I am continually amazed at the response we have had for help with our
shelter's medical funding needs.  Our most recent appeal was for Ronnie, an
older shelter resident with an adrenal tumor and liver disease.  Although I
personally supported this shelter for years, I now need the help of others
due to my spinal problems.  You have not let me down.  Ronnie's surgery was
fully covered by generous donations from Canada (Jackie Rice), the Virgin
Islands (Bioimpact Corp.) Vickie in Nevada, a ferret mom in New York,
Kathleen in California and several general donations which we applied to
Ronnie's bills.  Ronnie is doing very well.  He is an older ferret and will
always have problems, but for the time being he is active and happy and
made an excellent recovery from his surgery.  We are so grateful to all of
your for your kindness and generosity.  Ronnie feels so much better and
that is his way of saying, "Thanks for my life".
 
Now to Dale.  We had a call for help from a young couple who live way, way
out in rural Colorado.  We drove out to take a look at their sweet male
ferret, "Dale".  He had been suffering with a large tumor inside his ear
and his owners were not able to afford the estimated surgical charges.  The
tumor looked like a cluster of tiny balloons attached to the lower inside
of the ear canal by a small "stem'--sort of like a beehive.  We were able
to do the surgery at our shelter for no charge.  Dale spent a few days at
the shelter and we were able to observe other problems (not that unusual
when there is a tumor on the outside).  He has an adrenal tumor
(demontrating male mounting, although neutered), generally not thrifty
looking and certainly lethargic.  We fed him a high calorie diet and he
still gained very little weight.  So he may have more going on than an
adrenal tumor although he is only two years old.
 
Our vet advises a general exploratory and we concur.  His owners are young
and struggling.  Cost to the shelter for this surgery will be about $150.
Try to find that price anywhere else!!  This is the only way Dale is going
to have a chance.  We sent him home on prescription drugs and immune system
boosters, all at shelter expense, to await funding for surgery.  The sooner
we do this the better, but we need your help.  Again, we can do this with a
combination of donations, unless we can dip into the paycheck of one
generous ferret owner.  You can e-mail us directly for further information
or send your donation to: Ferret Rescue of the Western States, 140 W.  29th
St., Suite 191, Pueblo, CO 81008, specifying that it is for Dale, and we
will keep you posted on his medical situation.  There are never any
guarantees on surgery, but to do nothing is unthinkable.  That's why we run
a shelter that specializes in medical treatment and never turn anyone down.
You make that possible!
 
We are still sending out our adrenal info packet--now up to 15 pages!  You
may request it at the address above, sending a stamped business envelope.
Postage is 78 cents, but we will add anything needed beyond what you
provide.
 
Thank you from all the ferrets.........
    Carolyn at Ferret Rescue of the Western States
[Posted in FML issue 2428]