It seems only my co-workers and the Longley's saw the tv clip and newspaper articles on the "stolen and tortured ferret(s)" in last week's media coverage... Robin Longley and I have followed up with the owners/pet store and have the following to post to ferret lovers. Shari Gunter Club Contact Triangle Ferret Lovers club, NC www.trifl.org ************** Foward from Robin & John Longley of NC: [with permission] Just to inform you about an animal abuse case that was reported on the news this past Thursday. [On the local TV news 9/21/00.] The information was obtained by us through the pet shop owners of Amimal House Pets in Clayton, NC. Two weeks ago, a twenty year old named Donald Lee Scholar and two sixteen year olds, names unknown--broke into the Animal House Pet Shop and stole four ferrets, a bearded dragon and some small lizard. The lizards were put into pasteboard boxes and put into the trash because thiefs didn't want to be found with them. I don't need to say anymore on what happened to them and their demise. Of the four ferrets: one was taken to a house of one of the sixteen year olds. When the Sheriffs Dept. found the ferret when doing an evidence search - they thought it was out of place in this particular home and went to do a background check to see if any ferrets were stolen. When they returned to take the ferret, the young man's grandmother said that it was let out of the back door because she didn't know where it came from or what it was. Two of the ferrets were recovered, and appear to be in good health. The fourth ferret was a dark-eyed white and was killed by Donald Lee Scholar the following morning after the theft. He told police in Smithfield, NC (town east of Clayton, NC) that he was "afraid of it." The ferret was killed by being shot with an arrow and then beaten to death with a baseball bat. The three young men have been charged with a felony and the D.A. wants to *REDUCE* the charge down to a misdemeanor. If convicted on a felony charge they will serve a five year term verses a light probation if it is a misdemeanor charge. [Only money will be owed - no jail time.] Please contact the District Attorney in Smithfield and plead that these three people get charged for the full charge of breaking and entering and for the animal abuse of all the animals that were wantonly killed. The telephone number is (919) 989-5000. Docks and Blessings, Robin and John and all the ferrets [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 3187]