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]