October

October, 1999: "The Flint 9"

This poor group of wayward weezils was rescued from hell on earth in the home of a "breeder" in Flint, MI. "Backyard breeders" (people who have no business owning, much less breed any animal) have dumped on the Michigan shelters so many times over the years - each a disgusting, filthy place with so many tortured critters. To follow is what I personally witnessed when I went in to get the ferrets. I deeply regret not getting photographs of the basement the ferrets were in. When I got up that morning I was already getting sick (turned into a two week plague)...I got up very late and could not reach my brother to get his digital camera. I just wanted to get the whole mess over with, but I definitely should have taken a camera. Unfortunately I'm sure this wasn't the last time I'll see such conditions.

Make-A-Rescue in Warren, at that time the only active shelter east of Lansing, had started using a waiting list to help with the tremendous numbers of critters needing to come into the shelter. I was helping out by transporting critters surrendered on this side of the state west to Grand Rapids, where there was a bit of room...but the critters kept on coming. Make-A-Rescue got a call from Jerri Palmer of Flint, MI in September. Palmer told Mary of Make-A-Rescue several things: she had 22 ferrets, 8 were not hers, she was ill and needed help with cleaning. She wanted to either move the 8 that weren't hers along into shelter or get some help with the cleaning. She NEVER told Mary these critters were in any peril! Mary took the information and started making calls to find room for 8 critters, perhaps in a temporary foster home. She then left Jerri several messages trying to get back in touch with her. Since Mary was unable to reach Palmer, she wasn't sure what was up. I went through the list and was able to contact Palner on 10/13/99. After that first call I was extremely concerned about how things were out there, so I worked with Mary to set about making plans to go get the critters. Since I didn't fully know what to expect, I wanted to take a truck or van out there with me (I have a small car). We set up plans for myself and another ferret friend to get up there (about an hour away) on 10/15/99, so I made a follow up call to Jerri to set things up.

I'll sum up the conversations I had with Jerri now. I had such a hard time understanding her and keeping track - only if out of order will this make any sense I think. Clearly this woman has mental problems. Add to her distinct lack of coherence a logic that totally escapes me - well, it was confusing to speak to her to say the least. Jerri had told Mary that she had 8 ferrets that weren't hers. Supposedly she had kept them up to date on distemper and only 3 were whole. In fact, we removed 9 animals: 5 whole females, 1 MF male and 3 whole males. None were up to date on anything - including food intake. Jerri explained that another "backyard breeder" had been living with her. Jerri has health issues and has spent time in the hospital. Jerri accused this "Dan Kobileski (sp?)" of letting two litters die of neglect while she was hospitalized. She said she kicked him out of the house but he left his ferrets behind. He didn't want them to go to a shelter because they were "his ferrets" and "he planned to breed some more." She told him he'd have to pay her $100 per month to take care of his ferrets. Evidently he hadn't paid her, nor had he contacted her for over two months. She complained time and time again how unfair his dumping on her was. She is a very heavy woman with something terribly wrong with one leg (it's swollen tremendously) and said she is unable to get down to her basement to care for the ferrets. She has been sending her 8 year old daughter downstairs to care for the ferrets as best she could. She does have a girlfriend who helps her with her life, but this friend (we discovered while there) is afraid of ferrets and won't go near them. Jerri complained quite a bit how unfair this whole situation was to her...on and on she droned. She also took great care to tell me how wonderful HER ferrets are. Only after the second conversation did I get the sense things were really bad up there. She told me she "fed them what she could" and "cleaned the cages as best she could" but she felt awfully bad over how thin they were getting. In fact, she finally admitted, one had already died. After I cut the conversation short by telling her "I'll be up for these critters on Friday at 1:00" she went into another whine session about her woe and wanted to make sure I "wouldn't be mad at her - it wasn't her fault this man was neglecting his ferrets!"

During the second call Jerri told me that she had gone to the basement to get the critters "ready to go." She told me only during this trip did she realize that two of HER OWN ferrets were in the basement! She was OUTRAGED! This man had LIED to her by saying only HIS ferrets were in the basement...to think HER ferrets were SUFFERING the same fate as HIS! She was livid (boo hoo, I was definitely thinking). After all, she told me, EVERYONE knows how wonderful HER ferrets are; that she would NEVER knowingly allow HER OWN ferrets to starve to death in her own basement like this man was letting happen to HIS. She rattled off her accomplishments at GLFA shows and dropped the names of all the GLFA officers who LOVE her ferrets and blah blah...oh yeah, I was so impressed.

