Titusville Rescue Saturday we gathered to face the challenge of the day. To rescue an unknown number of ferrets. Ferrets crammed into a 25 x 25 foot shed. Deprived of food, water, medical care, human contact. Not knowing what love is. Not granted the dignity of a simple name. We loaded our vehicles with empty carriers and cages and set out. A knot of fear for the condition of the ferrets was in my stomach. Thoughts of anger and rage filled my mind. What type of person could allow this to happen? We set the carriers out along the staging area. We were not allowed to go to the hoarders house. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/Getting%20ready.JPG All too soon they started coming. Ferrets piled upon ferret. Pat Elmore of Dookie's House Ferret Rescue handled each ferret and gave them all a quick check to see if immediate fluids were needed. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/the%20first%20rescues.JPG Carrier after carrier full of ferrets were brought to safety. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/piling%20up.JPG We transferred the poor guys to other cages with bedding and water to get ready for transport. I am not to sure of the actual amount of transport vehicles, I think there were 7 in total. I drove a Suburban. This is it, partially filled. There are 4 cages and 3 carriers in it already. I think I stuck 4 more carriers in it. Then off I went to the Ferrets N Limbo shelter, an hour away, in Florida, at noon. I cranked the air conditioning all the way up. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/my%20truck.JPG The real work started soon at the shelter. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/the%20first%20load.JPG The wonderful volunteers set to work. First the ferrets had their nails clipped and their ears cleaned. Pat was in charge of ears. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/Pat%20cleaning%20ears.JPG He's an expert. He caught any health concerns that needed immediate attention. Many were started on antibiotics that night. There are a number of adrenal and dental problems. Then they went to get an ID number, due to the fact that they had no names. Then came baths. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/Baths.JPG Then came play time! Many of the poor dears had no idea how to play! No concept of toys. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/toys.JPG http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/can%20I%20play.JPG I imagine the clean bedding and constant supply of water and food what a shock to all of them. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/thank%20you.JPG I had chill bumps just watching the excitement. The dooks and dancing that was starting to break out every where. Of course, there were the babies that fell asleep in the litter boxes. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/too%20pooped.JPG These babies are so starved for attention. They mob you begging to be picked up and held. A very heart wrenching thing to see. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/Pick%20me%20up%20please.JPG Treats were unknown to them till now. Ferret Tone is very much appreciated. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/treats.JPG http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/ferret%20tone%20yum.JPG Soon everyone was moved into clean houses. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/clean%20homes.JPG This is only a small part of the cages that are being used. The ferrets were given a color code to identify them. While we were caging them, some how we ended up with a section full of white ferrets only. Many of the volunteers have said that this rescue has the most white ferrets they had ever seen. More than 100 ferrets were rescued. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/the%20white%20house.JPG A giant thank you for all the generous donations. Your generosity has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/donations%201.JPG http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/donations%202.JPG http://www.animalsoup.net/members/klutzyruth/donations%203.JPG Ferrets N Limbo will be needing food, litter, medical supplies and funds for ongoing veterinary treatment and ADV testing. Please give all you can. Visit their website to donate via paypal or for addresses. http://www.ferrets-n-limbo.org/ Thank you all. Ruth Craig aka: klutzyruth [Posted in FML issue 4279]
