It is the week of Christmas, and I'll be home for the rest of the year doing
things around the house and working on STAR* and things for HSUS.  One item
that I'd like your help with is the updating of the STAR* ferret resource
listing.  If you want to be listed as a contact (someone who knows about
ferrets and can give helpful advise to new or "thinking about it"
to-be-owners), or have a vet to add, or have a ferret related business (sell
products, run a shelter, ferretry, club, etc.) then please MAIL the
completed form back to me ASAP.  I will only accept DELETIONS over the
e-mail system.  If you are already listed, please fill out the form and MAIL
it to me again to keep your update current.  All resources for ferret
businesses were downgraded to "contact" for 1998 and will be deleted off the
listing if not maintained.  The database is so huge that I have to do this
to keep only active ferret resources - if you can't afford to spend .32
cents and a little time to send me the info update, will you put any effort
into helping others with ferret questions?
 
Thank you.
 
FERRET RESOURCE UPDATE & SURVEY
 
This survey is sponsored by FerretWare Ferret Products 1-800-FERRETW   �
http://www.ferretware.com
 
Please take the time to update your LISTING for the 1998 STAR* Resource
Database.  Otherwise,  your listing will be removed 1/20/98.  I'm having
trouble keeping the area codes up to date - I NEED YOUR HELP!
 
If you are a shelter/vet/club, please fill in some statistical information
for our annual survey.  This information is important!  If you want to be
properly listed on STAR*'s Resource Listing, you MUST return this form via
snail mail - because of different programs, I can't always read what has
been inputted.  Thank you for your time and stamp.
 
Return this survey to:
STAR* Ferrets,
P.O. Box 1714,
Springfield, VA 22151-0714.
Enclose a SASE (#10 - the long one) with one stamp for each list and specify
if you would like: 1) results of the survey [out February], 2) a copy of the
final resource listing [out February] or 3) a copy of just your state's
resources [vets, clubs, shelters, breeders, etc.- anytime].
 
Survey must be returned before January 20, 1998 in order to make the HSUS
handout for San Diego, CA.
 
Ferret Organization's Name:
Contact Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Phone number:
Fax:
E-mail:
Do you have a newsletter?
 
list no more than TWO choices:
(shelter, contact, hobby breeder, vet, club/association,
wholesaler/ferret farm, product seller)
 
Please fill in the following information as it applies to you.  Thank You.
 
1. What are the three top reasons ferrets are turned in to your service?
a) moving  b) baby   c) no time/don't want   d) getting old / ill  e) biting
f) not getting along w/ other pets           g) found/stray        h) other:
 
2.  Do local animal rescues/shelters release ferrets to you?
    YES  / NO / SOMETIMES
Do they refer people that are looking for ferrets to you?
    YES  / NO / SOMETIMES
 
3.  What is the average age of ferrets coming to you?    _____  years
    Do you keep ferrets if they are over a certain age?
    NO / YES - what age? _______
 
4. What is your average turn-around time for placing ferrets?  ______ weeks
   What month(s) are busier than others?  slower than others?
 
5. Do you adopt/sell all adult ferrets neutered?
   YES / NO / whole to breeders only
 
6. What distemper vaccine do you or your vet use?
   FERVAC / GALAXY / Other
 
(please enclose business card or clinic name, Dr., address, city , state,
zip & phone for our list)
 
7.  What problems have you had this year with ferret illness?
7a. How many cases of adrenal tumors did you see?   # = _____    % = _____
7b. How many ferrets with adrenal cancer have tattoos?  # = _____   % = ____
 
8. What are the fees that you charge to people wanting to adopt a ferret?
   Kits:   ______    Young Adult (1-3yrs):   ______    Older Adult:  _______
 
9. What do you feed your ferrets?   (list or add all brands used)
A) Cat food from Grocery store (Whiskas, Kitten Chow, Friskies, Crave, Dads.)
B) High quality cat foods like Pro Plan, Iams, Science Diet, Nutro/Max Cat,
Eukanuba...
C) Ferret foods like Mini Friends, KayTee, 8 in 1, Mazuri, Purina, Totally
Ferret...
D) Combination of A and B above
E) Combination of A and C above
F) Combination B and C above
G) Combination of A, B & C
   Additional Brands used:
 
10.  Please take the time to research your records and fill in the
following for statistical information (for 1997 only):
 
Rescue ferrets taken in:
Rescue ferrets adopted out:
How many were unaltered?
How many had double dot (MF) tattoos in their ear?
How many had other tattoos or markings?  What were they?
How many ferrets are returned and readopted?
Ferrets that died while at the shelter : _____ put to sleep: _____
Total deaths: _____
Ferrets that were kept by the shelter:
Why did you keep these ferrets?
 
Shelter started in: Club started in:
Ferrets taken in to date: (Since starting rescue through 1997.)
Ferrets adopted out to date: (Since starting rescue through 1997.)
 
Do you want to be removed from STAR*'s Resource list?    Yes   /    No
[Posted in FML issue 2163]