I just gotten off the phone with a person who had been chatting with
someone that read on the internet ferret list that Phoenix had died.
They told this lady that it was due to filthy conditions and not being
cared for.
 
Normally, I try to ignore people, this just got me a little upset.
 
Now, whoever you are, if you haven't been here, I would appreciate that you
keep your mouth shut and not spread rumors.
 
There have been several people here that can attest to the care the animals
get, Lori from Ferrets Dream House, Rachel Gay, Linda Harrah of Ferret
Sense, Bev Fox, Laurie Long, the media, the local APL, the city animal
control.  (I work with both and invite them to do inspections) Even Bob
Church was here.  Ask them what they thought.
 
I clean litter boxes daily, not just scoop, but dump them and replace them
with fresh, sanitized boxes.  I wash water bowls daily, the food bowls
three times a week.  They get fed Totally Ferret, Iams Kitten, Eukanuba,
Innovina, Nutro Natural.  The bedding is changed weekly.  The floors in the
ferret rooms are mopped nightly.  Accidents are picked up and spot cleaned
with a weak solution of Simple Green.  Even when at capacity, everyone gets
play time out and handled.
 
Vet care is given at the drop of a hat.  Shots are given.  Sick ferrets
are taken to work with me and nursed.  No ferret is turned away because
of health.  If a ferret can be healed, and nursed back to health, that
happens.  No matter the cost.
 
I had seven adrenals surgeries done in the span of seven weeks.  All were
interfering with the animals over all health.
 
All of this is done without volunteers to come in.  It isn't easy to find
people to volunteer their evenings and weekends.
 
Now if all of that is neglect, letting them live in filth, and not proper
care, then I guess I am guilty.
 
But, whoever you are, you think you can do better, be my guest.  Just
contact me and you are welcome to the whole thing.  The calls, the pain in
the ass people who think you should give them the ferrets because they have
graced your door step, the people who abuse the animals then turn them in,
the people who bring you half dead animals, and want them back after they
are health.  The people you thought were good and caring and discover you
were wrong, and then when you make them keep the contract they signed by
taking the ferrets back you become the bad guy.
 
You can have the cages, the bills, the biters, the sick, psycho's no one
wants.  You can have the 15 loads of blankies that are washed.  The littler
boxes and all.  Hell, I'll even pack it into your car for you.  You want
it.  You can have it.
 
Unless you are willing to walk in someone else's shoes and experience what
they do, shut up.
 
Run a shelter, volunteer if you want to do something.  Then you are part of
the solution.  If you don't want to, don't cause problems.
 
For those of you that have been supportive to the shelters, THANK YOU.
You will never understand how much it means to a shelter operator to have
someone help with litter boxes, play times and such.
 
Hug all the fur angels for me.
 
Jean
Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter
[Posted in FML issue 2699]