This is Part ONE of TWO parts from Ferrets NorthWest FNW.
[Two parts combined. BIG]
 
Dear Kelli Flores,  (And any others who may be interested)
 
So very sorry to read of your tragic loss of the two ferrets that you
adopted recently.
 
As a breeder of ferrets and a shelter operator of some seniority (been in
this business since 1981) there is always present the possibility of
adopting new and strange ferrets that are perhaps irretrievably destined
for the rainbow bridge crossover.
 
This unfortunate happening can occur when the shelter or an individual
simply does not hold the ferret(s) long enough to determine that they are
healthy before they hurry to put them into someone else's responsibility.
I would guess that this is what happened in your experience.
 
I don't know what shelter or persons made the ferrets available to you,
so I cannot direct my remarks to any one shelter, nor do I wish to be
interpreted as casting dispersions on that shelter or persons.  My remarks
are general and non-discriminatory.  I would agree with you that you are
due an apology, however.
 
From what I've learned here in the last year or so, some local shelter(s)
have spoken with apparent pride that they have been able to adopt out
ferrets on the same day they received them, or at most just a few days
after receipt.  Such quick turn-around is an indication, so it seems to me,
that the shelter or person either knows not what they are doing, or worse
yet, don't much care.  Their primary interest is to get the ferrets out of
their place as quickly as they can.
 
And they have their reasons I'm sure.  It could be they don't have the time
or commitment, not enough people helping out, limited space (cages), or,
let's hope this is not the case, they knew the ferrets were sick and were
determined to get rid of them as soon as possible so they wouldn't be
burdened with the horrific experiences of nursing a dying ferret(s) and
the related and often inconsequential veterinary efforts.
 
Here at Ferrets NorthWest, I've learned a long, long time ago that it is
just plain awful to have to deal with a bereaved owner who has suffered as
you have because their beautiful and loved ferret (s) has died at a time
not too long after adoption.
 
[part 2]
I've learned that the best policy is to keep all incoming ferrets here
at Ferrets NorthWest FNW for at least one month before I even think of
adopting them out.  Most important for me is to find out if the incoming
ferret is really sick but is not showing any outward symptoms.  Within a
month, if symptoms do appear, then I get the ferret to the vet right away
for treatment and hopefully, a cure.  In the event the sickness is
terminal, then the ferret is, with the vet's recommendation always,
euthanized mercifully.
 
The other reason I hold the ferret for 30 days or so is to get the ferret
transferred over to my home-made ferret food, a soup that is called LUMPS.
Pardon me for saying this, but with much pride I can claim that my
home-made ferret soup is better than any, and I mean any, ferret food you
could possible buy on the market today.
 
There have been times when a malnourished ferret was incoming and was of
low weight and poor coat, that after the 30 day holding period, that ferret
put on weight, changed it's personality, and in some cases, I was so
surprised, the ferret's color actually changed to a color different from
its original color.
 
Since my adoption fees are based partly on color, I cannot afford to charge
an adopter for a colored ferret that may or may not change color after they
have taken possession.  Therefore I've got to know what I'm doing, or I'm
going to have an angry ferret owner on my hands.  This too, has happened
to me ... ugh, just awful.
 
There have been a few instances where the 30 day holding period did not
apply.  And due to adopter's insistence on having that particular ferret
amongst all the others, I've informed the adopter of the risk they are
taking by insisting on taking a ferret that has not been here the required
time.  But, at least, they get to read the ferret's paper.
 
I'm hesitant to say that my policies are the best, but to protect the
customer and myself, I am adamant that any ferret turned into FNW comes
with a written one-page historical background paper on that ferret.  This
historical background paper must be provided by the owner of the ferret at
the time it is relenquished to FNW.  Otherwise I'm not too likely to accept
that ferret, especially if the owner is unknown to me.  The potential
adopter then is given the ferret's history to read and possibly the
previous owner's name and vital statistics (with the previous owner's
permission, of course).
 
If the ferret is obviously symptomatic of an illness, I will refuse to take
the ferret and will direct the owner to the nearest vet for treatment.  I
simply will not accept a knowingly sick ferret - period.  I've done this
in the past, much to my regret.
 
So, in summay, I should like to say that any shelter that performs quick
turn-around of ferrets, especially a shelter that handles large numbers
of ferrets, such as the Spokane ferret shelter, if these ferrets are not
maintained for at least 30 days prior to being dopted, then one may
question whether or not they are acturally performing a service for ferrets
or they are actually speading misery for ferrets.  I know what's good for
me and my ferrets, but I certainly can't speak for any of the other
shelters.
 
Please read the next issue of the WFA newsletter, the Litterbox Digest, for
my article about the Policies practiced here at Ferrets NorthWest in this
arena.  Copy will be sent upon request.  Send SASE + two stamps.  Lastly,
love is measured in quality and not quantity, wouldn't you agree?
 
Edward Lipinski  Ferrets NorthWest FNW located on Mercer Island,
Washington
[Posted in FML issue 3019]