My name is Rosemarie Maracich, I am a professional who works in Manhattan and resides in Fairfield, CT with my partner Shay MacInnis. Last week, we took an annual vacation to Puerto Rico and left our beloved dog and ferret in the hands of our extremely trustworthy friend Susan who lives in Long Beach, NY. We left for vacation on Sunday, February 22nd. On Monday, February 23rd Susan noticed that Ollie, the ferret was suddenly missing. Ferrets are known to sleep for long periods of time, so initially she wasn't extremely concerned until some time had lapsed and he didn't turn up -- fear took over with the realization that somehow he had gotten out of the house! She frantically searched for him from Tuesday, February 24th through the rest of the week. She notified me on Wednesday, February 25th that he was missing -- our vacation was ruined. We proceeded to create tons of flyers with his photo (attached) and distributed them across all of Long Beach in the hopes that someone would find him. We also called the police department and all of the local animal hospitals and shelters to see if anyone had found him and turned him in - to no avail. Finally, on Monday March 2nd - we got a call from a woman who works at All Creatures Animal Hospital in Long Beach stating that a man had called earlier in the week and said he found a ferret (two blocks away from Susan's apartment) - he provided his phone number in the hopes that someone called looking for him. Unfortunately, she was off over the weekend and didn't know we had physically come in with the flyer. We immediately called the man who found him and he informed us that he called Freeport Animal Shelter who came to pick him up on Tuesday, February 24th. We immediately called Freeport Animal Clinic on Monday, March 2nd (during the snowstorm) at 830am and spoke to someone who told us that a Nicole had brought Ollie home. We were thrilled that someone had him and that he was safe and warm inside someone's home until we could get to him. Later that day we called a few more times, and no one returned our calls. Yesterday, Tuesday March 3rd we PHYSICALLY showed up at the shelter. After getting the runaround for about 10 minutes - we finally got an answer from Stephanie the Director... that he was adopted out to someone. We we shocked and outraged. They proceeded to tell us that there is some sort of law that states after 5 DAYS any animal at a shelter is available for adoption and that this is a legal issue that cannot be turned around. My first thought is HOW COULD THIS APPLY TO A LOST ANIMAL AND THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS WHO FOUND HIM - MIRACULOUSLY AFTER ONLY 5 SHORT DAYS. Stephanie said she would call the new owner to see if she would give him back -- after another few hours of torturous waiting - she calls very matter of factly to tell us - "sorry, she won't give him back"! I have two questions: 1). How could a so-called "safe haven" animal shelter and animal advocate facility, leave our poor OLLIE with absolutely no rights! Selfishly this person who adopted him doesn't want to give him back. And the shelters only concern is being wrapped up in the legalities! What about what's best for Ollie? Which is to be with his loving family, that has raised him over the last two years surrounded by all things familiar and everything he loves... mostly the people who have made him the socialized and loving creature that he is today?! Ollie has no rights according to Freeport Animal Shelter... he is being forced to live with a stranger because the law sais so??? I don't think so! 2). How could any animal loving human NOT give an animal back to it's rightful owners? How could the shelter even adopt an animal out to this type of person? We have sent countless emails, have put our story on Face book, and all over the internet - petitions are being created and signed and have contacted every person in any powerful position who may be able to help us. WE NEED YOUR HELP! THIS IS RIDICULOUS! We were told by the Long Beach police department that we will need to file a CIVIL LITIGATION... I can't believe it will have to come to that? What kind of world do we live in? And what kind of facility that is created to protect animals and reunite them with their owners or find them suitable homes... and looks for compassionate people to donate money and time to help homeless animals - do something like this? There are hundreds of ferrets and other animals who are homeless that need homes. OLLIE HAS A HOME! It is unacceptable... and we refuse to live with it. PLEASE HELP US GET OLLIE BACK!!!! Rosemarie Maracich Director, Special Events MTV NETWORKS (212)258-8241 Shay MacInnis President / Owner Chez Shay A Hair Studio (203)296-9809 [Posted in FML 6264]