The 14 surviving Morehouse 17
 
We have been extremely fortunate w/the veterinary expenditures.  The
neuters were all done for zero dollars by a very special veterinarian,
who unfortunately wishes to remain anon.  To date we have spent
approximately $432 in the emergency room; $413 for the 7 girls' spays,
dental, & rabies vacs - Dr. Karen Colson of Medlock Bridge Animal
Hospital in Norcross really gave us outstanding pricing (yes, it's a
plug); over $300 (approx - didn't bring all the invoices w/me) at our
regular vet, Riverview Veterinary Hospital in Atlanta (there's another
plug) so far for medical attention & Rx stemming from shelter shock; &
over $100 just for needles & lactated ringers.  This doesn't include the
cases of Science Diet A/D, IAMS Maximum Calorie, chicken baby food, &
most importantly the batches of chicken gravy being supplied by Florence.
 
There are 6 females - 1 will be 3 y/o in November, 3 are 3 y/o, & 2
will be 6 y/o in November.  A few of the girls have hair loss & swollen
vulvas.  At this point, we don't know whether to contribute it to never
being spayed & prolonged heat, or adrenal disease.  We'll just have
to wait & see now that they're spayed.  They are all UTD w/distemper
(3/04) & rabies (8/04) & have had dentals.
 
There are 8 males - 2 will be 3 y/o in November, 2 are 3 y/o, & 4 will be
6 y/o in November.  Only one has obvious hair loss & is probably adrenal.
They are all UTD on distemper (3/04).  Two of them have had their rabies
vacs (8/04) & we are in the process of doing the rest.  All the boys are
going to have much needed dentals.
 
Some of the group is finally beginning to respond to the hand feedings &
sub-qs.  They have learned how to go up & down the ramps like pros & are
sleeping snuggled in sacks & hammies rather than in tightly wrapped balls
on the floor.  They are experiencing the wonder of tubes, bags, balls, &
hanging toys, & are more comfortable being picked up, held, stroked, &
scritched.  The degree of biting has subsided significantly, & is almost
a thing of the past for some of them.
 
Most likely, the majority of them will only be able to go to
ferret-knowledgeable homes, willing to work w/their socialization needs.
This business is not for the first-time, or even average home.  And as is
usually the case, only very special, dedicated, ferret enthusiasts will
want to open their home to these special little ones.
 
Hopefully, in the near future, the college kids will be graduating &
looking to go home.  Will they have a home to go to?
 
Juliana Quadrozzi
FERRET BUSINESS of GA
www.ferretbusiness.petfinder.com
770-984-1417  7:00 pm - 10:30 pm
[Posted in FML issue 4623]