Sanctuary News
UPDATE: June 10th, 2008
I sat in on Jeremy`s surgery this morning. Things went very well. The tumors were just under the skin & not connected to, or grown into anything vital. They came out easily. Just as the vet was closing, his heart stopped. Just stopped.
Jeremy was a wonderful deaf silver blaze, who came in with a thin, wirey, scraggly coat, & looking skeletal. He was too weak then, for surgery to remove the two marble-sized lumps on his side. In almost three months` time, he had gained weight, grown stronger,& had a beautiful new coat--but the lumps were growing too--and one of them was now ulcerated.
Only last night, he was running & playing--apparently healthy, except for the large lumps that were to be removed. His bloodwork had looked good, and he was strong enough for surgery, so it was was a "go"----and now his life is cut short. Despite all efforts, we lost our boy.
At least he didn`t die in pain. He was unconscious, under the anesthetic.
Jeremy wasn`t on our site. June & Glen foster several for us, and Jeremy was one of "theirs". We are heartsick--but at least we have answers. We did a necropsy & discovered his heart was about three times the size it should have been. (Cardiomyopathy.) Often, patients with it can`t survive the anesthetic. Also, there were nodules on the lungs & in the chest area. (cancer) He didn`t stand a chance. Even if he had survived the surgery, the cancer or heart would most likely have taken him within a month or so---and we`re lucky it didn`t before NOW.
Strangely enough, by being too weak for surgery, he was allowed to have some time on this earth, being truly loved, & truly happy.
June & Glen did an amazing job with this wonderful boy--and for those few months he had with them, life was good...We hope to see you on the other side, Jeremy...
UPDATE: May 30th, 2008
We were stunned to get an email from Friends Of Ferret Shelters, saying they wanted to do a raffle for us, in honor of our sanctuary`s 10th anniversary! They want to help our babies. I can`t stop smiling!
We are very blessed to have so many caring friends in the ferret community. The prizes look incredible!!!!
Here`s a link to the raffle.
Love, Zoo
UPDATE: May 5th, 2008
Happy 10th anniversary to Zoo`s Ferret Sanctuary!!!
In December of 1997, there were two little ferrets living in a pot house in Wisconsin. They did not have names--They were referred to as "the ferrets". The owners thought it was funny to exhale marijuana into their faces & watch their reactions. They often did this, at the parties they had.
The ferrets did not have a litter pan--the poo was piled high in the corners of their filthy cage. The food dish was often empty--and the water dish wasn`t clean. When one of "the ferrets" went bald, someone told the owners it was cancer---and they had coped with that by throwing her out in the snow to die...
Fast forward through the winter, my daughter`s friend attended one of their wild parties in early May of 1998.
Having found out after the fact, about the poor little bald girl who had been thrown out to die, she decided to smuggle the remaining ferret out of there. She knew we had two ferrets, and asked if we would take the ferret in, if she brought it to us. She called the ferret "Clepto" (for "stolen") LOL.
The ferret had had a "Pretty Terrible" life-- so we removed the "P" & the "T" (the pretty terrible) and "Clepto`s" new name became "Cleo" She was about three years old--and she was our first rescue.
Cleo was in pretty bad shape, & smelled like pot for a couple weeks, despite repeated bathings. (Oh how little we knew, back then----and we only had TWO FERRETS!!!!) Fortunately, we had a wonderful ferret vet, with whom we developed a close friendship.(He taught me most of what I know about ferrets.)
That`s how it started. We took in eight or nine more, that year.
If anyone had told me in May of 1998 that my husband & I would share a home with 69 ferrets, I`d have said they were nuts! If anyone had told me my husband would build TWO ROOMS, just for those ferrets, I d never have believed them. If anyone had said I`d be talking & emailing with people from all over the United States about their ferrets, I`d have laughed. Come to think of it--If someone had told me my nickname would become "Zoo" or that I`d be called "The mother of all ferrets" I`d have been in stitches!!! LOL.
Anyhow, this week it`s our 10th anniversary. Pretty neat, huh?
Love, Zoo
UPDATE: March 16th, 2008
We have added a survey. Please click here to give your feedback!
UPDATE: January 14th, 2008
We have two new friends! We got a call from a young couple in Rochelle, Illinois, who had read about our sanctuary in Ferrets Magazine. They wanted to come visit us & learn more about ferrets. They had taken in two, about a week ago, from someone they knew.