When we arrived it was just like the Michigan rescue of Christmas '98 at the "shelter" (if you could call it that) known as Rascal's Hideout - just less cages and ferrets. Dark, dank basement (recently flooded, cages on the floor were not surprisingly empty - I am loathe to imagine what became of those poor ferrets), cages galore, stuff everywhere...then the critters. Unfortunately I HAVE seen this before. Filth? Oh yes...everywhere. What I didn't find was any sign of food. The filth was incredible...they've obviously been in the cages through a shed 'cause the hair, urine, resulting rust and feces was thick along the bottom (and sides and everywhere) of each cage. Hard to breathe, despite the large fan blowing stench around. Of course the final insult in the only cage that had two ferrets in it: one was dead with the maggots already hard at work. The poor little albino on the bottom level just looked confused at me the whole way home. If only we had found out about this last weekend, I thought. I packed critters into carriers as my companion had Jerri sign the release. I was calling out the gender and Jerri was just talking up a storm about how terrible life was to her, how bad she felt to see ferrets neglected like this and, of course, it wasn't her fault. I kept going back to the cages almost paranoid I would have missed someone. She pointed out that the one cage held two critters; my companion pointed out that one was already dead. There was no way to miss this - the poor thing was already half gone to maggots. Oh yep, she really felt bad about that. What a terrible man to mistreat his animals this way. It wasn't her fault - she felt so bad!!!

After I had both of the last of the 9 in my hands and my companion had already loaded the rest into the truck, this disgusting-fat-stupid-pathetic-excuse-for-a-human said "it's not my fault" just one too many times - so I let her have it. I was already terribly sick and had an incredibly sore throat - but it held out for me through my tirade. Three minutes of screaming at the top of your lungs is rather therapeutic I must say! In the middle of all these disgusting, rotten stinking 12" x 8" cages sat a mattress, and upon this disgusting mattress sat our princess. I had the last two carriers in my hands, frantically looking around to make sure I had everyone. She stopped whining for a minute, then looked right at me and said "It's not my fault!" one more time. "THEY'RE IN YOUR FUCKING HOUSE YOU MINDLESS PIECE OF FLOTSAM!" From the moment we walked in you have been bragging about YOUR critters - how wonderful they are - Jesus Christ, ferrets are dead down here! Your own critters are kept in just the same filth, you only have two in bigger cages! You feel sorry for the poor little ferrets in disgusting and filthy cages barely bigger than their own selves for MONTHS now without relief - and take little to no action? Mary has been trying to reach you for WEEKS! You brag about how many ferret people you know - why weren't you shouting from the rooftop how bad things were here! What the hell do you expect this big ass fan to do? Just blowing the stench back into the faces of the already tortured critters. When was the last time these ferrets ate? When was the last time they were out of their prisons - saw sunlight?" Of course all of this went right on over her head...but I must admit it made me feel a bit better. At least I stopped shaking with rage.

I was absolutely amazed at the spirit of these critters. How they had the will to live through all this is beyond me. Supposedly this freak had these critters in that dungeon from April until October. Amazingly the females were not too thin. The 4 boys were all completely emaciated, but the girls were ok. ALL the critters IMMEDIATELY began CHOWING the food we offered. YAY! Of course there were some bites, but I expected that. Nothing as bad as I feared, in fact. One of the girls I had for a couple of weeks sure got me - right through and into my knuckle - but I really expected these critters to be biting our faces off. A couple have already tried to play WAY TOO HARD, but I can certainly understand all that pent up energy. All the critters were able to get into other shelters right away: 4 to Wayne, 2 to foster care in Ferndale and one to Grand Rapids. I had the great pleasure of having one of the hobs and the MF boy with me for a few weeks - what supreme lover boys!!!

I can only hope that in the future someone who has half a brain will recognize that the ferrets in their vicinity living in filth and suffering are in dire need of help and will therefore call for assistance. Otherwise I don't know how we're to find out about things. This woman's house was so full of stuff - including flies - I never would have noticed any ferrets. Sure wouldn't have been in a hurry to get down her basement, that is. Oh - and we discovered a couple of days after the rescue that "the guy" or "that man" who had "dumped his ferrets on her (Palmer)" was in fact HER OWN SON!!! Let's hope these were all the ferrets he'll ever get his hands on!

