Just a quick update on the status of the ferret who was found wandering in Jamaica Plains, MA. The person, who found the ferret, contacted the MaFF Hotline on Sunday afternoon. They reported finding a ferret, but that they couldn't keep it at their house due to owning several hunting dogs. The Hotline Coordinator contacted me late Sunday afternoon and asked if the person could bring the ferret to me. She then called back the person and he said that he had taken the ferret to Angell MSPCA. When he called to tell them that MaFF could take the ferret, they said they could not release it for 2 days. After that he could come back and get the ferret and take it to MaFF's shelter. Our Hotline Coordinator called Angell MSPCA Sunday night and spoke with someone in charge and told them that we would be happy to take the ferret after the 2-day waiting period and that the man who turned in the ferret would be transporting it to our shelter. This all happened before 8PM on Sunday. The person in charge at Angell MSPCA also mentioned that they have two young ferrets there and would we be able to take them. We explained to them that we would have to put them on our "wait list", but would be happy to take them as soon as we have space available, unless there was a risk of them being euthanized. They said the ferrets are both young and healthy and that they would be happy to hold them until we can pick them up. I just received a call from the man who found this ferret, now named Charlie, and he is delivering the ferret to me this afternoon. If anyone on this list is from Massachusetts (or surrounding areas), please don't hesitate to call the MaFF Hotline (781-224-1098) if you find a ferret or know of a ferret at risk. Our Hotline is manned 24/7 by one of our dedicated members and if she is unavailable, there is a cellphone number you can call as a backup. We are very proud to have a "warm body" to answer all calls that come in and have a strict policy of returning any unanswered call as soon as possible. The Hotline is the fastest and easiest way to reach us during any weekend. This will help us to get help to the ferret quicker and will prevent any mis-communication on the status of the ferret. I want to thank everyone for their concern over this little wanderer. It's just too bad that Charlie's family wasn't as concerned, otherwise we would have heard from them by now! Phyllis [Posted in FML issue 5204]