Manda,it's ok to pull them out as long as you have a proper tick remover. This has angled jaws like tweezers,but they meet at the tip and leave a gap behind.
This enables you to take hold of the tick's abdomen,leaving the blood filled "stomach"intact.You then twiddle it around until it lets go,check that both the jaws have stayed on the tick. Check the site on your dog or ferret,and just dab a little antiseptic on. The best way to kill a tick,once removed,is to belt it with a hammer!! They can live for days if dropped in water like you would fleas. The very worst thing you can do is try to pu