Postscripts: Back in late 1999 our rescue was not yet in operation as it is today, so we only helped in this case. I had the pleasure of seeing two of the critters off to new homes, but I'm not familiar with what became of many of the others. "El Loco & Gizmo," the supremely friendly hob and the MF boy (photos), were adopted by a friend's mom as her first ferrets. I also dropped off a beautiful silver gal to The Fuzz Butt Hutt of Grand Rapids so she could find a new home.

Also of note: The "press" on this case has had positive effects! One sweet woman in the Grand Rapids area was so moved by the story she decided to become a volunteer at her local shelter. WONDERFUL! I received so much mail from folks wanting to help these critters...but this rescue only involved 9 critters. Think of the hundreds that linger in shelters for months, each and every day. We all know that permanent homes are always the best thing for the critters...so by all means visit your local shelter to help clean, put a sign up in your vet's office or at the local pet shop - and NEVER stop educating the folks you meet!

June, 2000 The "Barn Dwellers"

A couple of good Samaritans realized that their co-worker had some ferrets in his barn. After getting more information, they realized that these critters had been out there stuck in filthy cages for 4 YEARS!!!!! Sigh...?!?!?!?!?!?!?! The good Samaritans scooped them up and brought them down (these critters came down from Lapeer). Seems this fool couple got some ferrets just after they became legal figuring they'd get into making big money. Of course there is no money in breeding ferrets, which they soon discovered. So...off to the barn with the critters! Unfortunately they'd been there ever since, without being fixed or receiving any care or attention. When I received the critters I was amazed at how good they looked. Fluffy coats, not skinny, no fleas or other obvious ick...??? Of course I was also amazed that the 3 girls were still alive, since they had never been fixed. Three gals: Cinnamon mom, Silver mom and the "baby" - reportedly the only surviving critter that was bred, they said she was 4 at the time. Also one fluffy wide hob in rut, but thankfully wasn't too stinky! :) Unfortunately I soon discovered some health troubles: the boy had a seizure shortly after arriving. The Silver mom was also pretty floppy in the hind end, so I had them both tested for insulinoma: positive. We started the meds and set up an appointment for all to be fixed. Rainbow River in Grand Rapids agreed to take Cinnamon Mom and Baby, since vet care for all was going to be a bit o' cash and hopefully they'd both be adoptable. So on June 22, they were off for their operations!

The baby came through just fine - no prolonged estrus evidence to be found, so she was ready to go. The Old Man (who became Oscar), also did well after starting meds. Unfortunately prolonged estrus had taken it's toll on the two moms. Cinnamon mom's uterus was so infected it had already broken open in her abdomen, which was full of infection and yuck. The vet did the best she could cleaning out all that crap and mom survived surgery thanks to the expert, loving care of our friend Elle at Rainbow River. Silver mom (who became Lula) had a horrible time though. Not only was her uterus totally infected, she was RIDDLED with cancer - it was truly everywhere. Kidneys, liver, pancreas, lymph nodes...the poor gal must have been in pain. I thought she was just a quiet nice gal, now in hindsight I think she must really have been suffering. She passed over the bridge during surgery, which I think was the best thing for her. I'm just sorry she didn't have more time.

Potentially amusing side note: Lula and Oscar were quite a pair, so I decided on "pair names." I don't stick to the standards, however. My family is from the south and there are quite a few unique names to be found in ye olde family tree, so I've helped myself to some mighty cute names over the years. My great-grandmother's name was, for some reason, Lula Oscar Frazier. Thus I choose the pair names of Lula and Oscar! :)

I'm so glad Lula got out of that hell hole she was forced to live in to have at least a few days of happiness. The Cinnamon mom and the baby stayed in Elle's great care for a time and when they were ready were adopted into new homes. Oscar managed to find a foster home with a friend of ours, but after one of the other boys in the home decided he hated him, things became too stressful for Oscar so he returned to live out his life with us. He passed away in March, 2003. We loved him to pieces! I remain so glad we were able to help these critters who were so callously thrown away...I'll never understand how people can be so cruel, but rather than dwell on their past I just enjoyed the time I had with Oscar the Fluffy. :)

March 2003: The Stormin' Norman Happiness Invasion!

