Jean may post this as well, but I know she is snowed under with email and
phone messages.
 
She was in to see the ferret today.  He is about 1 1/2-2 years old, a
Marshall Farms light silver mitt, weighing about 1 1/2 pounds.  He has ear
mites and a chipped canine.  She cleaned his ears and treated the mites,
gave him a distemper shot and trimmed his nails.  He accepted all the
treatments with mildness.  He showed absolutely NO signs of aggression, even
when given the shot or having his ears cleaned.  He cuddled with her.
 
He is being tested for rabies by being quarantined for 10 days. At the end
of that time, he MIGHT be turned over to Jean's shelter. The people at the
city kennel are being extremely cooperative and helpful.
 
Tomorrow's Cleveland Plain Dealer will be reporting on the possibility that
it was a rat that inflicted the wounds.  (The animal control officer who
picked up the animal said there was no blood on him or around the cage.)
This evening, WJW-8 interviewed Rebecca Dockus of the Ohio Ferrets and
Friends Association in Akron in a generally positive piece about how
supporters are rallying to defend the ferret.
 
On the negative side, "Ferret Bites Infant 50 Times" has made the news all
over the country.  Jean may have as many as 15 ferrets turned into her
shelter by the end of the week by people frightened by the reports.  We will
be taking as many as we have room for here.
 
On the legal side, the bail hearing for the parents was today.  Bail was set
at $20,000 each.  They have been charged with felony child endangering.
 
I want to thank everyone for their help with this situation. It's not over
yet, but we are in a good position right now, with some important people on
our side. Good manners and prior good relationships have really helped.
 
Linda Iroff
North Coast Ferret Shelter
http://www.oberlin.edu/~liroff/ncfs.html
[Posted in FML issue 2227]