We all know the economy has caused a trickle down effect on all animal
shelters, especially ferret shelters as they are home spun and run.
Most of the kids here are older and not that many folks out there are
willing to take on a ferret knowing they may only have one to three
years at best with their new furkid.

I've basically stopped taking in new surrenders as adoption requests
have diminished and the inn is full. But I am still taking in hardship
cases.

One little guy's mom went into the hospital with a brain tumor & her
parents were going to "return him to the wild" if I didn't take him in.
Another little boy (aprox 4 yrs old) came in with the crappiest food &
in poor condition. Had to rush him to the Vet this morning, where he is
now on IV fluids and we don't know yet what is wrong with him. Poor
nutrition is possible cause. Both boys were being fed the cheapest food
on the market because (pick one...) that's all they could afford, or
find, or felt like buying, or didn't know ferrets shouldn't eat store
brand cat food... who knows at this point.

Just got back from sitting at the Vet most of the day while waiting on
a work in time slot & on blood work results only to find this email in
my inbox:

 From: >email address removed<
 Subject: I need help ASAP please!!!
 Date: August 16, 2010 12:49:33 PM EDT

To whom it may concern:

I need help with my ferret named Chyanne. She is a five year old small
silver ferret. I love her very very much but she has insulinoma and I
cannot afford to take care of her special needs anymore. I love this
little furry so much but I cannot see her suffer anymore. She has her
good days and her bad days. She still eats very very well but her hind
legs are very very weak because of the insulinoma. Even though she eats
she does have to be fed with a syringe. She is currently eating chicken
baby food and drinking some pedialite to try to keep her up and going.
I cannot see having her put down because of this because she has such a
will to live and I have been reading about how they euthanize ferrets
and I cannot have my little furry going through this. I love her so
much and I am asking you to help me with one of the hardest things in
my life. Since I cannot give her the home she needs and the medical
treatment that she deserves I am asking for you to take her. I have
cried myself to sleep several nights since she has taken this downward
spiral and wondered if I am a good mother. I said to myself since this
is just like my child I would do everything I could in order to give
her comfort and a well life even if that is not with her mommy. Please
please if you could let me know if you can take her I don't want to
see her suffer anymore and I don't want to have to subject her to the
painful euthanization. I feel she has a right to live out to her last
days and cross the rainbow bridge when it is her time. I am sorry this
sounds so very sad but I am just getting over the death of my first
ferret Bandit about two months ago. Chyanne was a very close pair to
him and it has just been downhill since then. I figured also she would
have playmates if you would take her. Again I am so sorry if this
letter seems disorganized because the thoughts in my head are
disorganized right now. If someone could please contact me back my
phone number is ###-###-####.

Thank you so much,

Jennifer


So now, what the hell am I supposed to do? Take in her sick/dyeing
ferret that she's had for 5 "healthy" years because she doesn't want
to take the responsibility to do the humane thing?

I haven't responded yet. I'm still waiting on a call from the Vet about
the boy I had to leave there earlier.

Speaking as a Shelter Operator, the emotional toll we suffer is beyond
words. It pains me to think the public view us as a dumping ground for
their ill/dying castoffs because they "don't want to see her suffer
anymore and I don't want to have to subject her to the painful
euthanization".

Where is my magic wand? There are a few places I'd like to stuff it
right about now!

Debbie Saunders
[log in to unmask]
Roanoke, VA

[Posted in FML 6792]