[Forwarded with permission]
 
Laurie wrote:
>After reading the post on Wednesday about the three ferrets in Dunn [NC]
>we agreed that we could not only go get them but give them a good home.
 
Now I can publicly *thank you* for taking in these three ferrets!  For the
rest of you reading this, when I send an Emergency email post that states
"call me ASAP if willing to help", it means use the telephone, and not your
ISP connection...
 
>Let me put everyones mind at easy, all three were in much better
>condition then we expected.
 
Laurie forgot to mention in her post:
1. The overally long nails that needed to be trimmed.
2  One ferret seems to be growing in a toenail that was lost [torn].
3  No bedding in [rain soaked] cage.
4  The ferrets do seem to be underweight [dog food diet didn't help].
5  Lack of muscle tone [lack of exercise].
 
>She said that they were never mistreated and that she could not expect
>her 13 year old son to be responsible for them, since he brings home
>every stray he sees.
 
Parents are responsible for their children.  Parents are responsible for
their children's pets.  Pictures where taken in case Animal Control or
Police needed to be called in for a neglect case.  [Remember my recent post
on three up for adoption in a criminal prosecution case in Wake County?  -
Landlord turned owner in.  Plead guilty.  Anthony Strother(sp?), former pet
store employee!]
 
I have offered Laurie and SO hammocks/sleep sacks/Laxontone/vet check up,
etc. provided by Ferret Guardian Rescue Haven to get the kids comfy.
 
Thank you to the people that called or emailed me on offering to help in
this emergency foster and/or adoption situation.
 
I have spoken with the Aunt [Cathy] of the Nephew that was in possession of
the ferrets.  Cathy was updated on the adoption event last night (Thur).
She wants to extend, through me, a great big Thank You! to ferret lovers.
Cathy is not a ferret owner, but an animal lover.  Last weekend visiting
her brother, she realized the ferrets were not being treated right [caged
outdoors and fed dog food], and contacted me at 7:15am on Weds a.m.  [I
am NOT a morning person.  Do NOT call me at this hour unless it is an
emergency - leave message twice, as the first one, I will ignore.]
 
>Is there anything that we can do about people like this? Are there fines
>or charges that could be brought? I admit that I'm not up on current
>laws but, I plan to be real soon.
 
FMLers -any experience on prosecuting neglect/abuse cases?
 
Thanks, Shari
[Posted in FML issue 3162]