As I read posts on the many lists and groups that I belong to as well
as keep up with e-mails addressed to me personally, it continues to
amaze me that we as humans have the capacity to be so generous and
giving and yet at the same time, so hurtful and attacking even when it
comes to something we have in common like the McKay farm initiatives
which have been in the works for a very long time.

Is it a rescue or a surrender.....a purchase or a rescue......did they
pay or were they bailing out ferrets? Is paying a food bill to a McKay
vendor different than giving $ to McKay directly? We have DMK Rescue,
Ohio Breeder Rescue, McKay Surrender & Lori's rescue.

I was copied on a post tonight where someone said there was no
"original rescue plan" and specified that the Michigan group didn't
have a plan or resources to do anything more than to buy some
ferrets........but having volunteered to be a part of this plan when
and if if finally took place, I know this just was not true. And the
reason we have these descrepancies is because the ADULT people could
not find it within themselves to put aside grudges and work together
for the good of the ferrets.

1st of all - I want to say I applaud Lori - she kept in touch with
McKay, she managed to stay on his good side for the benefit of the
ferrets and when a weakness in his stand to stay open presented itself,
she acted quickly upon it, she negotiated hard, she had legal documents
signed and then got as many of those ferrets the heck out of "Dodge" as
quickly as possible and wasted no time picking up the remainder shortly
after.

Had the big people been able to work together though, even if it was
Lori who secured the release of the ferrets as opposed to the Michigan
group there could have been a much different, and I believe easier,
more efficient and cost effective way of processing these ferrets
post-removal from the farm.

There actually WAS an extensive plan - there had to be as it was
necessary to present such a plan to the HSUSA at one time several
months ago. It included transportation from the farm to a staging area
where there would be triage, volunteers and vets standing ready.....
that's multiple vets who agreed to donate their services and supplies
to examine, vaccinate, spay and neuter ferrets right there at the
staging site. There were people on lists who were ready to drop
everything when the call came, take vacations days, rent vehicles,
transport, take ferrets, etc.

When I went to Lori's to get ferrets I met a person from HOFA who felt
a need to badmouth MFRAN to me, saying this surrender would have
happened months ago had it not been for MFRAN. I've certainly tried to
stay informed over the months - but I'm not a member of either ....so
am I to make the assumption that this was the standard greeting for all
who came to help or take ferrets?

So here's my big issue with it all - because we individuals and groups
could not act like grown-ups and work together, we now have ferrets
being transported all over the US without being tested, vaccinated,
spayed or neutered. And the responsibility for the expense of doing
these things has shifted to the shelters who have taken the ferrets
from Ohio. Those shelters are starting to contact the larger ferret
organizations for help and they're being told that the concentration
is on Lori's right now & there are no extra funds at this time.

With all the resources that went to Ohio, where is the shelter support
going to come from? Some of them have had their ferrets for 2-3 weeks
already. And although a shelter may have taken 10-20+ ferrets, there
will be kits born and those numbers will grow.

If you test every ferret in your shelter for ADV but you use the
rapid test and not the "send-in" type test, you're not eligable for
spay/neuter funding available from the AFA. They've announced sending
out their 1st $500......but if you don't use that one particular test,
you can't have any. I think that's wrong. This is not the time to be
pushing their organizations preference on test methods but rather
ensure that testing IS done and that spay & neuters can be done as
quickly as possible with as little financial strain on each shelter as
possible. It's not like we hear of shelers who rolling in the dough all
the time - they're ALWAYS in need of funds - it's the nature of being
there for the discarded pets of people who don't make a commitment to
their animals.

Since the statement has been made that they no longer need supplies
at Lori's, perhaps we can determine what Lori's ongoing needs will be
(as there will be many for quite some time). And once her needs are
determined, begin to ship some of the excess items from there to the
shelters who took not only the ferrets, but a significant financial
burden that comes with each.

Beyond that, have the groups like SOS, AFA & IFC, some of which have
stated that Lori will be reimbursed for all of her expenses, now turn
their attention to helping all who took the ferrets, whether that be
funding for spay/neutering, extra cages, food, Vaccines & ADV testing -
because being told "we don't have any extra funds right now" is just
not acceptable.

Thank you to EVERYONE who has worked to close down the breeding at the
McKay farm. Whether you helped in the capacity you had intended or had
to adjust your game plan as the situation changed - Thank You! Thanks
to all the individuals and shelters who went and helped at Lori's and
who took ferrets. And Thank You Lori - you made it happen - it may not
have been as pretty as it could have been, but the ferrets are out and
are already benefiting from your quick action.

[FY]

[Posted in FML 5752]