We all know the economy has caused a trickle down effect on all animal shelters, especially ferret shelters as they are home spun and run. Most of the kids here are older and not that many folks out there are willing to take on a ferret knowing they may only have one to three years at best with their new furkid. I've basically stopped taking in new surrenders as adoption requests have diminished and the inn is full. But I am still taking in hardship cases. One little guy's mom went into the hospital with a brain tumor & her parents were going to "return him to the wild" if I didn't take him in. Another little boy (aprox 4 yrs old) came in with the crappiest food & in poor condition. Had to rush him to the Vet this morning, where he is now on IV fluids and we don't know yet what is wrong with him. Poor nutrition is possible cause. Both boys were being fed the cheapest food on the market because (pick one...) that's all they could afford, or find, or felt like buying, or didn't know ferrets shouldn't eat store brand cat food... who knows at this point. Just got back from sitting at the Vet most of the day while waiting on a work in time slot & on blood work results only to find this email in my inbox: From: >email address removed< Subject: I need help ASAP please!!! Date: August 16, 2010 12:49:33 PM EDT To whom it may concern: I need help with my ferret named Chyanne. She is a five year old small silver ferret. I love her very very much but she has insulinoma and I cannot afford to take care of her special needs anymore. I love this little furry so much but I cannot see her suffer anymore. She has her good days and her bad days. She still eats very very well but her hind legs are very very weak because of the insulinoma. Even though she eats she does have to be fed with a syringe. She is currently eating chicken baby food and drinking some pedialite to try to keep her up and going. I cannot see having her put down because of this because she has such a will to live and I have been reading about how they euthanize ferrets and I cannot have my little furry going through this. I love her so much and I am asking you to help me with one of the hardest things in my life. Since I cannot give her the home she needs and the medical treatment that she deserves I am asking for you to take her. I have cried myself to sleep several nights since she has taken this downward spiral and wondered if I am a good mother. I said to myself since this is just like my child I would do everything I could in order to give her comfort and a well life even if that is not with her mommy. Please please if you could let me know if you can take her I don't want to see her suffer anymore and I don't want to have to subject her to the painful euthanization. I feel she has a right to live out to her last days and cross the rainbow bridge when it is her time. I am sorry this sounds so very sad but I am just getting over the death of my first ferret Bandit about two months ago. Chyanne was a very close pair to him and it has just been downhill since then. I figured also she would have playmates if you would take her. Again I am so sorry if this letter seems disorganized because the thoughts in my head are disorganized right now. If someone could please contact me back my phone number is ###-###-####. Thank you so much, Jennifer So now, what the hell am I supposed to do? Take in her sick/dyeing ferret that she's had for 5 "healthy" years because she doesn't want to take the responsibility to do the humane thing? I haven't responded yet. I'm still waiting on a call from the Vet about the boy I had to leave there earlier. Speaking as a Shelter Operator, the emotional toll we suffer is beyond words. It pains me to think the public view us as a dumping ground for their ill/dying castoffs because they "don't want to see her suffer anymore and I don't want to have to subject her to the painful euthanization". Where is my magic wand? There are a few places I'd like to stuff it right about now! Debbie Saunders [log in to unmask] Roanoke, VA [Posted in FML 6792]