Hi all,
 
Not ferret-related, but as someone recently posted here, we are all
animal lovers.  This was posted today on another (dog) discussion group I
am on--wanted to post it here as well, even if just so some of you may
want to repost it to other animal lists to get the word out.
 
Peace to all the fuzzies and other furry creatures out there, Traci A.
 
This is Beth Riddle writing regarding a very serious atrocity that has
occurred in our state and in our little German Shepherd community.
A mentally ill woman was served a warrant on Dec 16th and Dec 17th
regarding the removal of animals from her property.  The first wave
consisted of about 90 dogs and over 70 of them were purebred GSD's.
Last night at 11pm I received a phone call from my colleague that had
just finished cataloging the final pull from the woman's house.  160
young GSD's, nursing mothers, pups, and just a small handful were other
breeds.  The GSD community is shocked.  I am crying and shaking as I
write you, because we worked so hard yesterday to pull just the first
22 out of the shelter and get them into rescue.  Then as we were going
to bed feeling pretty good, I received this phone call.  The holidays
make finding kennel space impossible.
 
We are begging, we never beg, but we are on our knees to former adopters,
contributors, anyone who loves German Shepherds to please help this huge
rescue effort.  The shelter cannot coordinate the rescues, so it is a
team effort consists of Northern IL GSD Rescue, their founder and
President is logging and cataloging the dogs, Chicagoland GSD Rescue is
digging up a couple spaces and on the phone, Central Illinois GSD Rescue
is contacting nationally and coordinating transport, foster care, and
will also be pulling some of these angels.
 
They are everywhere at the shelter.  They are in cages, kennels, tied to
the walls, and though they were eating dirt, had no food, are close to
starvation, they just look at us and wag their tails.  It is absolutely
killing us to see this.  We could use money for medical care, we could
use puppy canned food and puppy dry food, puppy pan to feed them in,
crates, kennels and most of all space!  Anyone with a farm that could
serve as a temporary M*A*S*H unit, or shelter.  I stress there is nowhere
to go with these kids.  Transporters for national distribution.  I
can't even think.  IF you want to help, please call at 217-337-5832 or
217-377-7135 and we'll figure something out.  Thank you for your
consideration.
 
Rick and Beth Riddle
Central Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue
Urbana, IL
http://www.gsdhaven.org
 
Permission to cross-post
[Posted in FML issue 4369]