Hello everyone. On a couple lists I am on there has been some discussion about animal hoarders and giving to shelters. I would like to address both issues. Animal hoarding or collecting is a serious problem. Here is a pretty good website with some information on it about hoarding: http://www.tufts.edu/vet/cfa/hoarding/ Here are some other sites that might be of interest also regarding this subject: http://www.geocities.com/genealogypublishing/AnimalCollecting.htm http://www.arguscourier.com/news/news/barletta.html http://www.tufts.edu/communications/stories/ [continued on next line] 040300ExpertExplainsAnimalHoarding.htm http://bend.com/news/ar_view%5E3Far_id%5E3D7464.htm http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/may03/030501f.asp http://www.apvnm.org/2003legistation/animal_hoarding/hoarding_faq.html http://vetgate.ac.uk/whatsnew/detail/3022877.html http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/1060/WA/US/1 http://www.act-az.org/hoarding.html http://www.critterhaven.org/hoarding_animals.htm http://www.hsus2.org/sheltering/magazine/currentissue/may_jun00/ [+] frontlines_hoarding.html http://www.wordbridges.net/elderabuse/AAR/vol1issue3/hoarding101.html http://www.apnm.org/animalstation/animal_law/how_to/investigate_cruelty.html http://www.gbhs.org/bhs/cruelty.asp http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/134682043_tigers24.html http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/News/070201/Hernando/ [+ next line] Woman_may_be_animal_h.shtml http://www.animalworksonline.com/animal%20collectors%20hoarding.htm The list of information goes on and on. One of the sites above: http://www.apnm.org/animalstation/animal_law/how_to/investigate_cruelty.html helps show people how to investigate first without assuming that the person is a hoarder and how to report it. As for giving donations to shelters. Always check with people about the shelters. If it is a ferret shelter you can contact Support Our Shelters (SOS) www.supportourshelters.org. They have a list of ferret shelters and also can point you in the right direction of who to talk to if you have concerns or questions. You can donate directly to the shelter or if they are listed with SOS you can donate through them (just specify that it is for the shelter of your choice). You can also donate directly to the vet that the shelter uses. If you want to give to a shelter that is in your area, go there and visit them. Know for yourself how they are. If you find that something is wrong or just doesn't feel right, ask someone else for their input and thoughts. There are a lot of people out there ready and willing to help and listen and even investigate. Joanne Ruffner Ferret Corner Shelter "Ferrets are the Spice of Life" www.geocities.com/ferretcorneraz www.supportourshelters.org www.geocities.com/neverforeverland There's a pot of Ferret Love at the end of the Rainbow [Posted in FML issue 4265]
