This is once again submitted for Diane Rogers, President Baltimore Ferret
Club. Unfortunately due to a missed message (computer error) I didn't get
this in time for yesterday's Digest. My Apologies, Tom Hendricks
Subject: Update on Release of Ferrets/Mink in Wicomico MD
Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 19:52:54 -0400
From: John and Diane Rogers <[log in to unmask]>
Organization: Baltimore Ferret Club
To: [log in to unmask]
This is an update on the information I sent you last night, with sources
noted.
Carol Scott of the All About Bandit Shelter in Annapolis spoke with Frank
Parsons, owner of the ferret/mink farm in Wicomico County, late on Monday
night, and reported the following to me regarding the release of the
ferrets/mink: Mr. Parsons' daughter awoke at approximately 3 am because the
family dogs were barking. She saw a white mink running loose on the
property. She turned on the lights in the yard, and saw hundreds of
animals, ferrets and mink, running loose. The family turned out of bed to
try to recapture the animals - they discovered that the fence surrounding
the cage area (which is outside) had been cut. The animals escaped from the
fenced compound into the surrounding rural area. The gate, which is locked
at the highway entrance to the property, was left locked. The cages, which
are typical small fur farm cages, were opened, and several groups of nursing
kits were left without their jills, who escaped.
At the time Carol spoke with Mr. Parsons, there were 15 ferrets still
missing, 38 mink still missing. It was her understanding that the neighbors
in the area and Wicomico Humane Society/Animal Control were on the scene
trying to capture the loosed animals. Mr. Parsons and his family worked
nonstop until the next day to find the animals, but several were found on
the first day run over on the highway adjacent to his property. Carol
reported that Mr. Parsons thought he would be able to handle the nursing
kits if he could capture the missing jills and/or foster them out to the
remaining nursing jills.
Carol further reported that a $1000 reward is offered by the Parsons for
information leading to the prosecution of the persons who broke into his
property.
The Baltimore Ferret Club, AFA, and the Maryland Coalition for Rational
Rabies Policies put out a press release on this event to all the major news
sources in the area Monday afternoon. Interviews on Channel 13 with Alex
Demetrick on the spot in Wicomico County showed Mr. Parsons walking through
his fur farm enclosure. On tape, Mr. Parsons, stated the following: He
believes that the release of these animals was done by animal activists.
(Mr. Parsons' establishment was the subject of a PETA article in 1995, but
he did not attribute this action to PETA or any other group.) Mr. Parsons
stated that 85 baby ferrets have died so far due to the loss of the nursing
jills. He estimates that his loss overall is $10,000. As of the interview
on Channel 13, he still has 10 ferrets and 10 mink missing - he stated there
are no suspects in the case. Offers from all over the area to help foster
the kits or provide supplements so far are not being solicited by Mr.
Parsons - as we all know , it is almost impossible to handfeed this quantity
of baby ferrets successfully.
Per Jim Brown, Vice President of the BFC, radio reports from Salisbury and
other communities indicated that loosed mink had killed some of Mr. Parsons'
pet ducks, and at least one kitten owned by a neighbor.
To date, the Baltimore Ferret Club, All About Bandit Shelter, Maryland
Coalition, and the AFA have weighed in with press releases decrying this
misguided attempt to express love for animals. All of us are grieving for
the loss of the baby ferrets and the other animals. As of this writing, I
have no information re actions we can take to help out in this situation.
Mr. Parsons is deluged with press and dying kits. On a personal note, I
have never been able to bring myself to visit the Parsons farm, but I know
of many persons in the ferret community here in VA/MD/PA and elsewhere who
own these ferrets - they are healthy, they win show prizes with top
conformation points, and are reputed to have good temperaments. I leave it
to the rest of the ferret community to chew over this latest event...I
thought everyone would like to know the facts as I know them tonight at
7:45 pm Tuesday.
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John and Diane Rogers - Baltimore Ferret Club
http://baltoferret.com/bfc000.htm
mailto:[log in to unmask]
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[Posted in FML issue 1934]
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