Last fall we were contacted by the daughter of a ferret owner. Sadly the ferret owner had experienced a debilitating stroke and was not expected to recover. Her daughter was unable to care for her four ferrets, so she surrendered them to our shelter. We were delighted to meet Norman (7, anti-social - is a regulator to other ferrets), Walter (6, unknown intestinal issue), Erik (7, advanced adrenal disease) & Bear (4, one big fat happy boy); however, we were worried about what might become of them due to their age and health issues. We were especially concerned about Norman since he was definitely NOT friendly to other ferrets. Norm had shared a home with his three "brothers" but had lived separate from them for his entire life. We suspected he was blind but otherwise appeared in good health, his only issue other than his desire to be a bonafide bachelor was his crotchety attitude! Now of course a ferret is never actually grumpy, Norm just has what we consider a delightful "I'm the center of the universe, what can you do for me today?" attitude!

Norm was definitely unnerved over having to come and stay with us. We gave him plenty of playtime on his own and let him come to us when he wanted attention, and slowly he started to be interested in what was going on around our place. Last September our friends Cindy and Bill Greathouse, who have young ferrets, had attended our annual ferret friend gathering and, like many other of our ferret friends, had fallen in love with a couple of the old critters who were afoot at the time. Although the critters they met were on their way out and ended up spending their last days with us, Cindy and Bill thought that perhaps taking on a special older beastie might be a wonderful experience for their family. Of course we therefore thought of them when it came to considering where Norman might end up! After discussing Norman's personality, needs and projecting what it might be like to have him in their home, Cindy and Bill decided to give Norm a chance. Of course they couldn't resist after meeting him; after all, have any of us NOT fallen in love with most ferrets we've met?

Since we already knew Cindy and Bill and knew they were great ferret parents, we planned a quick visit for them to pick up Norman one night. Would you believe Norman choose the very time we met to show signs of insulinoma? Talk about interesting timing! Norm started that telltale head bob, which of course we recognized right away, so we postponed his departure until we could confirm insulinoma and start Norm on meds. The blood test was what we expected with his behavior; we were then pleased to see Norman respond very well to meds - just the help he needed! So after a short delay Norman was off to his new home without further ado. Cindy and Bill didn't mind a bit that Norman had another issue, for they know that no matter the issues, each day is precious and a blessing with fuzzies and they couldn't wait to take him home!

Now let's let Cindy take over to report on the positive impact having Norman around has been:

"When Nancy approached me with the option of fostering an older ferret (and did I mention an old, blind, very crabby ferret with insulinoma?) I was at first a bit hesitant, even though I had already fallen in love with several of the older ferrets I'd met at Motor City Ferrets. Already having 3 younger male ferrets (not to mention a dog and a guinea pig), I wasn't sure if taking on an old, sick Norman would benefit my family, my boys and Norman himself. After meeting with Norman several times and getting to know him, I just couldn't bare the thought of leaving the shelter without him one more time. Not to mention, I really felt a responsibility to the ferret community to help in this compassionate way.

The first few days with Norman were tough, and a little frightening. After all, he was still getting adjusted to meds for his newest trouble, insulinoma. Nanci had confidence in us and we communicated frequently about how best to help Norman medically and also how to set him at ease in our home. These days my family and I cannot imagine our home without him. He is as much a part of our family as the "family dog" is. Norman has also become the very best friend of my 6-year-old daughter. They are inseparable! Norman even musters up enough energy to pick on the dog as much as possible.

We would like to adopt another "oldie but goodie" but Norman, being the crotchety old man that he is, refuses to have a cagemate. So when it is time for Stormin Norman to cross the Rainbow Bridge, my family will be the first in line to take on at least 2 old fuzz butts, even if they are no longer fuzzy!"

Every time Cindy calls or e-mails she has more delightful goings on to report about "Stormin' Norman." In the last installment Cindy and I giggled as she told me that Norman has claimed a piece of furniture for his lair. Sometimes Cindy can't extricate him when it's time for the youngsters' playtime; no matter, she lets the young boys out to romp and before you know it, Norman is out of his lair and hot on their heels - OUTRAGED over being disturbed and on the chase to get those insolent youngsters once and for all! Cindy delights in how self-assured Norman is and how strong his "You know you love me, now entertain/cuddle/feed/otherwise pay attention to me" attitude is. We may call him a crotchety old man but really Norman is just a happy little man. Clearly the Greathouse family has learned through first hand experience how delightful ferrets are at any age, no matter if they have things that we hooman beans define as "issues" or "troubles." Ferrets just don't care what's on their plate; they just want to be happy! And so we add Norman Greathouse to our list of wonderful success stories. Hopefully his story will inspire others to give an overlooked ferret a shot to enhance their life as Norman has done for his family!!!

