We got back from Ohio bout 11pm 10/2, and my volunteer staff was
anxiously awaiting our arrival. We worked til about 4am getting all
the Ohio kids into cages and comfortable.

Yesterday and today these kids ran, romped and danced their hearts
out in Rocky's huge outdoor containment system, which is designed for
digging in dirt, tubes, running through tall grass, etc. They were in
sensory overload and loving life, finally. No linoleum floors and
plastic tubes for these kids! We took them primal, and the joy just
busted through showing each and every ones' personality! The cages they
had previously lived in, well let me say they looked about the mens
size 13 box that my son's sneakers would come in.

Speaking of taking them primal; Can you imagine, from the pics that
MFRAN and Ferrets Unlimited courageously posted, that these kids' day-
in-and-day out, hungered to be a part of dirt and grass that were
beneath them, just inches away. Each and every day since they were
born, they gazed upon it, breathed in every scent of every blade of
grass......so close, but yet so far away. We gave them that gift when
they arrived at Rocky's. They were one with the earth.

It was just so outrageously cool to place a timid ferret in the tall
grass. Then they would sprawl their legs out and stay close to the
ground, initially being so bewildered. It was within minutes later they
realized their freedom, and abandoned their trepidations. I've never
in my life seen such dookin and dancing, and airborne ferrets. Their
delight, was my delight, and anyone else that was looking on.

We have pools of water in our containment. It amazed us all that they
took to the pools. They snorkled, they swam, they waded...but none were
afraid of the water, strangely enough unlike their MF/PV/counterparts
when introduced to the pools.

I personally am sending money this week to the DMK Defense Fund. That
being for all those mentioned directly or "John/Jane Does" mentioned
in the lawsuit. They did their best to free these ferrets, and I for
one, refuse to allow them to be ignored and left out on the line to
dry. Doug McKay for years manipulated the heartstrings of the ferret
community. He made the fatal mistake of contacting someone who really
truly cared. That would be MFRAN, and subsequently all that supported
and refused to back down in getting those ferrets in his charge
released to a better world. Defendants in the lawsuit; Ya did good,
we have a rescue, imho, because of your efforts.

Do me and others a favor, and post a Paypal account, or snail mail,
where we can send funds for your defense. 76 ferrets tonite are free to
dance and love life, and go on to homes that will do their best to give
them the best that life has to give, because of your efforts. I bow!

Please, let us know where those of us that respect your efforts, can
send funds for your defense.

First order of business was CEP testing for Aleutian's Disease Virus.
CEP being the only ADV test we will do, since AVECON's have from our
own and other's experiences, had catastrophic failures. Random batch
testing is worthless against ADV, every ferret needs to be tested. It's
like a mechanic testing one of ten planes scheduled for flight; and you
would put your loved ones on which flight, and stand back content with
the safety of their journey? ...nah, you guys are too bright to settle
for that nonsense!

Today 18 neuters and rabies vacs were done. 76 CEP specimens were
submitted to Dr. Blau at Blue Cross An Hosp. I am willingly share my
results, and for the best interests of the ferret community, I ask that
all that have these ferrets and are testing, please share your results
also.

With any surrender, we see those that bite. I've got to say that with
some tender loving care and handling, these unsocialized ferrets want
nothing less than to trust us. Yes I was bit, and bit hard, but I've
gotten that from alot of the typical surrenders too.

The trust issue; In day to day surrenders I see the trust issue with
them back off, or lunging. With the Ohio kids, they allow you to pick
them up, then they do this incredibly tight Kaola Bear hug around your
forearm and hand, and just glare at you with total bewilderment.....
and trust...eyes as big as saucers. We don't let them down. We massage
their faces, as their mothers would have done. When they start licking
air, we know they are in that comfort zone (yes, thank you very much
Bob Church for that technique!)

It pains me to age them, because I don't believe I have one or even saw
any at Lori Sies' that was beyond 4 yrs. DMK has been breeding for 25
yrs, where are the old kids, what happened to them? That's a rhetorical
question, and it hurts to think of the answer. Of the 76 we brought
back, many were part of a network for the East Coast shelters. Ya gotta
love these shelters, repeatedly they asked me to bring back oldsters
or special needs. They all were one and the same, generally speaking.
Again, where were the 4,5,6,7,8 9, 10 yr oldsters that served their
master well. If someone going in before Rocky's did and got them,
please let us know.

All I know is that these kids are loving and want to trust.....just
like any other we get in. If you've never adopted from a shelter
before, then now's the time to do so, but start with the kids that have
been waiting for you. They deserve a home first. Give these Ohio kids a
chance to decompress, get to know the shelter mom/dad, and them these
Ohio kids. If all of this about the Ohio rescue has opened your heart,
it's more than that, you've been awakened to the need of all shelter
kids, not just the OHIO ones. ADOPT now.

Affectionately,
Barb Clay
Dir of Shelter Affairs for Rocky's
www.rockysferrets.com
HEY YOU!  www.rockysraffles.com
HEY YOU AGAIN!  
http://rockysferrets.com/events/of/oktoberfest_raffle.html

[Posted in FML 5751]