I thought about it and almost said yes send me her info I have a outline
I made up of the things you need to do a real rescue service. Also, SOS
has now a website to help those wanting to do rescue. But then if she
is already arguing with someone who has experience, the only thing that
is going to teach her is experience itself - which is at the cost of
some ferrets. It's sad but some people are so set in their ways they
already know more than anyone else out there. If she gets into it
big time and has so many turned into her that do need medical care
(providing she can recognize it), and she starts shelling out money,
she may ask for help and then be open for it.

The rescue before us in this area thought it was fantastic to take in
ferrets for free, adopt them out for $75. Then when she started getting
in some adrenals, she'd get them a Lupron IF they didn't have too much
hair loss and adopt them out as healthy. If they were too far gone, she
had them put down. That didn't even help her as she found the cleaning
supplies, food, litter, time to care for them and clean up after them
was more than she could afford. She had even reached out to FML for
contributions when 18 were left on the yard of one of our people known
to have a lot of ferrets and did take care of them all the way.. She
appealed for help for shots and vaccinations and adrenal surgeries when
the vet she used was already doing this for no charge. I myself took
over 50 lbs of washing detergent and big rolls of paper towels. Then
when I found she was using the money coming in to pay her back taxes
on her mobile home and paying her lot payment, after I was the one who
made the appeal for her on FML, I pulled out with all 4 feet..........

It was after she shut down and moved that I began to match people who
wanted to give up and those who wanted to have - then I ran into those
who had to rehome them immediately couldn't wait, gave those away and
then got them in needing surgery and the expenses went up where I went
back to work to pay for it, still giving them away. After so long I
knew I couldn't keep going like that either and began to ask for
adoption fees and then finally surrender fees. We waive it a lot but we
do ask for a donation of $25 per ferret to help cover initial check in.
When they walk in the door, the ferrets are giving a distemper shot,
nails trimmed and a microchip. The first Tues after they arrive they
go to the vet for the rabies and a health exam to determine if heart
murmur, teeth problems, or tumors somewhere I can't feel............
you'd be surprised how many babies under a year have heart problems -
some will out grow it, some it is for the rest of their lives. Had more
people willing to help so someone took over the website, another the
applications, another heading up picking up the ferrets from animal
controls - different individuals that will cover different areas -
another one to answer emails and phone questions about how to play
with ferrets, how to correct potty problems, etc. Sharing all these
chores helped us with the large #'s in this area. We were taking in
over 300 to 350 per year.

Now, we don't have that many requests as we had then. I am almost 71
years old. I cannot clean up after that many any more so I am more
selective and there are times I do turn down ferrets. One good example
is those turning in ferrets that are 8 or 9 years old - can't tell you
how many times I have taken fine looking for their age ferrets in but
they became so despondent, depressed, heart sick, I stayed up through
the night or got up every 2 hours to force feed, sub-q, medicate them -
saved some, lost some. I can't do that any more and although I have
called on our fosters for that duty, it was driving more people away
from fostering because it is such a heartbreak to go through all that
and lose these little guys. The pain is too much and so, beat me up if
you want to, I recommend to the people turning these elders in, if you
cannot just hold out for a little while longer keeping them, it is
kinder to let them go now rather than give them to someone and upset
their world so much they go into depression and are begging to be
allowed to go. I still have a lot of trouble mentally with people who
can enjoy these little darlings while young and active and then expect
when there is more involved to take care of them they expect someone
else to take them, fall in love, and shortly thereafter lose them. I
try to emphasize to these people the taste of water is different to
them, smell of detergent used on cleaning their bedding, the time
element is different, people, other animals, smells, its as hard on
them as it is to put very elderly people into nursing homes.

These are experiences that has made us grow, become more effective in
providing a service not only of taking in the unwanted or those that do
have to be rehomed, but we also can help keep families together with
solid advice and even pay food expenses till they get on their feet.
Sometimes we even let someone turn in an elderly one if it is only
because of their not having the $$ for their medical, then get them
taken care of and let those same people become the foster home for
these guys as we will then pay for medical expenses for life- it’s a
lot easier than taking them in and then having to find another home for
them as they can't stay here at the shelter - too many ins and outs and
can't have a full relationship with the ones here as it is temporary
where if they are in a foster home, they live their for life with
mostly the same ferrets all the time.

If only I had known then what I know now (maybe would have never gotten
into this) but I could have done so much better. We didn't have guide
lines then, it was just give it a try and go for it. Now SOS is here
and has material and educational advice to give those wanting to start
a shelter. This will help so many who will listen and try to do it, to
benefit from those who have had the experience, and will have a better
chance at being a success. But if this gal you talked to wouldn't even
listen to you on the advice about vetting - I truly doubt anyone can
help her. She will have to learn on her own - if she sincerely wants
to do rescue, she will reach out for help, if she thinks it is a money
making idea, she'll soon be discouraged.

Millie Sanders at Txferretrescue.org
with Texas Ferret Lovers Rescue and
connecting Foster homes and sanctuaries

[Posted in FML 8155]