They have researched, read, & now learned hands-on how to easily care for their babies.
They will be returning to learn more while volunteering, on occasion. (A win-win for EVERYBODY!)
Kim & Josh, if you`re reading this-- I am so happy to have met you and your babies. You`re going to be excellent ferrents!
Love, Zoo
UPDATE: December 7th, 2007
Two of our babies made it into the CarpetSharks 2008 Calendar!!
Tanner is the March calendar boy and Belle is the December calendar girl!
This is a beautiful calendar and can be previewed / purchased at
Cafepress.
A special thank you to Margie Kamm of MemoryKatcher Photography who donated the photoshoots and did this beautiful work for us!
More later!
Love, Zoo
UPDATE: December 1st, 2007
We`re in Ferrets Magazine!
Rebecca Stout (Wolfy) wrote a wonderful article about us & it`s in the brand new Jan-Feb 2008 magazine. It`s on pages 60 and 61 under "Ferret Superstars"
Wolfy interviewed a number of people in the ferret community about us and was sent 19 pages of information--which she managed to condense into an excellent two page article. She even touched on Bisquit`s story and included a picture of him!
Wolfy has done a superb job of outlining what we do here!
This is just so exciting!
Love, Zoo
UPDATE: November 2007
On November 3rd, 2007 we had our annual ferret lovers` gathering.
We did a share a dish and it was wonderful! Glen made some killer lasagna, Gregg made a sensational veggie pizza, I made chili, barbeque cups, Ham and cheese pastry puffs, teriyaki meatballs, etc. Marian made vegetarian stuffed shells. Diane made my favorite dessert---cheesecake! And then there were yummy things like cherry fluff and Rice Krispy treats (THREE FLAVORS!) Knee Deep in Chocolate. More things I can`t remember as two tables were full of goodies.
It began at noon and the last guest left at midnight. We grazed on all kinds of food, played with and loved on fuzzies, and shared pictures and experiences. No one wanted it to end. Nothing is better than being with others who share your passion!
Our board of directors was here to greet everyone. (Thanks Kurt, Gregg, June, Stephanie, and Diane!)
We had several visitors from out of state. Some highlights were that Kris B. and Tammy drove 8 hours from Nebraska and Diane I. came from Wisconsin and introduced us to her friend April. Also Caitlin and her boyfriend from Petco and our friend Chris the teacher. Lisa (Nala`s old mommy) came with her fiance and was sporting a beautiful new engagement ring (congrats!) Lisa is a radio personality!! We had a celebrity among us!
Lisette (Ferritsofall) brought Bisquit back to Aunt Zoo`s for a visit. He looks so good!!! (and so ALIVE, thank God!!!) Everyone was wanting to meet the little boy who took a 15-20 minute ride in a hot dryer and survived!!! Lisette still has a hard time doing the laundry. I`ll never forget how he looked that Sunday morning when Gregg brought him to us. (It always happens on a Sunday or a holiday, doesn`t it?) He`s such a sweet boy.
We all had so much fun.
Planning already for next year!
More later!
Love, Zoo
UPDATE: October 2007
On October 22nd, 2007 we gave a ferret talk at the Lutheran Church of Kirkland to the boy scouts. Once again our focus was on commitment and responsibility and we answered some of the wildest questions you could imagine!
We touched on ferret care and common dangers to ferrets. None of the boys has a fertie but what they learned could save a life one day if one of their friends does. At some point maybe they will do an aluminum can drive for us. We trade the cans in for $$ to buy meds for the ferrets! (Not everybody has money to donate, but LOTS of people drink soda pop and beer. ) Yup. Cans are good.
More later!
Love, Zoo
UPDATE: July 2007
We did our talk at the library again this year for the kids Summer program. This year there were 26 kids and several parents. Our message (once again!) was one of responsibility and commitment. I told them so many of our life lessons are taught to us by our animals. Commitment is a big one. If one can`t commit to a tiny animal, how will they commit to a friend or a spouse one day?
We asked the kids to please come visit the sanctuary and volunteer if they were even CONSIDERING getting a ferret. We promised to teach them lots of stuff! The talk generated one of the best volunteers we`ve ever had. His name is Matthew and he is already more ferret-knowledgeable than most adults! We are hoping he will keep his grades up and maybe become an exotic specialist one day. He has the brains. The ferrets just love him! So do we!!!
