Many people might think that dogs are the only pets who can enjoy an adventurous lifestyle. But Jesse the ferret and his mom, Lauren Smith, are here to prove those people wrong.
@hikingferret When you take your ferret on adventures it opens up a whole new world for them.
From the very first day Smith brought Jesse home, she was determined to get him comfortable with the outdoors.
“He took to the harness pretty much immediately,” Smith told The Dodo. “The second day I had him, we were [already] out walking in the park, and he’s loved it ever since. He hasn’t known a whole lot different.”
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Since then, Smith and Jesse have done much more than go to the park together — they like to go hiking and camping together in Colorado and Utah. Smith even likes taking Jesse with her on kayaking trips.
Hiking allows Jesse to get some good exercise and explore new environments. He especially loves hiking through slot canyons, where he can dig down into the sand. Smith said he can hike up to a mile or two without any help. When he finally tires out, he simply hitches a ride in the hood of Smith’s sweatshirt.
“He … has a fun time, just going out and hanging out with me. He just wants to be included,” Smith said.
Jesse even has his own special ferret-sized outdoor gear. To make sure he stays safe on their kayak trips, Smith fashioned a life vest for him. If it’s relatively warm out, Jesse sleeps in his own fleece sleeping bag. But on especially cold nights, he’ll just snuggle with Smith in her sleeping bag.
It’s not every day that people see a harnessed ferret out on a hike or hanging out at a campsite. Smith said that Jesse’s presence surprises and delights the people they run into.
“Most people get really excited to see Jesse … The most common question [we get] is, ‘What is that?’” Smith said.
Jesse has gotten Smith through some extremely tough times. A year and a half ago, Smith and Jesse were involved in a major car accident in which Smith lost her left leg below the knee. As Smith has gone through the recovery process, Jesse has been there for her every step of the way.
“He was just a really good recovery buddy,” Smith said.
Since the accident, Smith and Jesse have been relearning how to spend time outdoors again. It’s been comforting for Smith to know that no matter what, they have each other.
