I'm not a shelter owner or anything like that, but I do have an idea.
 
First of all, I can understand her dillemma if she is being truthful.
A boyfriend/husband can be overbearing and even frightening at times if
you feel you are doing something that is against their will (whether or
not they make that obvious to you).  It could just be in the woman's head
but if she doesn't want to hurt her significant other's feelings then it
can be quite suffocating.  A state of mental unrest could have been part
of the reason for her treatment of the fuzzies.  Then again, maybe her
hubby didn't leave because of the fuzzies.  Maybe this lady really is as
dim as she sounds.
 
Regardless of what happened, I wonder if it would be possible to allow
her to re-adopt her previously owned fuzzies, but only under a contract
stating that you can have frequent and unannounced visits to see them and
inspect them, and to question her.  If you find anything that isn't to
your liking, you can take them back.  Unfortunately, it is inconvenient
for you to have to keep after her.
 
This does put the ferrets at some risk however, and I doubt you or
anyone else would be willing to take that risk.  But I can't think of
another way to judge if she is truthful or not...
 
-Kate
[Posted in FML issue 4931]