More later!
Love, Zoo
UPDATE: June 15th, 2007
We were very honored to have Renee Downs, member of the International Ferret Congress and a founder of F.E.R.R.E.T. (Ferret Emergency Response Rescue and Evacuation Team) as our guest today! She and long-time shelter mom Donna and Dianna Desrochers came to visit us on their way through to the ferret symposium! Diane Iverson, Stephanie, and Gregg(on our board of directors) came to meet them all too!
We had so much fun! I got to meet Rocky Bobbles!!!
We played with ferrets, ate together, played with ferrets some more, I cut and highlighted Renee`s hair, and we played with and loved on ferrets! Renee had only allowed three or so hours to be here--but they stayed about seven. The time just FLEW by!!!! It was great!
Below is a picture of (left to right as you face photo) me, Diane Iverson, Renee, Donna, and behind us Dianna!
The other picture is Renee and me with Little Girl.
They have all been invited back!!
More later!
Love, Zoo
UPDATED: December 19th, 2006
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2006 Ferret/Rabbit Rescue Grant Program.
Lake Road Ferret Farm, New York
Washington Ferret Rescue and Shelter, Washington
Heartland Humane Society, Oregon
Boulder Humane Society, Colorado
Denise's Delightful Dookers, Washington
The Rabbit Haven, California
The House Rabbit Society International Headquarters and Rabbit Center, California
Midwest Rabbit Rescue, Michigan
Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary, Michigan
Wild Rescue, Texas
Heartland Rabbit Rescue, Oklahoma
First and foremost we must say thank you to everyone that applied to the program. We received so many wonderful requests that deciding how to allocate the funds was not an easy job. We realize the amount of work, time, money and love that it takes to accomplish running a rescue or shelter. We consider it an honor to be part of such a committed and caring community.
This year 12 groups were chosen to receive grant funding. These applications included outreach projects, expansion projects, education, special needs and more. Our intention was to support as many groups as possible without compromising the integrity of their objectives. We hope that with the aid of our grant funding all of their goals will be met in the upcoming year. We wish all of our applicants and those groups who did not apply the best for 2007.
Sincerely,
Ellen McDowell
Director of Public Relations
& Program Development
FerretDepot.com
RabbitStop.com
We are so happy to receive this grant. You don`t often see us out there asking for $$$--but the need is there--especially with so many older, sick, and hospice ones. This money will help provide the next round of lupron for our adrenal babies. We currently have 19 needing the drug and this is an ongoing expense. Thank you so much to all at Ferretdepot.com, who made this grant possible. We were up against a lot of good shelters out there, so this is quite an honor!
Bless you!!!
Love, Zoo
UPDATE: November 23rd, 2006
We are still aglow because of this great cover story about us--we have a couple hard copies around the house which we will cherish for a long time.
As a result of this article, we have made some new friends in the area, some new volunteers, and were able to help someone in a neighboring town to better care for her little fertie who was grieving after losing his cagemate.
Love, Zoo
UPDATED: November 16th, 2006
Zoo`s Ferret Sanctuary is the cover story Kirkland home cares for neglected ferrets in the Weekly Journal this morning!! Go to www.weeklyjournals.com and click on Genoa. We are not sure how long this link will work, but take a look if it`s still there. (There are more pictures inside the hard copy too--but those don`t show up on the internet version.)
Thank you Kevin Botterman for the wonderful article you wrote! Hopefully, people interested in getting a ferret will do some research first to determine if this truly is the animal for them. We are here to help if anyone has questions on ferret care or if you would like to visit our sanctuary to learn about ferrets. We will be happy to share information regarding their unique needs and requirements.
UPDATED: October 26th, 2006
The gathering was so much fun! Kris and Tammy came all the way from Nebraska to be with us! (Eight hours of driving!!) This was a great surprise and we couldn`t have been happier to see them!!
Diane came from Wisconsin and brought two HUGE cheesecakes! (Cheesecake is my favorite!) She ALSO brought with her two other wonderful surprises, a Norka origional ferret painting with our logo on it for the new playroom and a Norka print of a ferret angel--both are EXCELLENT!!! I am so honored to have some of Norka`s work here at all--much less an original!! This is something that others only dream of!!
