Hi everyone, I'm trying to catch up on updates, and to answer a couple of your questions: 1) the fire was just three days ago (not a few months ago) 2) Ferrets were not put to sleep, (Goodness NO, they are being cared for at my house and I just hand fed and hugged them all this morning!) 3) Ferrets are shelter guys living at a foster home, all of whom are adrenal, have insulnoma, on lupron, meletonin, prednisone, diazoxide and were neglected and/or abused. Annalise is originally from California and volunteered to take these ferrets to live with her as they deserved to be out of a shelter enviroment. (an unattended candle in a bedroom was the cause of the fire from the tenant on the second floor. The tenant helped the fire fighters to get all four ferrets out insisting that they go back in multiple times and look for them until all four were rescued. This morning's update: I spoke with Annalise this morning she is so relieved that the ferrets were rescued. She didn't have renters insurance and most of her posessions are gone as well as all of the ferret bedding and other ferret items. The ferrets were originally from my shelter location so we felt it would be better for them to be in familiar surroundings and with familiar ferret buddies. Bandit has some eye issues of which we have been treating with the eye ointment provided by Dr. Harrington. Her eye seemed better today. All the ferrets did receive eye irrigation and stain to access if they had damage. We believe that she has some irritation and is a bit better today. Carmella doesn't seem to have any physical issues, but is very tramatized, clingy and sought out one of her old buddies, Mikey to curl up with. She does still have a bit of a smokey smell to her and Mikey is very protective of her. She seemed a bit less tense and skittish this morning. Stevie has smoke inhalation of which his nasal passages and throat are very roughed up, we have done respiratory theraphy for him and have placed him on anitbiotics. We have dotted some ferret Rx (vapor) in the bedding to keep the nasal passages open and added a cool mist vaporizer in the room to keep moisture in the air for him to breathe. Stevie is the dark sable ferret in the Herald with the fire fighter. Rudy is the most affected by the fire. He has some singed fur on one foot and some burnt paw pads, he has some crispy skin on his neck and around his nose. He is the lighter ferret in the Herald pictures being carried out by the firefighter. He is also on antibiotics and receiving topical animax which soothes the skin and is a triple antibiotic. It has been difficult to get his medicine in him (prednisone & diazoxide) as we cannot touch the skin on his neck and with him being so rattled, and deaf, he is unable to hear the calming voice reassuring him that he is safe. All are eating soup and we are calling in status reports to Dr. Harrington of Randolph Animal Hospital twice a day. Although we are so happy to be able to help them with their recovery, we could really use some help with thier vet bill. If anyone would like to give us a hand with this, we have started a Ferret Fire Fund and placed a donation button on the shelter's website: www.southshoreferretcare.org Christine Reis has drawn us a wonderful picture of a ferret resting in a fire cap. We will be working on "You Are A Hero to Us" placques for both the Cambridge and Somerville Fire Departments. I have ordered South Shore Ferret Care Sweatshirts for Annalise and Jason so they will have something ferrety to wear while they miss this ferret kids (all of which I am paying for out of my own pocket, any money donated from anyone will go directly to their vet bill, the animal pharmacy to meet their medical needs). I spoke with April at Totally Ferret yesterday, she is sending some food and vivify for the ferrets in the fire as well as some baby food for the ferret at Laurie's with a broken back after being thrown against a wall. Rose, Cathy and Libby have said that they will make some bedding to help us replace all the ferret bedding lost in the fire. We know it's been a tough year for everyone, if you are not able to help with their vet bill, we can use some extra help around the shelter with volunteers, newspapers, paper towels, yesterday's news litter, and chicken baby food. Please make sure that you have a PLAN should disaster strike! Get those stickers on your windows to let fire fighters know you have pets inside and keep that number up to date on the sticker!! Bless you all and feel free to contact me with any questions- Diane Wall, South Shore Ferret Care 2 Lantern Road, Holbrook, MA 02343 781-249-4628 [log in to unmask] www.southshoreferretcare.org [Posted in FML 6579]