When I was at that point I just let people know if there was something
I couldn't help with. Since you are at that point, you need to tell
these people that if the ferret comes to you, you can't afford to do
anything but palliative treatment and try to give a quality life that
way...if they want to call other rescues and drive/transport their guy
there, that's their right and wish.

If not, you have already offered to do more than they themselves have
offered to do for their own ferret. Do you see what I'm saying?
(Sometimes I can't explain things well in writing)....

I guess, see, what I did was let them know that if the ferret came to
me there was a long wait for a surgery, or that I might not be able to
get the surgery. Many owners are okay with this. Some thought I was
crazy for spending a dime on their "critter" when I emailed them with
updates on how the ferret was doing after a surgery.

You can't feel bad about taking an animal in and not getting it a
surgery or spending a ton on it, when you are a rescue. You do have
priorities. If you have to put someone down, then at least you gave
them as comfy a life as possible in a loving environment, other than
having the owner drop him/her off at an animal shelter where it would
have ended up dying of stress or being put to sleep immediately because
it's unadoptable.

If you have a list of shelters near you that you are comfortable with,
have that list by your phone and refer them to those shelters first,
and say that you are very full up. If they insist that they take the
ferret to you still, let them know your standpoint.

You can only do so much. I have had a couple that have needed lupron
for months and months now. But again, we can only do so much. After a
cross-country move, it was very difficult to save any money at all,
but we're getting there.

I hope I was sort of clear (LOL). If they have other options to drive
somewhere where a shelter has money to spend on surgeries and medical
care, then they should do that...if they end up coming to you anyway,
you can only do what you can afford. Also can you contact shelters near
you and let them know you are at full capacity? Then you'll know which
ones are recieving and which ones can take in the ferrets that you
can't. Having an open line with them helps.

You could always then arrange pickups (people could drop off to you and
you could work with the other shelter(s) to transport the fuzzies to
the next shelter).

Sorry to go on and on...

Laryssa

[Posted in FML 5589]