Hi Freda - it's a ferret - and yes, although wild quite a few people keep them as pets. They used to be kept for hunting rabbits - you put a net on all but one of the rabbit holes and put the ferret down the last one . The rabbits run out into the nets. I don't know anything about this one - it was just being held by someone on the canal the other day.
I agree cute to look at but I have to say they are one animal I detest. This due to coming home and finding half my chickens beheaded by one. They kill for sport and do not eat all what they kill. not the nicest of animals in my opinion