Good stuff first - Remember those 3 fuzzies I picked up that started this
whole affair with the problem shelter in PA?  Well, 2 of the 3 have been
placed in a wonderful home.  The adoptive parents are former ferret owners
and still had their 'ferret bedroom' in place.  I am sure the boys will be
very happy and quickly adjust to being spoiled rotten.  The third fuzz,
older marked white, will probably end up staying with my group.  She has
adopted my littlest sable girl and they are almost inseparable even though
Sweetie is only about 7 months old and the 'old lady' is at least 4.  We've
been working on coming up with a good name for the new girl, we thought
Ethel or Myrtle (don't mean to offend anyone, but those names just remind
me of someone's grandmother!).
 
Okay, just to clarify a few things about this 'shelter'.  Okay, for
starters, this woman is no longer supposed to be doing shelter work.  She
asked another SO to take over the county group she was covering.  But, she
then turned around the asked this group to keep her as the first contact.
Now don't get upset, but here is what she does - The call comes in that a
ferret(s) is dropped up and needs to be picked up within 24 hours.  She
asks for a description or goes to the place.  If the ferret was in good
health and young, she takes it home, if not, she refers the county group to
call the other shelter.  Okay, everyone beginning to get a slightly better
picture of what we are dealing with here?  This woman refused to adopt out
of the 30+ ferrets she had, they are pets now.  But, keeping that in mind,
she continues to 'select' additional ferrets for her shelter.
 
This is not a personal opinion.  The more people I talk to, the more amazed
I am that things are/have been worse than I saw.  Other SOs and associates
KNOW who this person is only with the briefest description.  This is not a
personal opinion, I have made contacts with a State Animal Control Officer
and she knows this individual personally and confirmed everything I've said
about her current activities with the county group.  Same experiences with
a large shelter out of Philly.
 
Is it underhanded to talk to local officials?  Not to me, nor to anyone
else who has ever crossed paths with this woman.  I saw her as a collector,
and this was confirmed by 3 other respected and active SOs.  Did I visit on
a bad day?  From the descriptions of other people, it sounds like she did
her Xmas cleaning before I walked in.
 
Look, I'm not an SO and never claimed to be.  I am a person who walked into
a situation to help rescue 3 ferrets from harm.  I was appalled to find out
that the person acting as a fellow rescuer was actually an offender!  I
only did not have the experience to go directly to authorities, that is why
I've searched out the people who have the experience.  I have found them
and guess what, they already know about the problem.  They are willing to
help, but are not especially hopeful at getting any animal removed.  I've
spoken with officials on state, county and township levels; DOH reps; agent
from the dog licensing; the County Courthouse, etc, etc.
 
I've been to several shelters in my area (adopted from 2) and NO ONE had a
perfectly clean, spotless shelter.  BUT, no other place have the floor
covered in ferret poop with 1 box to be shared among 30.  Heck, I have a
group of 6 (well, actually 7 now), and these guys go in whatever corner
is closest, regardless of how many pans are available around the room.
But, this was something entirely different.
 
Anyway, I could go on and on about this.  I want to thank those who have
supported this endeavor through posts to the FML, but I want to express my
gratitude most to the people who have offered their help and knowledge.  I
don't know how this will end, but I appreciate knowing people are there to
help.
 
I hope 1999 finds every fuzzy in a loving home or at least a warm comfy
shelter waiting for that special family to adopt them.
 
Thanks again,
 
Jen, human fuzz child Victoria and the Fuzz Gang
[Posted in FML issue 2543]