Hi Everyone:
 
I received this email from a shelter which is in need of help from the FML.
I had heard that this shelter was in need of vaccines, so I sent some, but
they need more help than just I can give.  As a ferret lover, I wished I
could do more.  Cam has tried very hard to get through this crisis on her
own, but now she is asking for help from the ferret community.  I am
forwarding this at her request to the FML.  If anyone has any ideas for
raising some funds to help this shelter, I know it would be appreciated.
If you can, please help.
 
Thanks
 
Lisa, Head Ferret
The Ferret Haven "By-the-Sea"
URL:http://www.kozykingdom.com/ferrethaven
Want to help The Ferret Haven By-the-Sea? Register at iGive.com
by cutting and pasting this link:
http://www.iGive.com/html/ssi.cfm?CID=1236&MID=854
 
>This is a straight plea for help.  I am the president of a large shelter
>in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, housing about 171 animals as of February 6, 1999.
>On February 5th, a ferret named Fauna was euthanized due to suspected
>distemper.  She had been in our quarantine room and then to the ICU when
>she became very ill, finally winding up at the vet to be euthanized.  No
>one was sure exactly what was wrong, since she didn't exhibit the "classic"
>signs of distemper, and had a few other things wrong with her.
>
>Saturday the 6th, I bundled off my newest addition to the Foster Central's
>crew up to Ferret Central, a biter named Virgo who looked awful, like she
>had a cold coming on or something worse.  It's SOP to take sick ferrets
>back to Ferret Central to be possibly transferred to our third location,
>Ferret ICU.
>
>By late Saturday afternoon, we had three very sick ferrets, all under the
>age of 2.  Their eyes crusted shut, their pawpads were swollen like bear
>feet, their rectums were swollen and they itched like kids with the chicken
>pox.  Panic ensued as Judy, Jo and I racked our brains to come up with
>something other than distemper.  I sent out a plea on the shelter mailing
>list for information, compiled it and presented it to our Board of
>Directors.  The news was grim, as were the final test results available on
>that Thursday.  It was distemper, and we were up to five dead.
>
>I think I've talked to every vet in the country by now!  We are coping, and
>even thought things were going to improve after Milo died on February 20th.
>No one had any symptoms until this past Saturday morning.  This past
>weekend, we had 8 die.  Our total dead so far is 22, 20 of them under the
>age of 3.
>
>Before anyone judges us too harshly, please be aware that we did not
>vaccinate adoptables upon the advice of two very good ferret vets due to
>the severity of the ECE viruses in this area.  In the 15 years of this
>shelter's operation, this is our first experience with distemper, which
>is not a bad track record.
>
>The ones that died at my house were new to permanent shelter resident
>status, within the last year (except one, who had immune system problems).
>The ones at the shelter, except two very old ferrets, were all adoptables
>waiting for a new home and had been with us less than 4 months (most of
>them less than 6 weeks, barely over the ECE).
>
>I'm not good at asking for help.  Yet, as the president of this shelter, I
>feel it my responsibility to keep us going.  We have many wonderful
>volunteers who will continue to take in the needy ferrets in SE Wisconsin
>and either transfer them to the other, smaller shelter in Milwaukee as cage
>space becomes available or hold them until we can safely take in ferrets
>again.  Special ventilation systems have been installed in every room that
>holds ferrets in our three shelter locations, donations by our members.
>Lisa Leidig, of Ferret Haven By the Sea, donated 10 distemper vaccines
>(THANK YOU, LISA!).
>
>We are tapped, however.  Vet bills still need to be paid, food needs to be
>purchased and while I'm not quite down to using shredded newspaper as my
>only litter (I work for a newspaper) we may be there before this is over.
>We are asking for help.
>
>If you are able to donate anything, please let me know.  I can be reached
>at [log in to unmask], or at 414-389-9671.  Monetary donations to our vets are
>welcome (the addresses are below), as are any donations to FFGM as a non-
>profit.  We are registered, so donations are tax-deductible!  We also
>welcome bedding, raffle prizes for our meetings, old material for burial
>clothes.
>
>Thank you for your time.
>
>Please say a prayer if you would for the Ferret Central ferrets who have
>died:
>Josephine, Fauna, Stinky, Mr. Ferret, Butterfly, Milo, Buddy, Mae, Frick,
>Frack, Ding, Dong, Willie and Sassy.
>
>The ferrets from my house that have died (Foster Central) are:
>
>Chainsaw, Virgo, Zeus, Birdy, Casey, Possum, Noodles and Shadow.
>
>Our vets, who are wonderful, compassionate people:
>Silver Spring Animal Wellness Center
>1405 West Silver Spring Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53209
>(414) 228-7655
>
>Dr Tom's Home Veterinary Care
>1504 Parknoll Lane, Port Washington, WI 53074
>(414) 284-7293
[Posted in FML issue 2605]