I did respond privately to the person who originally posed the question about
shelters and the greenies and adopting.  But since it keeps coming up on the
boards and I'm the largest ferret shelter on the East Coast (intake wise), I
thought I'd share my situation with everyone.
 
Everytime I think I have that dam* virus licked - it hits again.  I was
probably one of the first shelters hit by the ECE in March 1993, and since
none of us knew what we were dealing with, I lost 26 ferrets that year (one
of my own, the rest adoptees), either directly or indirectly to the virus.
I've learned a lot sonce then.  Last year I lost 3, and they were all du e to
poorly maintained ferrets which were compromised or ill coming into the
shelter.  I've dragged a lot back from the brink of death, and they are doing
fine now.  This year, I have lost a few ferrets, but I think only one could
be truely linked to the virus, the rest died of old age or other medical
situations.  Remember, we see the worst of the lot in shelters, as well as
some great pets, so we have more than our fair share of disappointments.
 
Anyway - I am still adopting out ferrets.  The ECE is so thick here in my
area that more ferrets are exposed than are not.  I will not adopt out, board
or take in ferrets five years or older any longer, unless they came from my
shelter or there is no other possible solution.  I explain the virus to
people before they expose their animal, and I am handing out a flyer on the
virus, with the duck soup recipe incorporated.
 
Right now, I have another outbreak and several of the adoptees are not
placeable (they must be recovered and normal looking bowel movements before I
adopt them out).  No one is suffering or "hanging on by a thread", but it is
very irritating to have to supplement feedings by hand just to make sure the
fuzzies are eating something.
 
Shoot me if you want - but in MY opinion - if you live in an area with the
green slime and want to allow your ferret to be social with other ferrets
(shows, club meetings, etc.), expose your ferrets while they are young and
can more easily handle it, rather than trying to protect them.  People have
carried this virus on their clothes, shoes, purses, etc.  Even vet clinics
are not safe.  The ECE will bring on hidden problems early like adrenals,
insulinoma, etc. if the ferret is disposed to this problem.  The first ferret
I lost showed signs of insulinoma at 5 years with no previous signs, and she
was dead in two weeks.  The virus weakens the system and allows other
problems to take over (like AIDS).
 
If you don't have the virus, and don't want it, then please leave you
ferrets home and don't get another ferret unless it is from a pet shop.
 
The funny thing about this virus is that kits seem to be the least affected
by it.  I have had several litters born here and they all come down with
green poops at around 4 weeks and then that is it.  ONE DAYS worth.  They
are not born with an immunity (IMO) as far as I have observed.  The Canadian
ferrets seem to be the most resistant to the virus, though I have the
suspision (SP?) that they may have also brought it with them when they were
intorduced to pet shops here in 1993.
 
That's it from me, And there is no wrong or right way to handle it unless
you are not informing people of what they are being exposed to.  It is not
fair to the ferrets to not inform their owners.
 
Pam / the Ferrets of Pet Pals
[Posted in FML issue 1243]