March 2003: Linus and Sera, a love story

Linus arrived at our shelter with his cage mate Monica in February, 2003. They were very lucky critters, spirited away (very hush-hush) from a local animal control that had no interest in finding them a new home and would otherwise have killed them. Fortunately a kind samaritan brought them to us! We noticed right away that Linus and Monica were very close; that is, that Linus just wasn't a happy boy when separated from his gal. However, Monica had other ideas and soon after arriving fell madly in love with Kelly and started giving Linus the cold shoulder! We weren't sure how to make Linus happy…he didn't want to play with others and spent most of his playtime up on top of the tallest cage, away from the group.

In March we finally met Sera, a delightful little gal who had lost her cagemate around Christmas time. We didn't know what to expect with Sera…her hooman bean had reported that since she lost her buddy Winkie she just hadn't been herself. She had been sleeping much more and just didn't have the same interest in life. We know from experience sometimes after losing a lifelong cagemate some critters won't want to make new friends; we were hoping that Sera might be able to find a friend amongst the many who pass through our shelter seeking a new home.

When Sera came for her visit we weren't exactly sure who we might introduce her to first, but after getting to know her for only a few minutes we thought Linus might be a good match. The two seemed so alike in personality! While we hoped for success we were overjoyed to find the two were indeed a super match - they took to each other instantly and immediately began having fun! After only a short while observing the instant joy the two discovered with each other, it was clear Linus was the perfect match, so we didn't even need to introduce any other candidates. We happily saw Linus off with his new sis Sera and "Grandferret" John and looked forward to hearing happy updates!

We heard from John the very next day. Sera, who had for the past three months motored about for only 20 minutes at a time maximum, had been up half the night with new pal Linus! The two have been going ever since. Of course the news is wonderful…but as an added bonus the "Grandferret" John also happens to be quite the poet, so he's kept us eagerly awaiting new happiness updates with compositions such as this one:

It was three months since Winkie, suddenly passed away,
Leaving poor little Seraphina, with no one to play.
The Grandferret tried hard, just to fill in,
With extra love and attention, but he just wasn't him.
She ate, snooped, and slept, my cute little elf,
But playing was out. She just wasn't her old self.
So off to the ferret shelter, we two did go,
To see if a new friend, would bring back the glow.
Nancy had selected several friends for a try,
But Linus was first. We'd see if they fly.
Now Linus had suffered a loss of his own.
Rejected by his girl friend, he was now all alone.
Right from the start it was obviously clear,
Neither Sera nor Linus had anything to fear.
They romped and they played, and they snooped all around.
It was love at first sight, then it was homeward bound.
T'was the night after Linus arrived at our house.
And finally both critters were quiet as a mouse.
The Grandferret was snuggled all warm in his bed
With nightmares of tax forms polluting his head.
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
He sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
By the light of the computer, in the cage did appear,
Two tiny wrestlers, fur bristling with good cheer.
They stopped their play as he turned on the light.
And gave him that look meaning "What's wrong? We didn't bite".
The litter was scattered all over the floor.
So the tired Grandferret went back and just closed the door.
In the morning he checked, to see who's alive.
The eight paws in the one hammock each still had five!
So now it's a week, since they came home together.
They're two of a kind, like birds of a feather.
The old Sera is back, her energy's rising.
Linus is happy, and that's not surprising.
From Chicago to Motown Linus did roam,
But travel no more for he's found a new home!

Thanks to Mr. John Pylat (the Grandferret) and his inspirations, the oh-so-happy-now Serafina and Linus!

Update August, 2006: With a heavy heart we have returned to update our love story. Linus and Sera's dear Poppa John passed away recently. John was such a wonderful ferret parent...he just loved his critters to pieces. Linus and Sera are still going strong, and thanks to another wonderful Motor City Ferrets foster parent, they now have a wonderful new home with their new Mom Naomi and kid brother & sister Dustin and Britta. Both critters instantly began having fun in their new home...such little champs, to have gone through so much and remain so happy. John was a great friend to our rescue and we'll miss him.

