Last weekend MaFF received a call on the Hotline regarding an 8-year
old ferret needing medical attention. The owner had volunteerily taken
in the ferret after personal tragedy hit the ferret's family. She has
had the ferret for about a year and has grown quite fond of him.
However, her personal circumstances have made it quite impossible to
afford any medical attention for the ferret. MaFF's Hotline Coordinator
called me to find a MaFF member in the owner's area to go to the home
of the owner and check on the condition of the ferret, as well as to
assist the ferret's owner with any ferret care issues. He reported that
the ferret's owner had done quite well with caring for the ferret, but
that disability hindered her in providing medical care for the ferret.
She said the ferret was treated for an ear infection in December, but
was still having some ear issues and some hindend weakness was
observed.

After much discussion on how to handle this situation, the MaFF BOD
decided to assist the owner with some medical attention for the ferret
and some additional ferret care training.

Now here's where the MaFF members really got to work. Following is the
schedule for this ferret for this holiday weekend:

MaFF North Shore Area Coordinator picks up ferret from owner on Friday
afternoon and takes ferret to work in Revere Director of SSFC meets
area coordinator at his job and picks up ferret for trip back to
shelter in Holbrook and overnight stay Director of MaFF Shelter picks
up ferret Saturday in Holbrook and brings to MaFF shelter in New
Bedford, where he will stay for Saturday and Sunday MaFF Foster
Caregiver picks up ferret from MaFF shelter and takes to vet on Monday
and returns ferret to MaFF shelter MaFF South Shore Area Coordinator
picks up ferret from MaFF Shelter for trip back to SSFC in Holbrook
for overnight stay SSFC Foster Caregiver picks up ferret in Holbrook
on Tuesday, returns ferret to owner in Beverly

When Davey the ferret is returned to his owner, the SSFC Foster
Caregiver will review the findings from the vet visit as well as assist
the owner with supportive care.

Now this may seem like alot of steps to get this ferret from Beverly
to see a vet on the South Shore, but with the Easter weekend and
everyone's busy schedule, MaFF volunteers stepped up to the plate for
Davey. I can't say enough about our members and their commitment to
reach out to help a ferret when needed - even an elder gent like
Davey....

Phyllis Spy
President, MaFF

[Posted in FML 5571]