I am posting this as an initial heads-up as we do not yet have solid information about exactly what has happened here. A local TV station carried a story today about a "raid" on a no-kill shelter in Kansas City. There were reportedly 50 ferrets seized (rumor has it there were 40 to 70) from someone who billed themselves as a shelter and who were in reality breeding as well. I was unaware that there was another shelter in the metro area although we hear rumors of assorted irresponsible breeders from time to time. All of these ferrets were reportedly taken to Wayside Waifs, a local Humane Society shelter, and then placed with various vets for assessment and treatment. Our own vets have heard nothing of this. I have tried to reach the breed rescue person at the shelter and she did return my call while I was out (picking up a ferret from another local shelter). It will be tomorrow before I can possibly get any kind of straight story. Wayside Waifs has a history of being quick to put down animals, ferrets and others, who are found to have "temperament" problems. They killed a ferret earlier this year because it bit someone who reached into it's cage shortly after he, and his 9 brothers and sisters, had been "turned in". Despite my loud protests there is no evidence that the policy has changed. In short, I fear for these ferrets and am looking for advice and resources to help deal with this situation. Our shelter is nearly full at 51 foundlings and, although we could take more, 40 to 70 more would surely +-+++overwhelm us. We can probably find the resources to pay for veterinary care but we do not have the space or volunteer staff to provide good care for 100 or more ferrets. I will post more as soon as I can get reliable information. In the meantime I would be grateful to anyone in the KC area who would like to give Channel 4, the Fox network, a call at 816-753-4567, and ask them to clarify that the shelter "raided" was not ours. Bobbi McC., Shelter Directress and Benign Despot KC Ferret Hotline and Shelter [Posted in FML issue 3576]