shelter website: http://www.biglickferretshelter.org
Petfinder listing: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/VA370.html_
How did I get into ferret sheltering? Well, I got my first two ferrets as a “round about” rescue in 2002. I work with the husband of a Veterinarian I use for my pets. She called the shop one day asking her hubby if he knew of any one that wanted two free ferrets and my hand immediately went up. I had never had ferrets before but had admired them in the stores. Their Mom called the clinic that morning trying to re-home her two fur kids and it had to be that day. I was given her contact info, made the call, arranged to meet at a specified spot & time, and 3 hours later I was the proud owner of two very special ferrets.
The next day the local news was flooded by a shooting story. Apparently a disgruntled employee confronted her boss in the parking lot at work, shot him twice then turned the gun on herself. The shots fired at the boss were not fatal, however the shooter was not so lucky and perished. The individuals’ names were not released for 5 days.
The day that the announcement was made of the woman’s name I will never forget: I was getting ready for work, drinking a nice hot cup of coffee… the name, that name.. it sounded so familiar. I dropped my cup of coffee and rushed to check the paperwork this lady had given to me just a mere 5 days ago… it was her! She made plans to “take care” of her situation and in doing so located a home for her ferrets before the shooting. I went to the cage the ferrets were resting in, took them out and sat on the floor with them, rocking back & forth crying like a little baby. What degree of love someone could have for these little marvels that she made sure to secure a home for them before such drastic events transpired.
Since then I have come to understand that level of affection and am driven to help them. Not knowing much about ferrets I searched the area for information and finding it very limited and no ferret club in the Roanoke Valley area, I decided to start the Star City Ferret Club in 2004. The Big Lick Ferret Shelter & Hospice was soon to follow.
We started with a handful of local ferret enthusiasts, all of whom have been abundantly helpful in organizing the club & shelter and most of the initial club members have remained active in both to this day.
There are challenges to sheltering. One of the scenarios we never had the foresight to plan for is keeping the shelter ferrets current on boosters. Never in a million years did we think we’d have them after a year, two years, some almost 3 years in the shelter. The initial vetting and vaccines were considered in the cost of doing “business” but we did not think about what happens if they don’t find their way to forever homes. We’ve had to take another look at the actual cost of upkeep with that possibility (in some cases, a probability) now.
Along with challenges, there are positives. OH so many! The rewards from seeing a ferret come into the system, under nourished, unwanted, with a pitiful forlorn looks in there eyes… become a fat, happy, bouncing ferret, this is priceless.