Last week five ferrets were dropped off at our house for delivery to
Motor City Ferrets shelter.  I have never seen such starved and poor
condition ferrets in the 10 years I've had ferrets.  Three boys were
skin and bones but able to walk.  When we put food in front of them
they ate like they were starving.  One boy was adrenal.  Naked except
for his head.  He also had open puncture wounds on his neck and hine
end.  I guessed he was bit by a large dog trying to play.
 
The last one was a little girl laying still.  It was cold to the touch
and all its legs were stiff.  It also was laying in that funny reverse
arch that I've only seen in dead ferrets but it was still breathing.  My
wife and I both guessed it had about an hour to live, two at the most.
 
We put her in a warm sack and put that on a hot water bottle then gave
her water from and eye dropper.  She never moved but did look like she
was swallowing some of the water.  An hour later her body was warmer
but not ferret warm.  She lifted her head slightly when I offered some
Nutracal.  She only gave it one lick before laying her head back down.
An hour later she took a few more licks.  By morning we were able to get
her to eat some mushed kibble.  She could move her front legs but not
her back legs.
 
On her way to work my wife delivered the group to Nancy at Moter City
Ferrets that morning.  Nancy took Dog Biscuit and Dead Girl to her vet
as soon as she could get an appointment which was the following day.  The
vet had never seen two ferrets in such poor condition.  Dog Biscuit's
wounds had closed and Dead Girl was drinking and eating mush by herself.
 
Nancy has been nurcing them for this last week.  Both are eating like
pigs.  Dog Biscuit is bouncing in his play time.  Dead Girl can stand
up now but still has trouble walking.
 
So what I want to know is, since Dead Girl was at the bridge, who pushed
her off and sent her back?
 
--
John Julian
[Posted in FML issue 5375]