A COUNTY Councillor who has fostered almost 50 ferrets for the RSPCA has a special plan to help find more new homes for the often "misunderstood" pet this Halloween.

Trick or treaters visiting Cllr Dan Rose's house this Halloween will be greeted by onlooking foster ferrets from his front window - and a wall of QR codes advertising ferrets looking for new homes in the RSPCA's care, as well as links to ferret colouring, ferret jokes and fun ferret facts.

Dan, who represents the Buckley Bistre West ward in Flintshire, has also backed the RSPCA's latest recruitment drive to find new fosterers this “Adoptober” - having taken on dozens of ferrets for the charity since 2017.

Fosterers care for animals temporarily in their own home, while supported by the RSPCA.

In total, Dan has fostered 46 ferrets for the RSPCA over the last five years - as part of his volunteering with the charity's Bryn-Y-Maen Animal Centre in Upper Colwyn Bay.

He has urged other animal lovers across North Wales and beyond to get involved.

Dan said: "The first ferret I adopted was a little baby girl named Lollipop, named by the small girl who found her.

"Since then, I've taken on 46 - and it can be so rewarding.

"In particular, I'll always remember an amazing white ferret called Groot, who was found with a badly damaged tail and large wounds on his head.

“He was only 700 grams (1.5lb) when I first fostered Groot, but he doubled in weight in my care as part of an amazing recovery and ended up looking like a miniature polar bear!"

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Those interested in applying to be an RSPCA fosterer can do so online via the RSPCA's volunteering portal at volunteer.rspca.org.uk.

The plea for new fosterers comes amid the RSPCA’s annual rehoming campaign – “Adoptober” - which continues to shine a light on the work of the charity's animal centres, and the rescue pets looking for homes.

Dan's desire to help ferrets was motivated by what he perceives to be "misconceptions" about the pet.

He added: "During my time helping the Bryn-Y-Maen Animal Centre, sadly, ferrets are often the rescue pets attracting the least interest.

"Some have misconceptions that these animals are rodents, and some people are even scared of them - but, in terms of how they are in reality, nothing could be further from the truth!

“They're such misunderstood animals sometimes.

"Personally, I find ferrets an amazing mix between a cat and a dog. They can suit a working lifestyle; and I don't often get up early enough to walk a dog - so they're a perfect pet for me!"

In total, across England and Wales, 691 pets in the care of the RSPCA - including dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets - are currently based in paid-for private boarding as the RSPCA's centres are jam-packed.

As such, the RSPCA urgently needs more volunteer foster carers like Dan to help free up spaces in its animal centres - with the charity finding itself in a "space race" as it spends £26,000 a week to private boarders for the temporary care of hundreds of rescued animals.

Dan has urged prospective fosterers to join him, adding: "As part of my fostering, it is so amazing to see the huge amount of work that goes into rehabilitating rescue ferrets, and educating new owners about how to look after them properly.

"My own community of Buckley is full of animal lovers; I'm always getting asked how people can adopt or help animals that have been found lost or injured.

"Whether they live in Buckey, North Wales or further afield, I'd urge anyone interested in fostering to get in touch with the RSPCA, and help them to win the space race by freeing up room in their centres for more animals in urgent need."

Beyond fostering, Dan is also hoping to help the Bryn-Y-Maen Animal Centre find new permanent homes for ferrets in their care.

As Halloween looms, he will be plastering his front windows with QR codes so trick or treaters can find out more information about the pet - and perhaps consider adopting one of the ferrets looking for a second chance of forever home happiness; like the four foster ferrets - Bandid, Antic, Shenanigan and Mitch - currently in his care.

Dan added: "Ferrets aren't scary at all - they're amazing pets. But I thought Halloween was still a great opportunity to raise awareness about them; and add something different to the celebrations.

"So anyone trick or treating my house on Halloween will find my foster ferrets looking out the window - and QR codes giving people more information about these amazing animals, and how to rehome them from the Bryn-Y-Maen Animal Centre."

Bandit, Antic and Shenanigan are all hoping to find a home together.

They are all approximately one-year old, enjoy frolicking around in ball pits, fallen leaves and other fun activities.

Before going into foster care with Dan, they would often cause fun-filled havoc at the Bryn-Y-Maen Centre when offering to help staff and volunteers during cleaning time.

They will require a large space to explore and time out into a safe, secure place on a daily basis.

Centre staff believe the three boys could live with children of secondary school age and could be bonded to other ferrets with similar, outgoing and friendly temperaments.

Meanwhile, Mitch is a placid, laid back ferret who loves to snooze, but also enjoys exploring and investigating his surroundings.

He's looking for a home with plenty of space and time out from his accommodation, and could live with children of secondary school age.