I was visiting family in southeast Pennsylvania this weekend, and I came
across a very unsettling situation at the local animal shelter.
 
Approximately 20 whole ferrets were set free in Caledonia State Park
sometime in April.  The Park Ranger was able to catch approximately 14 of
them, and they were brought to the local humane society.  I went to the
shelter with my Aunt and was very suprised to see that they had ferrets.
There were a total of three.  Apparently two others survived, and they
had been adopted out.  The remaining ferrets were put down for various
reasons including age, illness, injuries, etc.  The three that were at
the shelter had been neutered/spayed and descented within the past month.
 
The shelter operators were not ferret knowledgeable in any way, and I
witnessed a ferret being flicked in the nose because it was "nippy" by
one of the shelter operators.  My Aunt chipped in and we brought all
three home.  I had two ADV tests available at the time, and the two
females have tested negative.  The third will be tested as soon as I
get another kit (tomorrow).  I was very uncomfortable with just leaving
them there as I was concerned about their treatment based on what I saw.
 
I was in the Chambersburg area, and would like to know if anyone has
information about shelters and/or fosters in the area that are ferret
knowledgeable.  The animal shelter is looking for a local contact so that
they may have someone to work with in the case of any surrenders in the
future.  I visit the area every other month, and will now make it a part
of my routine to visit them.
 
Has anyone out there heard of these ferrets and why they may have been
dumped off at the park?
 
If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact me.
 
Thanks,
Caryl
Nanuet, NY
[Posted in FML issue 4163]