I want to mention that Kris and Diane worked very hard holding auctions to raise most of the funding for the new playroom we unveiled that day. These ladies have done much for ferrets everywhere---not just here at Zoo`s. They truly care about the well being of the animals. We are so glad they were here to see the first ferret play in that room!
Beth Randall (Critter Camp) and her daughter were here. It was so fun to finally meet them face to face! We had so much to share--and they brought some adorable pictures of their many babies to share with all of us. (They rescue all sorts of animals.) They seemed impressed with our setup and Beth made a very nice post on the FML the next day (Thanks, Beth!)
Ellen (T.A.I.L.S.) brought a new friend to see the sanctuary and they met our circle of friends (both old & new) too.
Our board of directors was here, most of the day, as people filtered in and out--and it didn`t end at 6-ish!! The last guests left at 11 p.m. None of us wanted it to end.
All day long ferrets were cuddled, played with, held, and smooched on. Company got to see the goings on (meds etc.) and got the honor of meeting some of those who won`t make it until next year...
Judy did a marvelous job with the food. Just marvelous. It couldn`t have been better.
Everyone enjoyed meeting the builder of the playroom (my husband Kurt!) They think he`s pretty talented. (So do the ferrets & I !!!)
We are considering a different date next year. Some people on the ferret boards would like to include a Zoo`s Ferret Sanctuary visit with their summer vacations! If you have input, please email us at zoosferretsanctuary@verizon.net.
Thanks!
Love, Zoo
UPDATED: September 16th, 2006
Hi All!
If any of you will be in the Chicago area for the GCFA Ferret Show, remember our annual ferret gathering is always the following day (Sunday, October 8th this year), here at Zoo`s Ferret Sanctuary in Kirkland, Illinois.
We always have lots of good food, fun, ferrets, and friendship. Come meet the little ones we care for. Come visit with other ferret lovers. If you haven`t been here and would like to see our sanctuary and how it works, now is the perfect time. (Please bring pictures of your own babies to share if you can!)
We will be un-veiling our brand new second ferret playroom that day and honoring the two very special women who donated most of the funds to make it possible!!! We will also be honoring the man who built this wonderful room with his own hands---the very same man who built the FIRST ferret room---my husband Kurt!!!
It begins at noon and is held in an open-house type format till about 6pm.
Please email zoosferretsanctuary@verizon.net for directions and so
Judy will know how much food to make. We are food people. (YES--JUDY will be catering again this year!!! Yummy!!!!)
Hope you can make it!
Love, Zoo
UPDATED: April-May 2006
Kurt`s been very busy creating the second ferret playroom. We will unveil it at this year`s annual ferret gathering in October.
Love, Zoo
 | |||||
Congratulations Cathy! ****************** Thanks so much to all our friends in the ferret community who voted for us, & caused us to win this contest! We are just overwhelmed by your support! The gifts from Ferret Depot will be put to good use by our little ones here. Thanks again! Love, Zoo **************************************************** |
UPDATED: April 1st, 2006
On March 22nd, 2006 we hosted a staff meeting for T.A.I.L.S. (Taking Animals into Loving Shelter) This is our local humane society and animal shelter. They wanted to learn about ferret care.
They arrived about 6 p.m. I served dinner and we discussed how to tell sex, age, and whether a ferret was spayed or neutered. We also talked about ferret behavior. They learned how to evaluate the overall health of a fuzzy. We were able to show them first hand several health conditions, discuss common illnesses, and problems ferrets face. We talked about meds and vacs and I demonstrated how to give subQ fluids to a ferret. We covered ferret-proofing, diet, litter, you name it--and there were lots of questions and answers.
They were very impressed with little Dolores Emma Sweetie Pie (the little 8 year old bald girl they had brought to us on September 30th, 2005. ) I had given her a lupron shot and she had grown a beautiful new fur coat and gone into remission. They didn`t even recognize her!
The group got to see the ferrets at play, doing their dance of joy--and when they left, sometime around 9 p.m. it was with a new appreciation of these sweet little creatures.
We are so glad they came!
UPDATED: January 17th, 2006
Kurt was about to leave on another road trip to rescue 5 ferrets from North Dakota when we got a phone call from Paula, the mom of our good friend and volunteer Stephanie. They were in the emergency room at Kishwaukee Hospital....
