Hi folks,
 
A lady called me this past weekend, very upset with our local SPCA.  I
have tried to deal with the man running it for sometime and he is not very
agreeable (he apparently had an accident some time ago and is just short of
being retarded - why he is still running this SPCA I have no idea).  They
do take in ferrets and adopt them out and I thought that was good since so
many SPCA's will just euthanize them.  During our conversations I told him
that I would be there in a heartbeat to adopt any ferret that he was unable
to adopt out or was in danger of being put down and he agreed with that,
all the while assuring me that they never put down ferrets, they always
found them a home.
 
Well, this lady told me that she just adopted a ferret from there right
before Christmas because he was going to have her put down. He was also
thinking of putting down dogs and cats (not sure if he meant all of them or
not) just because he didn't want to have anyone come in on Christmas day to
take care of the animals.
 
The lady I spoke with is close with the two college girls that volunteer
at the SPCA and that is how she found out the ferret was there and other
things that are going on (the ladies who work there are very afraid of him
and will not speak out against him, although they are willing to talk
anonymously).  When she went to adopt the ferret, this man was very rude to
her and threatened her that if she didn't keep the ferret, he would have
her arrested.
 
This is not the first time that I have heard complaints about this man,
although this was the worst of the lot.  My husband and I adopted our two
dogs from this SPCA, so I am well aware of what a shoddy job he does - the
only questions asked to adopt the puppies were, "Can I see your license?" &
"That will be $70 please." There was no adoption application, no questions
asked - we were actually given the dogs right then.  I thought it was a
standard with the SPCA's that you had to be approved to adopt and wait at
least one day - can anyone confirm this for me?
 
I have dealt with other SPCA's in PA and this is NOT the way they run
things.  They are wonderful and do a great job.  So, I am on the great hunt
to find out who this man reports to and what can be done about him.
 
The point of this message is that the lady who adopted the ferret (Claudia)
cannot keep her (the Yorkie doesn't get along with Claudia although Claudia
likes the Yorkie).  If she can't find a home for Claudia she will turn her
over to our shelter, but I thought we might be able to bypass the whole
shelter step.
 
Claudia is ~5 years old, female, up to date on all her shots and very
active (she may be younger, I have not personally seen her).  She is
apparently a champagne/chocolate color, litterbox trained & gets along well
with people and dogs.  She doesn't nip and loves to be cuddled and steals
all the dog's toys.  If anyone is interested in welcoming Claudia into
their home, please contact me at [log in to unmask]
 
I am not sure if she comes with a cage (don't think so), but the lady is
asking to get her $25 adoption fee back.  Please think about letting this
little girl into your family.
 
I will keep you posted on the SPCA issue.
 
Mary and the gang of 21....
 
Mary McCarty-Houser
Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association
Director, Centre County Branch
http://www.ferretrescue.com
 
Don't miss the Three Rivers Ferret Show
March 13th, 1999 - Oakmont, PA
http://trfn.clpgh.org/trfc/Show.shtml
[Posted in FML issue 2553]