It feels like it is raining ferrets, but luckily compared to other areas, we are really only in a ferret trickle. The Oregon Ferret Shelter is at 106 with more coming in every day. We took in 4 in the past two days. Two of them are only 4 months old– babies.Adoptions pending are few, but many people who call don’t like to hear what we tell them: ferrets will need a $300 surgery, their food is $4 a pound, they need out time every day, etc. Most people want a cheap and easy pet, some don’t think about it as commitment. In these cases, I’m glad these folks rethink getting a ferret. We send a lot of people away to read Ferrets for Dummies. If they do and go to a pet store… we are ok with that. Education is Education; one less ferret dead in a reclining chair or stuck in a dishwasher.

I do hope for good homes, but I’m happy to wait for them. They do come.

We lost one 8 year old shelter girl who was only here for a month or so. She had an intestinal tumor and was wasting. Dr. Koob thought it would be futile to do anything at her age, and I concurred. At that age and with any intestinal tumors, we have not had any success in creating a quality of life worth living for a ferret. They are always distressed and dehydrated.

We have invested in a new air filter for the new forced air A/C-Heat system Bill and I put in last fall. It should filter the air down to about 98% and help reduce any odor from the air. Right now it isn’t do a very good job and I do not want to use ozone machines in an enclosed space with animals in there. Hopefully we can conjure up our split door for the shelter that will make more air circulation up there. We still are hoping for a volunteer to build it. We can provide the materials, but need the handi-skills.

We sent in an application for a Petco grant.. cross your fingers!!

~Laura