Posted by: ElShalimo

All dead now thankfully.

 

Low iron levels?

At least you tried

The armoured car was my first thought when I saw the title. A local guy has one. And a tank. Make local lanes seem very small.

 


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 8:24 pm
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I used to have Ferrets, all had the snip, we bathed them when we got them and from then on they had fleece sleeping bags and blankets and didn't smell bad at all. Also quite easy to litter train. Hilarious little characters who were very affectionate.

Regarding the OP I think it is to with the  Rabies risk.

IMG_4750.jpg  


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 9:59 pm
anorak and joshvegas reacted
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We took our gerbil Ramon to Spain a couple of times.


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 10:16 pm
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It's a cold war hangover from the 1950s.

That armoured car pictured moments before it was ambushed by a double decker bus


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 10:30 pm
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Posted by: dogbone

We took our gerbil Ramon to Spain

is not gerbil, is rat


 
Posted : 29/05/2026 11:26 pm
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Posted by: bonni

Budgies can be smuggled.

👍🏼🫶🏻👌🏻👏🏻🎩

Today’s winner of the internet!


 
Posted : 30/05/2026 12:03 am
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My sister-in-law had several ferrets, they had their own room with a large cage with a proper maze of tunnels and runs, they also had two dogs and several cats, and there was never any noticeable odour of any of them. Ferrets are like all their family, full of fun and mischief, stoats in particular seem to run around and jump just for the sheer joy of it; I’ve been a stoat turn up at the end of our archery range, and it appeared to be dancing around for the fun of just doing it. Otters do as well.


 
Posted : 30/05/2026 12:12 am
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They can't help it.

Weasel war dance innit. Dogs and cats are the same, zooomies are always adorable.


 
Posted : 30/05/2026 9:54 am
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Posted by: joshvegas

Weasel war dance innit.

It's thought that they do it to mesmerise rabbits, who wouldn't stop to watch a stoat dancing?

It might also be a parasitic infection


 
Posted : 30/05/2026 10:29 am
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I like the Daimler Ferret. I'd have to sell my motorbike though. 


 
Posted : 30/05/2026 2:28 pm
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A woman in our neighborhood has 2 ferrets, she walks them on leads in the park and by the little river


 
Posted : 30/05/2026 9:06 pm
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Has to be a euphemism, like bit on the side or playing away.

'Ooh, that Mr Giggs, I've heard he's taking his ferret abroad again this year'


 
Posted : 31/05/2026 1:05 am