An unexpected day off can spark all kinds of mischief, as depicted in the cult‑favorite John Hughes film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” But an unexpected pet adoption comes with its own brand of delightful chaos—and, in the case of one zany mustelid named Ferret Bueller, Wacky Pet Names-award-winning recognition.
Bueller's mom and Nationwide member Emma L., getting a wacky ferret buddy was a long time coming: “I worked at a sleep-away camp when I was in high school, and there was this one ferret there named Hyper that I loved,” she says. Years later and now living on her own that old ferret love returned to her. Not long after, Ferret Bueller entered her life.
We sat down with Emma and Bueller to talk about parenting uncommon pets, being a Wacky Pet Names nominee and more.
What is it like pet parenting a wacky exotic pet?
Emma soon found that she’d adopted more than just a sleepy mustelid pet. Ferrets are very social animals, so she’d brought home a new best friend who wanted a lot of hanging out time. Unlike Cameron, she was ready for adventure with her new Bueller buddy.
“I try to be like his ferret friend for him—indulging in his weirdness, running around with him, taking him on walks with me,” Emma says. She even invested in a ferret harness to safely take him on hikes, like she would with a canine companion. “I feel like it was harder to build that trust up with him, but it's even more rewarding now that he does trust me that much.”
Does Ferret Bueller live up to his wacky title?
Emma and Ferret Bueller get up to all sorts of hijinks on a regular basis. When he’s not sleeping away much of the day, he’s something of an uncoordinated gymnast who also has a passion for hiding his toys.
“I’ll dump all his toys out on the floor and one by one he'll pick them up and stash them behind the couch,” Emma says. “He's constantly taking inventory of his toys and making sure that no one's moved them.”
She continues, “Sometimes he'll go back there and think, ‘Oh, that's not a good spot anymore. She saw me put my toy there, so I have to move it somewhere else.’ But it seems like he has a very specific plan in mind. He's an interesting guy.”
How was your experience as a Wacky Pet Names nominee?
When Emma heard that Ferret Bueller was nominated by the Wacky Pet Names team, she channeled her excitement into getting the word out. “Everybody I knew, I called,” she recalls. “I posted on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook—I don't even really use a lot of those anymore—but I was just like, ‘Everybody, Ferret Bueller's been nominated—please, go vote for him!’ And everybody was super excited!”
“I was so excited, I really did not anticipate that [recognition],” Emma says. “I knew that it was more of a unique name for a ferret, but I didn't really think that anything would ever come of it. It's nice when somebody realizes and understands where it comes from, you know?”
She adds, “I didn't want to get my hopes up, but like I knew in my heart he was going to win.”
What’s your secret to selecting a great pet name?
When asked for tips on how to maximize the wacky pet-naming shenanigans, Emma suggests waiting for creativity to strike.
“Just keep it unique, you know, not going for the generic names that most people would pick,” she says. “I guess ‘Bueller’ is not really a name that any humans are called either, but just in general, it's not a name that most people would pick for an animal.”
Testimonial provided by an actual Nationwide member. Views expressed by the member belong solely to the member and not Nationwide, its affiliates, or employees. Actual insurance plan availability and coverage may vary.
