PET PALS was originally started in 1988 in Annandale, VA.  Pet Pals had
taken in over 1300 ferrets and placed them in new homes throughout the East
Coast.  In late 1996, Pet Pals was restructured to help owners place their
own ferrets, as well as refer ferret owners to knowledgeable ferret
veterinarians, breeders, clubs, or other ferret resources.
 
In Fairfax Co., Pet Pals worked to have ferrets included in the rabies
clinic and an established quarantine time for rabies vaccinated ferrets
involved in bite cases, one of the first such policies in the nation.
 
Pet Pals is an Ark Angel with the League of Independent Ferret Enthusiasts
(LIFE).
 
PET PALS is located in Springfield, Virginia and supports ferret owners
using several methods:
 
PLACEMENT SERVICE:
 
* Assist owners to place their own ferrets.  This gives them the security
  of knowing who the new owners are.
 
* Take applications for any ferret, for any reason, for placement.
 
* Educate the people giving up the ferret, in the hopes that they will
  resolve their problem and keep the ferret.
 
The fee for the efforts of the Ferret Placement and Referral Service is
$1.00 and a SASE.  This covers the cost of mailings and copying.
 
Donations of stamps, long envelopes, and copier paper are always welcomed.
 
Pet Pals formerly handled around 150 ferrets a year and has restructured in
an effort to keep ferrets in a home environment longer, preventing the
stress that can come with a shelter situation.
 
REFERRAL SERVICE:
 
* Refer to other ferret shelters any "must place now" ferrets.
 
* Provide a listing of clubs, veterinarians, rescues, and other ferret
  resources for experienced and new ferret owners.
 
* Maintain a listing of ferret events and shows across the United States.
 
INFORMATION:
 
* Give classroom talks and group demonstrations.
 
* Set-up for pet shops and pet expos.
 
* Free literature about ferrets, care and points of contact.
 
Inquiries are sent a placement / adoption form to have the appropriate side
completed and returned to Pet Pals.  The mailing will also contain
information on ferret care, area ferret clubs, organizations, veterinarians
treating ferrets, and products for pets.
 
BREEDING FOR HEALTH AND QUALITY:
 
* Kits available only a few times a year ($150 each).  For pet ferrets,
  neutering is included in the fee.  Sorry, we do not ship ferrets.
 
* No line breeding.
 
* Vasectomized hobs available for bringing females out of cycle if no litter
  is desired.
 
* Ferrets imported from Germany and their offspring are available for a stud
  fee for jills with at least one generation of documented bloodline.
 
* Hobs available for stud: sable and cinnamon.
 
* Jills are sable and cinnamon.
 
If we can be of any service regarding ferrets in the future, please write or
e-mail.  If you have a medical emergency, please call your veterinarian.
 
THE FERRETS OF PET PALS
Ferret Placement and Referral Service is a not-for-profit service to help
assist in the placement of ferrets in Virginia and Maryland.
 
THE FERRETS
of
PET PALS
 
Ferret Placement & Referral Service
 
Pamela Grant
P. O. Box 1714
Springfield, VA
22151-0714
[log in to unmask]
 
For a listing of ferret rescues, clubs, breeders, veterinarians and other
resources in another state, please send a long SASE to:
 
 STAR* Ferrets,
 P. O. Box 1714,  Springfield, VA
 22151-0714
[Posted in FML issue 1766]