Man buys toy poodles, discovers they’re actually ferrets on steroids

rockin'robin

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An Argentinian man who thought he bought a pair of poodles at an outdoor market in Buenos Aires brought them home to the vet only to be told they were actually ferrets on steroids, reports the Daily Mail.

The man, a retiree from Catamarca, purchased the animals at La Salada, Argentina's largest bazaar.

The veterinarian informed him the ferrets "had been given steroids at birth to increase their size and then had some extra grooming to make their coats resemble a fluffy toy poodle," the paper says, translating a report from a local Argentinian TV station. He paid $150 per poodle.

Another woman interviewed by the station said she was tricked into thinking she had purchased a chihuahua at the same market.

It's unclear what the duped pet owners did with their faux poodles. But if you're thinking about buying a poodle at an Argentinian market, the Daily Mail has a handy guide on how to tell whether the pooch you're purchasing is actually a ferret:

• Ferrets typically have brown, white or mixed fur and are around 51 cm in length—which includes a 13 cm tail.
• They weigh around three pounds and have a lifespan of 7 to 10 years.
• When happy, ferrets may perform a routine known as the weasel war dance—which is characterized by a series of hops and frenzied attempts to bump into things.
• This is often accompanied by a soft clucking noise called dooking. When upset, ferrets make a hissing noise.
• Toy poodles are known for their intelligence and are around 25 cm tall and weigh around nine pounds.
• If a toy poodle exceeds 25 cm height, it cannot compete in any dog show as a toy poodle.
• Toy poodles have been known to live as long as 20 years.
• Toy poodles are described as sweet, cheerful, perky and lively, and they love to be around people.

Man buys toy poodles, discovers they
 
I don't understand how you can't tell the difference between a poodle and a ferret. :lol:
 
I don't understand how you can't tell the difference between a poodle and a ferret. :lol:

Feel a little the same as you do...when you click the link, there is 2 pictures...one a toy poodle and one is a ferret that was given steroids....and the face of that one looked more like a ferret, but the body like a poodle....

Am wondering too...if the ferret stops taking steroids (being sold as a poodle)...he, in time, will turn back into a smaller ferret....

Hope the sellers go to jail for this....it's animal abuse...
 
It was a retiree. I thought they must have never owned a dog before, but wanted something to do in retirement.
 
And noticed too...the poodle's nose is black and the ferret's is "pink"....
 
Wirelessly posted

Now that is funny. I saw the pictures. It looks nothing like a poodle.
 
Wirelessly posted

Looks like a ferret. I used to own two of them.
 
and wondering too...if the ferret will become or is more aggressive and perhaps bite...as humans on steroids are unpredictable, aggressive and do suffer health issues later on in life.
 
Never seen a "fluffy ferret"...always thought they had smooth hair. And not much hair on their long tails....Guessing I need to visit the Pet Shop more often.....

I've never seen a fluffy ferret either. This looks like a ferret who played with a hair dryer. :lol:
 
Bizarre business at the bazaar!

Maybe Dogmom could help the guy learn how to identify what is really a DOG! :lol:
 
Steroids or no, if someone forks $150 for a ferret, then they are idiot. What happened about researching before making a purchase?

Sure, anyone would tell the difference between a ferret and a poodle.
 
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