If you have been following the status of or participating in discussions/offers to help the Indiana group of 16, I am pasting an update below. For those of you who had raised your hands to take some of this group or help in any other way, please join continued discussions on the FURR Yahoo Group - Ferrets United Rescue Resources, http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/furr/?yguid=80341579 This site is specifically for smaller scale rescues while NFR, National Ferret Rescue is for the large scale rescues. Here's where it stands today: "Heartland Small Animal Rescue" (rabbits, guinea pigs & hamsters) is the group who ended up taking the ferrets out of the home, has a ferret-knowledgeable home to hold them at & care for them until Sunday at which time they will transport to The Ferret Haven in Louisville. Below is the description they've given of what they found. I was afraid of this - she made a comment that they were in 2 cages with tunnels connecting the two......I envisioned SuperPet cages.........not big enough for 16 ferrets......then she said the owner said he puts them all in a couple large carriers and takes their cages outside to "hose them down"........that red flag feeling came up. HERE'S WHAT THEY FOUND: Our volunteers were very overwhelmed last night and weren't quite prepared for what they found. The conditions of the home were deplorable and the smell was nauseating. The ferrets were housed in two cages that were connected with plastic tubing so the ferrets could go between cages. Although the cages were large, they were way too small for 16 ferrets. There were no litter boxes so the ferrets were doing all their business on the bottoms of the cages and were then forced to spend their time in hammocks and up high so they didn't walk through the feces - YUCK! Each ferret was covered in what was described as maple syrup. There are four ferrets with absolutely no hair on their tails; they look like rat tails. I was told this was more than likely caused by stress and other than no hair on their tails, they appear to be healthy. There is one ferret with absolutely no hair what-so-ever but she does not have the bulging belly you normally see with the adrenals so not sure what her diagnosis is. The four volunteers moved the ferrets out of the home as quickly as they could and brought them to the home were they will be temporarily fostered. Each ferret was given a bath and blow-dry and were placed in a large room with litter boxes and bedding so they can now romp and hopefully get the exercise they were so lacking. The pics and cataloging will take place tonight and I will forward the info to you as soon as possible. ********** I don't normally like to stress them out with a bath on day one but I think they did the right thing here - we all know what that "maple syrup" was!! I'm amazed they didn't report maggots. Little guys likely have urine scalding on their abdominal skin, feet & legs. Can't wait to get them here - they will see soft, fluffy bedding like they've never imagined with plenty of room, food & toys. I think I'll just give them the playrooms on Sunday before we settle them into their Ferret Nation cages. No more cage full of poop, no more "maple syrup"........plenty of love, kisses & cuddles.........and then, all this hopefully followed by new loving forever homes!! Jerri Carel The Ferret Haven Louisville, KY www.theferrethaven.org [log in to unmask] PayPal [log in to unmask] Check out our October raffle at http://www.shelterfriends.blogspot.com/ [Posted in FML 6117]