With all that is happening, this seems like a good time to announce
a united effort by several organizations in the ferret community. We
hope this cooperative effort will help bring us together to do all we
can for the sake of the ferrets.

It is with great pleasure that I announce that the American Ferret
Association (AFA), Ferrets Across America (FAA), the Ferret Emergency
Response, Rescue and Evacuation Team (F.E.R.R.E.T.), the International
Ferret Congress (IFC) and Support Our Shelters (SOS) have united in a
multi-organizational council to assist shelters and individuals prepare
for and carry out large scale rescues as well as keep the ferret
community aware of how they can be involved and what is happening.
There is also a shelter representative who will serve as a liaison with
ferret shelters to provide input from shelter operators and those who
have participated in ferret rescues and seizures. This is still in the
early stages and many of you will be approached in the near future. We
hope this will be of help to all of you. More information about the
group will be available at a later date, but for now we wanted you to
know that we are working together to assist in the situation in
Virginia.

If you would like to assist, please use the following guidelines:

Financial donations to the Emergency Love Fund (ELF), the disaster
relief fund of the IFC, are tax-deductible and can be made via paypal,
or by check or money order.

Paypal donations can be made through [log in to unmask]

Checks and money orders can be made out to:
IFC and marked for Virginia Beach Rescue.
If you want this to go to vet care or ADV testing, please indicate this.
Mail to: IFC c/o Linda Iroff, Treasurer, 46180 Butternut Ridge Rd.,
Oberlin, OH 44074.

Your check or your pay-pal verification will serve as a receipt.
Receipts for amounts over $25 will be provided on request.

Vet care or ADV testing donations can also be made to Sharon Beardon
(SOS) at [log in to unmask] A paypal donation can be made
by going to the site, http://www.supportourshelters.org

Offers to transport to Nancy Propper (FAA) at [log in to unmask]

Shelter space availability to Mary McCarty-Houser (AFA) at
[log in to unmask]

Offers of bedding/food/supplies to Lisa Oesterich (F.E.R.R.E.T.) at
[log in to unmask]

For those of you who are following the story in Virginia Beach, here
is a summary of the current situation.

The SPCA HAS 23 ferrets and needs water bottles, toys, hammocks
and specific ferret foods and kitten foods. The ferrets are being
re-evaluated today by a vet. Local ferret friends will be picking
up supplies to take to the SPCA. You may send donations to them at:
Virginia Beach SPCA:
3040 Holland Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23453

Animal Control has 16 ferrets and needs only ferret food. You may send
donations to them at:
Virginia Beach Animal Control
2665 Leroy Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456

As information about availability for adoption becomes available,
we will share it with you. Please remember that we must put our
differences aside and work together for the ferrets. Thank you for
your concern and offers to help.

For the Ferret Council,
Renee Downs
Moderator

It's amazing how much can be accomplished if nobody cares who gets the
credit!
"The most effective way to do it, is to do it." Amelia Earhart
Ferret Emergency Response, Rescue & Evacuation Team (F.E.R.R.E.T.)
http://www.ferretemergency.org
[log in to unmask]
International Ferret Congress
http://www.ferretcongress.org

[Posted in FML 5868]