March 2003: Chasing Happiness

It started off with one ferret in January 1994. By June of that year, we had six lovely female ferrets providing love and amusement for the five of us hooman beans (Editor's Note: clearly Karen suffered from a terribly strong case of Ferret Math during this period hahaha). We so enjoyed them over these past few years. As of late 2002 our human kids were all grown and our original six ferrets have all crossed the Rainbow Bridge to a better place.

As my "girls" fell victim to old age and disease one by one, my thoughts turned to new furry friends. I wasn't really thrilled with the idea of introducing youngsters into our geriatric home, so I turned to the internet for a bit of surfing. Browsing various shelter sites, it took a couple of months before I would even fill out an application or make any initial inquiries about ferrets for adoption. Fortunately for me, Nanci at Motor City Ferrets was a VERY enthusiastic shelter person. Within a short time, we had added Ticket and Casey to our group, a direct adoption from the private owner, who had originally adopted Casey and Ticket from Motor City Ferrets. Their owners' situation changed to a mobile work schedule, which was not conducive to ferret ownership, so she made the decision to find them a new home.

I learned from both Nanci and Casey and Ticket's owner that Casey had adrenal disease and might not be too excited about making new friends. I was skeptical about bringing in older ferrets with existing problems. Ticket was only four, but had been with Casey his whole life (which was going to cause separation issues when Casey passed on). What were we thinking???? Didn't we have enough hardship already? We had great success integrating both new babies into our group, which at the time included our Mary Juana, the last of our original gang who was then 7 and Fret, a younger rescue I had brought home not too long before. Casey and Ticket worked their way into our hearts and adjusted well to our home. Sadly, within a short time Mary Juana became the last of our original critters to pass over the Rainbow Bridge.

I got to know Nanci at Motor City Ferrets in the period after we'd taken on Casey and Ticket. She thought we did such a great job handling Casey's emotional needs and asked us if we might consider becoming foster parents to other ferrets with emotional troubles. Doc and Sherman were the ferrets Nanci had in mind. Doc has insulinoma and doesn't like other ferrets one bit, except of course for his brother Sherman. Shermie is emotionally delicate (he has food issues and must be fed mushy, sometimes by hand) and experienced stress time and again during his stay at Motor City. We therefore knew beforehand that Doc and Sherman would have to live separate from our play group. Since we do not believe in cages, I asked my son what he thought about having them in his room. Surprisingly Matt agreed to foster the boys! You see, Matt is the only one of my children still at home, and he will always be with me. He was diagnosed as borderline schizophrenic/autistic several years ago, and hasn't had too much to do with anyone since then. He keeps to himself, having turned his schedule around to avoid contact with people. He is up all night and sleeps by day.

What happened with introduction of these so called "problem" ferrets was astounding. Casey was able to live out the last of her life in a home situation much like a hospice before passing on not long after our Mary Juana. Ticket made new friends before losing his lifelong buddy, Casey, which made adjusting to her passing much easier for him. Best of all, we have seen an ENORMOUS change in Matt since he has become responsible for "the boys". He is more involved in life. Matt makes certain that Doc gets his medication each morning, and remembers to eat periodically during the day. Every couple of hours, he sits down with Sherman and holds the plate of mushy for him to eat. Matt has become more outgoing and sociable with the humans in the household as well, especially when it comes to making sure Mom fixes Doc's chicken (his treat) just right! For the first time in five years, Matt got up during the day to have Thanksgiving dinner with the family!

Encouraged by the progress Matt has made, we continued to think of taking on more ferrets at some point. We adopted Emma from Motor City as a friend for Fret and Ticket, and the three are doing very well together. Emma is "normal", and we knew there must be more "special" ferrets out there we could help. When we learned Motor City and partner rescue Water Wayward Weezils were planning to help out the Greater Chicago Ferret Association by taking some ferrets (since they had some room), I took at quick look at the GCFA website to see who might be good candidates for our home. It didn't take long to discover a truly special pair listed on the web site; their story moved me so that we did not hesitate to offer to take two more "damaged" ferrets from the Chicago shelter. Leland and Dolly are another pair with health/attitude issues. Leland is very hyperactive (and has insulinoma) which makes him a great friend for Matt. He can run all day and still be up for vigorous play with Matt most of the night. Leland also has some sort of neurological trouble. He keeps his head at odd angles most of the time and can't get moving in a straight line until he circles around a few times first. He is young enough to be entertaining, and smart enough to keep Matt challenged with various ways to play. We sing silly songs to Leland all the time, such as "Dizzy." Dolly is small, but extremely feisty. Like Doc, Dolly must be segregated from the general population. We learned that both ferrets had a hard time adjusting to shelter life in Chicago and just HATED to be caged, so the shelter had given them all the special attention they could and let them run around most of the day to help with their cage angst.

