I stand with Kim and Alicia.

I would like to clarify Doug McKay lives in Marengo, Ohio. It's not a
Michigan issue, thank God.

I spoke with an associate who worked for HSUS based in Bowling Green,
Ohio. She groaned when I told her Marengo, Ohio, was located in Morrow
County. She called Morrow County the "black hole of Ohio" for animal
welfare. I was told Ohio has "County Humane Agents" and the one in
Morrow County, as she recalled was based out of an unheated barn
himself. I didn't find a number.

There are two numbers I did locate. One is the Morrow County Health
Dept (419/947-1545). The other is the Humane Society (419/947-5791).
These are places to start.

These animals are not socialized. I know one person who has been
severely bitten already.

A concern I have is the fact that these ferrets are in close proximity
to mink thereby it would seem reasonable to think his ferrets run a
greater risk of being exposed to Aleutians Disease, don't they, because
I can't imagine Doug McKay or his daughter taking proper precautions to
lessen the risk of carrying the disease between barns.

You need to be realistic. Paying $35 for a ferret is not rescuing a
ferret. You're buying a ferret. Doug McKay is making a buck and he's
still breeding more. What have you achieved? Nothing. You bought
yourself a whole, unsocialized ferret that is more than likely ADV
positive.

Seriously, I would like Ohio ferret groups comment on this situation.
It's in their backyard. Jean Caputo-Lee? Lori Sies? Julie Dyke?

Dee Gage
West Michigan Ferret Connection

[Posted in FML 5524]