Many have posted here searching for a good ferret vet, club, or shelter,  in
their area lately and I wanted to let everyone know how they can obtain this
information for themselves.  Pam Grant of STAR*Ferrets works very hard to
keep up to date on the latest information on these people and organizations.
She makes this list available at:
http://www.optics.rochester.edu:8080/users/pgreene/for-others/database.html
 
I would suggest you search all categories for the state you are in.  Then
start by contacting the listings nearest you.  If you are searching for a
vet and one is not listed in your area, contact several of the nearest
shelters, clubs, and contacts and ask who they recommend.  Most are eager to
help, especially with a sick fuzzy.  You will likely meet many new friends
that share your love for these wonderful little guys.  If your search does
not yeild the results you desire, broaden your search.
 
In the case of locating a vet, if you absolutely cannot find a referral to
one, start calling all the listings in your local yellow pages for vets who
see exotics (though we all know ferrets are not "exotic"), as they are your
most likely category for someone truly knowledgable on ferrets.  Sometimes
they can refer you to another vet in the city who sees ferrets, if they do
not.  If that does not help, call every vet listed in the phone book.
 
Once you get to speak with a vet who sees ferrets, ask serious questions,
how many ferrets does he/she see?  What surgeries has he/she performed?
What vaccines are used for ferrets?, etc..  This short conversation will
tell you ALOT.
 
Another avenue I have used to search for a vet is to contact the American
Animal Hospital Asociation and ask for a referral from them for an exotic
specialist in the area you are searching.  I would try the other methods
first, as they cannot actually 'recommend' who is really good and who does
not see many ferrets, as they usually do not have information that specific.
 
There are worlds of information at your fingertips...LITERALLY on the
Internet, and TONS of info on ferrets.  You will never know what is there if
you don't look to see.  The FAQ's are a great source and answer most of the
questions people post on the FML.  Anyone who has not read them yet, please
do, now...  for the sake of those little furry people.
 
If you need further help, e-mail to me personally.  Thanks. --Trish
 
[Moderator's note: The database and other files are also available via
email.  This is discussed in the welcome note you all get and most recently
in issue 1483.  BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 1487]