>I was just thinking about that disgusting scam which a shelter operator
>recently talked about on the FML where there are people who turn ferrets
>in to shelters to get medical care then adopt them out again or have a
>friend do it.  It hit me today that if the shelters who share mutual
>trust and respect in an area formed an informal grouping they could
>(after a period of time) exchange ferrets so that the people who try
>this would never be easily able to find the same one again.  That might
>be an effective measure for further reducing this behavior.
 
Sukie
 
In Virginia there are three shelters that work well together - Ferret
Haven "By-the-Sea" in Virginia Beach, Richmond Ferret Rescue in Richmond
and FerretsR#1 in Falls Church - we share information about potential
adopters - refer folks that are closer to one shelter than the other and
generally just keep in touch.  We have sent out warnings to them as well
about people...
 
As far as this last statement:
 
>On drop-off the people would be warned beforehand with something like,
>"We have a cooperative arrangement with other state/regional shelters so
>it is important that you know that your ferret may be transferred if the
>chances of being adopted out are higher from a different shelter than
>this one."  If they ask where they are that may be a warning sign and
>could be replied to with something like, "It depends on which ones have
>room at any given time but all of them have been reviewed and meet the
>same high criteria as we do."
 
All ferrets released to the shelter by their owners must complete and
sign a release form - and on that form it specifically states that they
are giving up all rights to that animal.  By state law, any ferret found
stray and held for 5 days is considered abandoned but strays must be
reported to the SPCA, Animal Control, etc to allow the owner to find
their pet.  I had a situation where the person released an obvious
adrenal ferret to the shelter - and after her surgery wanted her back.
Our shelter has a policy that we will not adopt out to anyone who has
previously turned in a ferret.  Why would I want to return a ferret to a
home when they couldn't afford the surgery?  Thats crazy!  If she ever
needed surgery again, she would again be bounced back to the shelter....
 
I have also in the past worked with people who couldn't afford the entire
cost of the surgery but was trying to find alternatives.  I have "loaned"
them the money with the understanding that they must pay me back and
needed to make a payment at the vet for part of the surgery.  In both
cases, the ferret received the surgery and the shelter was repaid.
Risky?  Perhaps - but if the ferret was going to be turned over to the
shelter anyway - at least I didn't pay the entire cost of the
surgery...We don't do it everytime and it is considered on a case by
case basis - especially dependent on the state of the shelter funds...
 
Lisa Leidig, Head Ferret
The Ferret Haven "By-the-Sea"
www.ferrethaven.org
[Posted in FML issue 4132]