shelter website: www.freewebs.com/fallonferts
Wind & Willows Ferret Rescue was started to fulfill a promise I made to our first ferret, Kodo. We purchased Kodo 4 years ago as a therapy pet to help my teenage daughter overcome severe depression. She needed something to make her want to get up and get better. Kodo save my daughter and opened doors into a whole new world for me. We still have him and I promised him I would return his love by helping other ferrets in need. I had no idea at the time that there was such a need for ferret rescue in our area.. I never realized how many people are impulse pet owners and consider pets as disposable.
Our rescue operates primarily as a sanctuary for elderly, abused or abandoned ferrets. My mission is to provide a safe, healthy and stable home to those that may never have known such a thing. We don’t adopt out many. We are setting up a foster home network to allow us to help more. But NO ferret in my care leaves without learning love and compassion does exist in this world.
Our first “rescue” I found on Petfinder; she was listed as young ( not) healthy ( also not accurate). She had been found wandering in a trailer park during a snowstorm 3 hours away from us. Jazzmine was our introduction to ferret health problems. She was probably 6 or 7 years old, adrenal, insulinomic and an absolute love. We didn’t know why she’d just stare off in space; we didn’t know she was sick at first. We learned a lot thanks to Jazzmine. I hope she learned she was Loved during her short time here. Thanks to Jazzmine all my ferrets have a more knowledgeable caretaker. Because of her I joined several online groups and have a worldwide network of advice. Never again will health or behavioral issues be overlooked. I have trained with my vet to administer home and hospice care and have continued my education and try to keep up with advances in ferret medical research in order to assist and advise new ferret owners as well as any veterinarian that may be unfamiliar with ferrets but is willing to listen.
Shelter operations are started for all the right reasons and closed for all the wrong ones. It’s financially, emotionally and often physically a drain. Most shelters in my opinion are closed because those that start them don’t feel they can ask anyone to help. They feel a responsibility to “do it all” — This is the biggest mistake. There are people who would LOVE to help but just need to be asked. If you can just step away once and awhile, the animals and the caregivers all will benefit.
In my case– my rescue has rescued me…. I have lived in a small rural area all my life with little interaction with others other than work and a few passing friends. Ferrets have opened up a whole larger world to me and given my life meaning and purpose. I can say (truthfully) I may not have changed the world– but I made it better for a few lost souls.
we are now listed on Petfinder — http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NV114.html
and have a website as well — http://www.freewebs.com/fallonferts