Greetings and Happy Holidays to all fellow fuzzy lovers!
 
We are hoping there's a Shelter out there who can offer advice on our
current situation.  Our local Las Cruces Humane Society is refusing to turn
their homeless Ferrets over to us.  We've both talked to the Director (With
their past Director there was no problem, they knew it was best for the
Ferrets), and she refuses.  She said, "Maybe after the Holidays we can sit
down and discuss this".
 
We were able to get one of the two ferrets they had (but had to pay the
adoption fee!), and it was very obvious to me that they know next to nothing
about how to care for these animals.  I went in to see the little female,
and as I picked her up, the resident vet said, "Hope you know something
about ferrets, 'cause I don't know anything about them".  I don't even think
they looked at her closely!  I got her home, and after consulting with Lea,
we decided she had a respiratory infection, in addition to a possible broken
rib, mild dehydration, muscle deterioration, and obvious malnutrition.
X-rays tomorrow and a full checkup, though.
 
There was yet another outrage.....
There were no adoption forms, like there are for dogs and cats.  Nothing to
make sure I'll take care of her.  (Of course I will!) I gave them the money,
and he photocopied my liscense, and wrote my address and phone # on the same
sheet.  There was nothing else.  It may have been because I let them know I
work with a Ferret Shelter, but Lea and I seriously doubt it!
 
We donated Ferret food and snooze tubes the first day I went up there, along
with a stack of info handouts.  On the second day when I went to pick up the
little girl, I noticed that they had the same food as the day before in her
dish, not the food we donated.  I'm pretty sure it was rabbit pellets.  (I'm
definitely sure it wasn't Marshall!)
 
The little girl is fine today.  She wouldn't eat last night on her own so I
had to syringe-feed her some Duck Soup.  (Thanks, Carla!) The antibiotics
have helped, too.  Now she's eating a little at a time on her own.
 
If any shelters have suggestions for us, please let us know what we should
do!  We were lucky to have gotten this female out of there before they
watched her die.  They thought she was just "real sleepy", they had no clue
she was sick!  We don't want other Ferrets to have to go through this if
they don't have to.
 
*Any* help would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks
 
Lea Statler and Shadera Jones
 
Charlie's Inn Ferret Shelter and Rescue
(505)678-2395
[Posted in FML issue 1785]