Stephanie was headed to work at 6:15 Saturday morning, January 14th, minding her own business--when she was T-boned---HARD!! The car rolled over twice, narrowly missing two poles, and landed in a ditch. The vehicle was totalled. We towed it to our place and Kurt will salvage whatever possible (for sale) after the case is closed. Stephanie only had liability insurance.
She was majorly bruised all over, had a huge contusion on her arm, chest pains, and an unbearable headache---but there were no broken bones or nasty gashes, praise God. We all realize it was by His grace that she is still alive...This was a miracle...
She`s in a world of pain, but is home now. To add insult to injury, she was listed in the paper as 10 years older than she actually is LOL. She isn`t being allowed to return to work for several weeks.
UPDATED: January 12th, 2006
We have lost a very dear friend.
I met Rita Bolin online several years ago. She was a member of the FML as well as several other ferret boards we belonged to. She became a great supporter of our sanctuary and we were soon close friends. We emailed often and talked a lot on the phone. When one of us needed to chat, the other was always there.
She called me a couple months ago. Said she had a bad case of the flu. She wasn`t letting her babies out to play because she didn`t want to infect them. She became much worse and was dragged into emergency about 5-6 weeks ago. She couldn`t breathe!! Turns out she had CHF---and they siphoned 2 litres of fluid off one of her lungs. Later, she wound up in intensive care--and they did more tests---and found big time terminal cancer. (This was two weeks ago)
I was the first person her sister called after the Dr. told her she was terminal and left the room. Rita and I had agreed over two years ago that she would take in a bonded group of five of our babies if I died--- -and if SHE died, we would take hers in....It was time for us to make good on our promise...
Thanks to two wonderful new ferret friends, who drove the first 8 hours of the trip, and to my wonderful husband, who drove 22 hours round trip to Tulsa Oklahoma to meet up with one of them---Rita`s seven babies made it here safely 10 days ago from Rosenberg Texas.
Due to the wonders of modern technology, Rita got to see pictures of Kurt entering the house with the carriers which held her precious cargo. She seemed very relieved to know her furkids had safely arrived. She was very weak, but her sister captured a picture of Rita in her hospital bed, giving a "thumbs up" and sent it to us.
We emailed her sister often, with updates to share, and sent pictures of each ferret so Rita could identify who was who. We spoke on the phone as well.
Rita left this Earth this morning at 9 a.m. She knew her babies were going to be all right. She was able to rest in peace....
We send our love to Mary (Rita`s sister) and to Lulu (Rita`s daughter) and to Rita`s 97 year old aunt. This has been a devastating loss.
Love, Zoo
UPDATED: December 1st, 2005
Zoo`s is happy to announce the beginning of an additional new playroom for the ferrets. This will allow us to let more babies out to run and play at a time. This smaller 12X12 room will be equipped with its own washer and dryer, enclosed in a huge 3 ft. deep storage closet that will run the entire length of the room. There will be plenty of space for their bedding, cases of food and paper towels, meds, and treats. My husband Kurt has been working hard on this room in his spare time. We are considering a mini care strip with sink (small scale of the one in the main ferret room)
I am so blessed to have Kurt`s love and support! We have had a rough year and have survived some nasty tests thrown at us. Together, we have emerged stronger and happier than ever before. God is helping us to care for His unwanted and forgotten creatures!!! We will be posting progress pictures.
UPDATED: October 3rd, 2005
The GCFA ferret show was October 1st. Zoo`s had a vendor table there for the first time ever! Stephanie and Darla (both on our board of directors) sewed their hearts out and made some of the best quality bedding we have ever seen!
We had a great time and Kurt and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary that day too!
Another wonderful bonus was the new ferret friends/contacts we made. We are forming a network with shelters in other states, so that we can better the lives of ferrets everywhere.
The day following the ferret show (October 2nd) we had our annual gathering here at the sanctuary. It was in the usual open house-type format. Ferret friends and supporters came from near and far. We enjoyed good company and lots of good food. Some brought photos of their own babies to share. ALL got to meet the babies here, learn their stories, play with, and cuddle our little ones. Many had been here before. Some left with a new understanding of what goes on here. It was a relaxing afternoon--and we all had a wonderful time.
