THIS POST IS NO JOKE, please read and se if maybe you can make a difference.
I'm not clear on all the details, but I will give you what I know.
 
I received a call today from Samantha, the ferret club pres.  She had
received a call from a member that somehow heard about a call to metro
stating that animal control was to respond to a call to pick up a ferret
that bit a child.  Well this person, that i do not personally know, when
to the animal shelter to see, or try to get the ferret, this is what I'm
unclear on.
 
from what i know the people calling in the bite case did not report the
bite, so the ferret went to the shelter as just a turn in, no quarantine
bite case.  when the club member got there it was in a cage inthe cat room
and she went to pet it and the ferret bit her.  From what I can gather he
drew blood and they put the ferret in a 10 day quarentena and then if the
oowners do not claim it gets put to sleep.
 
Heres what I can tell you for sure:
I went to the shelter after work, when I got to the window I asked to see
the ferret that was there that had bit someone, I had no idea that it was
to be euthanized so please don't flame me for ignorance, I'm trying my best
here.  I stated who i was and that i would adopt him after the 10 day
period, well they said unless the owners claim him he will be euthanized.
i wasn't allowed to even see the ferret.
 
to make a long story short, i adopted a ferret from there that was bald
and skinny, when I signed the papers i was told by a vet assistant that he
probably wouldn't live 3 more months, and why the heck would I want him.
Well, he is here doing great after having both adrenals removed and his
spleen, 6 months later.
 
geezer is very fat and furry!
 
Well, today when I was there I saw that "vet assistant" when I was talking
to the adoption clerk and said that the ferret I got there said probably
wouldn't live was doing great.  His reply was yea, so?
 
When I was pleading for this ferrets life and getting nowhere, I got stupid
and said well just because a few stupid people put their fingers int he
cage and got bite then he has to die?
 
My very wonderful animal lover vet assistant replied, I was one of those
people and I'm not stupid.  He failed to show me any wounds, he help up his
hands and they looked fine to me.
 
I asked for one of the shelter directors that I know but she's on vacation
until Tuesday.
 
After that I left, knowing if I stayed any longer I would really make an
ass of myself and do no good for the ferret.
 
So, any ideas, to try to help save his life?  PLEASE PLEASE ANY SUGGESTIONS
WILL BE OF HELP
 
Right now here is what I'm doing and planning.  My vet is good friends with
the shelter director, so may be pulling some strings, she is going to do
all she can, bless her heart.  I have successfully rehabilitated many
biters and place in good homes so the club members are going to write
letters, stating what I do.  I'll get the local news station people i know
to cover the story, i plan to try to get some people together to protest if
i can.
 
doing a TV show on ferrets in April, i will tell all about this matter and
expose the shelter that wouldn't give this animal a second chance a life.
i am meeting with the other local animal shelter that i know very well to
see what i can do, maybe start a program for second chance ferrets.
 
I have to do what I can, if not then what the heck am I doing in the rescue
business anyway.  If I can't save his life, then I can do something about
the future lives of these little bundles of fur and happiness.
 
AGAIN, PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS....... AND PLEASE PRAY THAT HE
GETS A SECOND CHANCE, DON'T WE ALL DESERVE AT LEAST THAT?
 
CJ
24 CARAT FERRET RESCUE AND SHELTER
LAS VEGAS, NV.
702-876-8224
 
REMEMBER, A SMALL ACT OF KINDNESS CAN GO A LONG WAY
 
PS, this ferret is at a city/county animal shelter, not a ferret shelter,
just to make that clear, i don't want any confusion here, there is plenty
of that already.
 
sorry, one last thought, should i place an ad in the local paper, pleading
to the ferrts owners to claim him and i will take him in, or would that be
asking for more trouble?
[Posted in FML issue 2631]