This is an article which ran in our local Eugene Register-Guard
newspaper and was picked up in the Greenhill Animal Shelter
newsletter without comment. There are no further details.
ANIMAL RELATED DEATHS
The article was a TEN year study of animal caused deaths. 40%
were horse related. Of 41 total deaths 7 were due to wasps and
bees, 6 by cows, 1 by a rattlesnake, one person even died after
being kicked by a sheep!
Five of the deaths involved pets. 3 were due to dogs (one guy
tripped over his dog and fell downstairs), 1 man was eaten by a
lion, and, of interest to us, a 2-year old died of ferret bites.
I would love to have known more about that one. The center put
the whole business of death into the right context when he
mentioned that homo sapiens killed 38 times as many humans as
all other animal species combined, at least in Oregon.
 
Both the Animal Regulatory agency here and Greenhill Humane
Society told us they automatically "put down" any ferrets brought
in. We got Snoopy because he came to our house in the country
all alone wanting lovies. Luckily I had been exposed to ferrets
of friends so I knew what he was. We called the agencies and
decided no way he was going there. We posted his finding all
around our area, but no owner came forward. Snoopy was an
adolescent and had an ODOR. We feel his owner may have found out
that pets need vets and vets need money. Anyway, other ferrets
were dumped around the area near that time (judging by the Found
advertisement in the paper and roadkills). Snoopy is fitting
right in with our two dogs and two Siamese and is a joy to have.
I enjoy the letters and was hungry for info. I cannot find a
knowledgeable vet here, but Companion Vet Clinic at least knew
how to neuter, descent and give the right shots! PS they told me
neutering alone would have "no effect on the odor". Oh yes, he
has just discoved cabinets-great to open, clean out and then
sleep in.
Thanks for all the info. We have a great person here in town
named Melanie who is a total ferret friend who brought me to you.
[Posted in FML issue 1150]