Hello, I am posting this at the request of Vanessa Gruden, Shelter Director
of the Ferret Association of Connecticut, a registered non-profit
organization.
 
HELP MAKE A MIRACLE
 
She'll never walk normally.  But for this tiny domestic ferret, having so
far survived is already a success story.
 
The 13 week old pet was stepped on in mid-August, dislocating her entire
shoulder blade.  Worse, she had apparently had bleach spilled on her back,
shoulders, front legs, and underside.  Unable to find a vet in the New Haven
area who treated ferrets and unable to pay for care, the owner attempted to
do what she could.  But by the time the animal reached the Ferret
Association of Connecticut, Inc. (FACT), a non-profit educational
organization and ferret shelter in Hartford, the bleach burns had become
severe.
 
"I'd never seen an animal in this condition," said FACT President Ann M.
Gruden.  "Our veternarian, Dr. Barrios of the East Hartford Animal Clinic,
did a wonderful job cleaning her up.  But it will take weeks for the burns
to heal." Only then can reconstructive surgery to return the shoulder blade
to its proper place be attempted.  Now under the care of FACT, special gel
bandages must be kept on the wounds and changed daily.  The diaper-like pads
used as bedding must also be regularly changed to keep her environment as
clean as possible and prevent infection.
 
"She's a baby," says Gruden of the newly christened Mira--short for Miracle.
"The good part is, being so young is helping her heal more quickly than an
older animal could.  The sad part is that, at an age when she should be
running and playing like any baby animal, all she knows is pain and hurt."
 
FACT, Inc.  is seeking a veterinarian with expertise in similar
reconstructive surgery to monitor Mira's shoulder blade dislocation and
determine when and what repairs can be made.  Public donations are tax
deductible to the extent allowed by law and can be mailed to FACT, Inc.,
"Mira Fund," 16 Sherbrooke Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106.
 
A photo of Mira is expected to be on our website shortly.
http://www.ferret-fact.org/
Contact:  L. Vanessa Gruden, [log in to unmask]
 
Thanks.
Moxie
[Posted in FML issue 2059]