Matt enjoys their company in a way that is different from the more sedate lifestyle of Doc and Sherman. Both have been delightful additions to our family. We have seen a new, more gentle side of Matt with the addition of these special ferrets to our home. When Doc and Dolly are sleeping Matt gets Sherman and Leland together for a secret romp for extra fun! Our special ferrets, Doc & Sherman, and Leland & Dolly especially, may think that they got the best end of the deal, but Ralph and I feel that we did. Seeing Matt come out of himself is more than we had hoped for.

Written by Karen Chase
March, 2003

And now it's my turn - Shelter Mom Nanci here! :) Sometimes shelter work is just miserable, there's just no other way to describe it. My faith in humanity is tested time and again by some of the cretins who's ferrets I end up with. Meeting people like Karen is what keeps me going, period. Karen originally called to inquire about adopting. At the time I had become aware of two special critters I had adopted out two years before needing a new home. Because Karen impressed me as such a devoted and caring ferret Mom, I asked if she would consider taking the pair directly. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't convinced it would work out with Casey and Ticket since Casey had such an attitude! I was so impressed with Karen and family's skill in integrating them into their family, not to mention completely delighted.

I just love meeting folks truly devoted to their weezils, so I couldn't help but ask Karen if she might consider fostering. I knew her family's schedule had someone home and awake most of the time, so I thought Doc and Sherman (pictured above, Sherm is the sable and Doc the albino) might be wonderful candidates. Of course I was thinking from "critter perspective;" while I loved Doc and Shermie and felt the family would fall in love as well (but of course, they're sweeties!!!) I had absolutely no idea what an amazing effect they would spark within the family.

I actually didn't have to do any arm twisting whatsoever when it came to Leland and Dolly (pictured below, Dolly on the left, Leland on the right and Mom Karen with both in the middle)! I had sent word around to all our ferret friends that we were planning another transfer from the GCFA, but I didn't realize Karen might be thinking of helping some more special ferrets. When we transfer critters, the GCFA tries to send critters who have been at the shelter LONG ENOUGH, thank you very much; those who have been passed over in their large facility for one reason or another. I usually speak with Norm, the main shelter personality, about the candidates and who might be able to fit into our crew. Norm told me about Leland and Dolly and I thought I would love to take them and find them a home, but we'd have a hard time giving them free run of the place with no cage time at all. I was therefore undecided if bringing the pair out to our place would be better than having them stay in Chicago and finding a new home directly. Little did I know that Karen was already checking out the GCFA website, and that she had already made up her mind and selected the pair!

I tell you, she couldn't have chosen a better pair for her family. Leland just HATED to be caged and would pace constantly...so sad. Karen doesn't use cages at all and had the space/time for another separate group of ferrets! Of course I already knew she wouldn't mind their issues a bit; Karen knows that every ferret is a special individual and respects critters despite their troubles. And once again I was delighted to hear happy updates right away with the pair - including more happy news about Matt! :) The main shelter volunteers at the GCFA were so sad to see Leland and Dolly go...lots of tears the day we brought them back with us. But their story truly has a happy ending, as I do believe they have found the perfect home.

Now our Emma & Ticket pal with Fret, Doc and Shermie have another area and Leland and Dolly have yet another, although I hear Matt gets Shermie and Leland together when their pals are sleeping! :) The Chase family story is truly a happy one indeed. We're so grateful to the whole family for opening their hearts and home to such special beasties. And we fully intend to keep them stocked with special critters who will not only delight the whole family, but continue to help Matt as well. Warm fuzzies abound whenever I think of all the critters lucky enough to get to live in the Chase home! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


The Baby	The Cinnamon Mom	Oscar the Fluffy	Miss Lula