UPDATED: July 30th, 2005
On July 26th we gave a ferret presentation at the library to 18 children and some of their parents. Marjorie got to come along and demonstrate ferret behavior. She kissed me through the whole thing off and on.
We shared many facts about ferrets and the group was given a strong message of responsibility and commitment.
We handed out a ferret book to each person who attended. We feel that education is the best weapon against ferrets being dumped when the novelty wears off.
UPDATED: July 2005
On July 6th & July 7th, Sondra Braid`s parents came from Canada to meet us in person and to see their grandferret Bear Baby. We had a most wonderful visit. It was easy to see where Sondra got her loving nature and her great sense of humor from! I wish they lived closer.
The night before they left, they took Kurt and me out to dinner and floored us with a huge donation. I am still stunned. May God bless these people, who truly understand and support our mission. I hope they had as great a time as we did!!!!
UPDATED: March 20th, 2005
In mid-November 2004 we got some tragic news. Our friend Sondra had begun a new teaching job in South Korea. On October 29th, Sondra emailed about catching a nasty cold. On November 17th, we got an email from her sister that she had died of complications from pneumonia. This has shaken our world. Sondra was so full of life. She never did anything half way. We miss her phone calls and emails so much. Things will never be quite the same here.
I am so glad Bear Baby was already safely here when it happened.
We have been blessed with a couple of donations made in Sondra`s memory. I know how happy it would have made her to be remembered in this way.
We are in the planning stages of building another playroom for the ferrets. Somehow, Sondra will live on in that room.
UPDATED: July 7th, 2004
A very long time ago, we had promised Sondra Braid ( internet friend & long time supporter of this sanctuary) that we would take in her two babies, in the event of her death. She called us last week to give us the sad news that one of our ferret nephews, Casey Angel Cutie Pie had died. The other one, Bear Baby, was not doing well at ALL. He was grieving terribly. He had stopped eating. Getting another ferret at this time was not an option. She wanted to know if he could come here, sooner than origionally planned. She felt the distraction would possibly help him.
Sondra made the 17 hour drive from Texas to Illinois, with the help of her friend, and they arrived July 4th.
It was wonderful to meet face to face! We had a great visit.
Bear Baby is thin, but he is already eating, and has run the room with some of the others. We waived the usual quarantine period because we are certain of Bearbaby`s history.
Sondra and Billy left yesterday, July 6th. It was hard for them to say goodbye to Bear Baby, but they have the comfort of having seen his new home and knowing he is happy here.
We haven`t updated the site in quite a while. We have been very busy caring for our little ones.
We have now added an Acknowledgements page in order to thank those who have aided ZFS in our journey! Please take a moment to stop by and check it out!
As many of you know, ZFS not only acts as a Sanctuary, but all too often as a hospice for the ferrets that are taken in and are too old or ill to recover. The past few months have been really hard on Cathy and family due to several losses of ferrets that were beyond a cure. Each one chose their own time to go, and went in peace knowing that they had found (and given) unconditional love at last. We ask that you keep your thoughts with Cathy and her family throughout this upcoming year. With the age and health conditions of several of our furry residents, it will be a hard year for all those connected with ZFS. All ferrets at the Sanctuary are provided with top-notch veterinary care, but unfortunately there comes a time when even the best medical science can do is not enough.
To all of the babies we've lost, we'll see you on the other side...
ZFS would like to thank Rob Carroll and the Daily Chronicle for the terrific front page article in their paper on December 14th, 2002. We hope that you enjoyed your visit to Zoo's Ferret Sanctuary and getting to meet Cathy and all the babies!
We would like to thank The Daily Chronicle for putting us on the front page again on December 31st, 2002 and naming us as one of the top 10 stories of 2002!!!
On 11/21/02, Zoo's Ferret Sanctuary received their 501(C)(3) status from the government, though we were already a 'Not-For-Profit' organization. Cathy decided to go for the 501(C)(3) status so that she could provide tax receipts to anyone who made the choice to sponsor one of the Sanctuary's ferrets, donate, or help out in some way.
For those who don't yet know, we now also have our own domain name! You can now reach us more easily on the web by typing
www.Zoosferretsanctuary.org, instead of the old addy. We feel that this will make things easier for anyone who wishes to visit the site!