Without Carole, those ferrets would have died long before they did,
and they wouldn't be in as good health as they were by the time Animal
Control and the SPCA came in. Several people have noted that Carole
took in elderly ferrets. What hasn't been said is that Carole
specialised in the sick, elderly and infirm. She only took in geriatric
ferrets except on rare occasions - at which time the younger ferrets
were almost immediately adopted out.

As for vet care, Carole had a vet she saw regularly. All of her animals
were being cared for. No, not 100% to her normal standard of care.
However not many people could keep three pet ferrets in the conditions
that Carole felt was "fit"! When people mention her area in the back
yard for the ferrets, what they don't say is that it was a huge
structure built specifically for the ferrets. In the last six months,
because she hadn't been well, she moved the ferrets into the house in
order to more easily tend to them. The ferrets had only just recently
been moved back to their own building, and as such, the things that
were in storage in there while the ferrets had been gone hadn't yet
been cleared out fully.

Carole knew that her illness had made things more difficult. Her
husband had been helping a lot in order to keep things in order while
she wasn't faring well, especially since she can't use one arm at all
currently. They were still getting food and water refills twice a day,
so starvation and dehydration weren't the issue that the people who
euthanised 61 ferrets made out. All of these animals were old animals.
Several were needing to be medicated on a regular basis - there were a
small number that looked bad because of their ill health and sheer age.

Carole didn't have a lot of money, but in recognising that she was
having trouble, she spent what little she had on things which would
make tending to the ferrets easier. It wasn't just the industrial
washer/dryer that had only been installed the day before AC and the
SPCA went in, causing the water to be turned off, and the ferrets
to *gasp* be given bottled water - which Carole keeps as a standard
standby in case there are water problems. Of the things that had been
stored in the ferrets building, several trips in the previous days had
been made to take them to the dump. Carole had seen that there was a
problem, and was already well on the way to solving those issues. She
was feeling guilty because the ferrets couldn't get all the run time
she deemed necessary. You can only imagine what that raid has done
for her!

As for the neighbours... I have no sympathy for them. Well... one of
them. Carole has lived in the same place for many, many years. One
particular neighbour has called the council to complain about her for
many things... if they couldn't find a problem, they would call the
council to complain about her lawn not being short enough if it wasn't
mown on a weekly basis! This particular neighbour has actually shot AT
Carole and her pets in the past with an air rifle. If they could find
a way to hurt Carole, they'd do so. They're vindictive, petty people.
I have been to places where the smell of the ferrets was so bad that
you could smell it from the street. Carole's place was nothing like
that. Even when she had well over 100 ferrets living in the house, you
couldn't tell unless you were actually inside the ferrets area. You
stepped inside the front door, and the only sign of anything ferrety
were ornaments, and some clean bedding. No ferrety smell. A miracle in
itself considering the numbers.

Judging Carole as starving ferrets because of a vet who - according
to their own policy regarding ferrets - has likely never encountered
ferrets before, is naive at best. Especially when you encounter the
sheer number of people who HAVE been to Carole's place. Who have stayed
there for some time. Who kept in continual touch with her over the
years. Carole has nigh-on impossible standards when it comes to ferret
care, and the fact is, I know of too many people who - when ill - may
be lucky to see the ferrets once a day to ensure their food and water
is full and that they get their medications. Even ill, Carole was
ensuring they still got their twice daily visits and food/water
replenished. From what I understand, the SPCA has made a statement
already, commenting that the animals are all in good condition.

As far as it not being the first time AC and the SPCA had been there...
the SPCA were actually sending animals TO Carole. Had done for years.
Believe it or not, one neighbour constantly b****ing and moaning to
authorities really CAN get them to go in just to shut them the heck
up. Carole had been informed that she didn't need to sign the ferrets
over... but there was deliberate incentive to force her to sign over
the animals.

As far as "she had numerous deaths" - who has ever said that the
dead ferrets all died recently? Have you checked into the price of
cremations recently? If you were wanting to concentrate on caring for
LIVE animals and ensuring that they were still comfortable, especially
if you weren't feeling well, would you want to spend money on cremating
animals that had already passed away, or the ones that needed the more
immediate help?

Carole had a lot of ferrets. Carole has been handling figures in excess
of 100 ferrets for well over 3 decades. That includes times when she's
been ill. This time, being ill AND losing all ability to use one arm
totally was just that little bit too much. At least she knew that there
was an issue and she was well on her way to having the issue resolved.
It's one of those situations where if AC and the SPCA had come in only
7 days later, there wouldn't have been an issue. There wouldn't be a
flood in the house. The ferrets wouldn't have been given bottled water
for every refill (although I can't see a problem with that, other than
the exorbitant cost!) The last of the things in the ferrets building
would have already been taken to the dump. The industrial washer/dryer
would have been well and truly broken in. Would the ultra sick ferrets
be any better? No-one will know now.

How can you start talking about the condition of the ferrets at her
place when you've not only never been there, you've also never met
Carole? As it is, even if the single charge laid against her is
dropped, she will not be reopening her shelter. The one thing that this
has shown her is that it's time to retire. 35 years of slaving for the
ferrets is enough. She hasn't been able to go away for longer than 24
hours for 35 years. No holidays. No time away. No life outside of
feeding, watering, medicating sick, elderly ferrets. She loved doing
it, make no mistake. That doesn't mean she isn't aware of just what a
huge chunk of her life has been taken away because of her decision to
take them in.

As far as asking for help... there can be reasons to not accept help
from people you don't know well, especially when it involves them
coming into your home. As far as the first person who stood up for her
not being allowed to go and help clean... if I recall, the first person
who stood up for her lives on the other side of the country, and he
(and his wife) have both been to Carole's place, and helped while
there, on multiple occasions.

You asked if anyone knew that absolutely no ferrets at Carole's place
were skin and bone, on death's doorstep. Honestly, no-one knows that
other than Carole. However, if you go to the very best nursing home in
the country, I'm sure that there are many occasions where you will see
an old person in that very condition. Not because of bad tending, but
because they're OLD. They've finally reached the point where they just
can't fight any more. If a ferret is not in any pain and is fighting
to stay alive, she has always done her very best to help them in their
attempts to stay. Sometimes they win, and sometimes the fight is just
too much, and they lose. Either way, they get the very best that is
humanly possible to give. As far as turning to her vet for help...
Carole did that. Regularly. Few of her oldsters could have survived
otherwise.

Sam

[Posted in FML 5873]