Hello everyone.  I've posted a few times regarding my beloved ferrets Basta
and Mowgli.  Both are Adrenal, Basta is a 6 year old girl, Mowgli is a four
year old boy.  Both are MF.
 
I inherited them from my little brother who died of a rare form of
testicular cancer this past june 21.  I not only love them very much for
themselves, but also because I feel a deep responsibility to him to care
for them.
 
My parents are, understandably, quite devastated and unfortunately this has
taken the form of abdicating all responsibility for these sweet animals
they purchased for him.  They have relegated them to our basement.  I have
a space heater on them, but the temps are still below freezing down there.
 
They had 2 doses of Lupron, then my parents wouldn't pay.  Our vet charges
$300 a month for both to get their shots.  My parents also CHOOSE not to
pay for the surgery.  I say choose because they are well off and could
easily absorb it.
 
I am a special education graduate student living off student loans and a
part time day care job.  I also have a cat and pet rats of my own whose
vet bills I must pay.  I cannot afford their surgery or Lupron.  I am
frustrated to the end of my rope at this situation.  They have started
losing hair again as the last shot should have been the 15th.
 
Dr. Williams and another vet have been unbelievably generous with their
time and energy in trying to help me, however it appears surgery remains
out of reach and I know this is the best option.  I understand after more
research that Lupron is really a palliative treatment.
 
My question is this: The two ferrets have a large Marshalls cage and
hammocks I have ordered from ebay, water bottles, ferretvite, toys etc.  If
you were me, would you surrender them to a shelter (ie F.A.C.T.  I live in
CT) and then hope the shelter will be able to get them surgery.  I could
them pay it off to the shelter in installments, which no vets around here
will let me do, and the ferrets could live in a warm area (so helpful when
you are bald!!!) and be cured.  My parents have agreed to pay for their
food and a stipend for their upkeep.  I don't know if shelters make such
arrangements.  I also don't know if this is right.  I don't want to betray
my brother's trust or abuse the shelter.  I am at a loss, I can no longer
stand watching them suffer like this with my hands basically tied.  A kind
associate of Dr. Williams' can see them once every 3 months and give me
Lupron to admin myself between, but they would still be dying.
 
Please, if you can email me, on list or privately with any advice,
thoughts, things to consider, I would appreciate it.  I am feeling quite
overwhelmed.
 
I would like to emphasize again how grateful I am to Dr. Williams and his
associate.  They are truly, truly incredible people and I am deeply touched
by the effort made on my "kids'" behalf.  There is a special place in
heaven for people like them.
 
--
Anne Harper
[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 3279]