This trio came into the shelter yesterday. They had been found by someone in downtown Seattle. Because our website says that we request appointments for surrenders, and that we're open to the public on Saturdays, she kept them for 3 weeks without contacting us before bringing them in. Because she didn't know about ferrets, she just gave them some cat food, and didn't monitor to make sure they were all eating. One of them was obviously eating, and the others are starved. Patches was seriously dehydrated and emaciated, but will likely pull through with fluids and lots of hand feeding. Gertrude was in much worse shape. Severely dehydrated and extremely emaciated. She was squinty-eyed, bottle-brush tail, and not moving except to burrow into blankets and look miserable. Lots of signs of pain, and generally looking like she just wanted to lay down and die. We got Gertrude fluids, vitamin B injection, pain meds and famotidine (Pepcid injectable). We got her to eat a bit of Carnivore Care. Today, they're looking a bit better, so there is hope. The names are from a long-running local Seattle children's show featuring J.P. Patches and his sidekick Gertrude. The actor that played JP died this week, so it's a remembrance. Kevin [Posted in FML 7523]