Ferrets in need of help in MO

[ejwestphal]

I recently out of curiosity replied to an add I saw in classifieds---
------
Date: Sat Jan 1 18:24:35 PST 2005
Name: Joani Ide
Home: King City MO
Email Address: fltsoffancy@yahoo.com
URL: None
Animals: I came to the difficult decision tonite that I need to reduce our animal population. Therefore, the following are being offered for sale to good homes, we also have several horses, donkeys, and cage birds available, e-mail for the entire list. Ferrets (intact breeders): Albino male, $25 Albino female, $25 Normal female, tame, $30 Iguana: 2 ½ ft long, tame, with large cage, $75 Rabbits: M Holland lop, $10 F Holland lop, born 19 May 03, sable point, $15 F Holland lop, born 28 Feb 02, pedigree, tortishell, $20 F Holland lop, $10 Guinea pigs: 3 Male, $5ea 5 Female, $10ea Degu: 2 Male, $10ea 2 Female, $10ea 5 babies, $15ea Emu: 2 unsexed, very tame, $75ea Zebu: 8 month old bull, $250

This is the response I got

Yes we do. I don't know their ages. They are fairly
tame, the female might be pregnant right now so is a
bit cranky. They are current on shots, but are due
for worming. The female is a bit rough looking. She
has bite marks from teh male and is shedding her coat,
especially on her tail. Asking $25ea. We also have a
normal colored female, VERY tame very pretty that is
$30.

--- Esther Westphal <ejwestphal@lycos.com> wrote:

> Hello, I was wondering if you still had the pair of
> albino ferrets?

If anyone is in this area and can maybe help these poor things out... I'm
sure they could probably use a good home and to get away from the possiblity of being turned into (as they probably already were) baby factories for unexperienced breeders looking to make more money on a growing problem :(

[FuzzyMom]

I sent an e-mail. Poor things.

[ejwestphal]

I wish I was closer, I would pick them up in a heart beat... let me know how it turns out!

[digitalshame]

in illinois there is a ferret shelter that takes in any ferret that needs help... i think its in south illinois... try contacting them they seem to really care.

[FuzzyMom]

I got in touch with a local rescue in my area that I have volunteered for in the past. They are a great bunch of folks who really care about ferrets.

I'm going to take in these little guys with the support and assistance from the rescue. Wish me luck!

[K1OWidow]

Please make sure you quaranteed these babies and have them ADV tested before introducing them to any ferrets or other animals. It concerns me that these people have sooo many animals that are in need of homes . . . I'm guessing there is no way they would have been able to properly take care of all of these animals.

Will you give an update after the vet has seen them? Thanks!

[sassy3n8fan]

She also has a TON of birds too. I wrote to the closest animal shelter I could find to there, but I have heard nothing back.

My worry is that the female has adrenal gland disease

[FuzzyMom]

I'm concerned about adrenal as well. She said they are all current on shots and that the missing hair is from the male. :( It coud also be...esplacia (sp?). Is that what it's called? It's a condition in pregnant ferrets that could kill both the babies and the mother, however it usually involves tarry stools and a few other symptoms that the female is a apparently clear of.

[sassy3n8fan]

If you are going there to pick them up.... please, please, please look as good as you can at the other animals that are there. I contacted a humane shelter in MO, as I live in Iowa, by email, and tried to get them to go check her out. I was extremely interested to know that she had the cockatoo there. But as I just moved back to Iowa from Lousiana, I don't have the extra funds to buy the bird from her. I would really like to have it though. And I really hope all these animals are not in as bad of conditions that this situation makes you think of. Let us all know what happens!!

[FuzzyMom]

I'm going to have to meet them to pick up the ferrets as they are 4-5 hours away from me. So, unfortunately, I won't be able to see the other animals on the premises.

I'm hoping that it isn't a bad situation. I do have pics of the ferrets if anyone is interested in seeing them. Just reply here and ask and I'll try to get the pic(s) to you as soon as I can.

The albino female is the only one I'm really concerned about. She also may be pregnant and that concerns me. While I have many years of experience with ferrets, I'm the first to admit that I have no first hand experience with a pregnant ferret or babies. I am knowledgable on the subject, but no expert. This is where the local ferret rescue is coming to my aid. They are going to help me through this and then help me get them all fixed.

Wish me luck! I'll keep you all posted.