Members of the Biggest Little Ferret Shelter and the Northern Nevada Ferret Network write this newsletter.

The NNFN, Northern Nevada Ferret Network is a group of ferret enthusiasts who get together and talk ferret talk, how to raise money, how to spend money, ideas, how to get the needed education about ferrets out there, etc.

The BLFS, Biggest Little Ferret Shelter is a no-kill ferret shelter where no ferret is denied the right to be a ferret. www.renoferrets.org

New volunteers always welcome! The NNFN is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

To contact us email redferret4@yahoo.com Join our Yahoo group at nnfn@yahoogroups.com or visit www.nnfn.net.

A Poem from the Ferret

You only buy the best for me,
You keep the food and water dish full.
You grind up chicken for my meals
Which, I, for one, think is cool.

You tried to teach me to roll over,
You tried to teach me how to fetch.

You tried to teach me to use the box
(That last one was a real stretch!)
You let me climb up on your back,
Then let me lick your ears and face,
(Despite just moments before
I was licking my own private place).
You take me outside on a leash,
You'll carry me inside your coat.
And you only squirm a teeny bit
When I nibble on your ears or throat.
You hold me when I'm frightened,
You'll hold me when I'm aloof.
You'll even reach down to pick me up
When I'm stinky after a "ferret poof."
When I bounce, you call it a dance,
When I bite, you term it a nip.
I guess its better not to repeat
What you say when I make you trip.
You pluck my fur when I'm shedding,
You comfort me when I'm sick.
You never seem to mind too much
If I nip you on your, uh, arm.
I've crawled inside your shirtsleeves
And lived to relate the tale.
I've slithered inside your hiking shorts
And listened to your startled yell.
You call my mischief "ferret fun,"
You call my poop mistakes "rare."
You'll run to get me special treats
And all I have to do is stare.
Even though our time is short
And the years pass by too fast,
I wish I could stay with you forever.
(Or as long as the chicken lasts!)
I may not know why you have no fur,
Or what every happened to your tail.
But as far as giant, hairless ferrets go,
I think you're kind of swell.
Bob C

Thank you to our sponsors!!!

Diane Sauter - $20 a month for Maggie

Mike & Del Bartley - $10 a month for Maggie

Molly & Steve Beucus – Sponsoring Freckles upcoming adrenal surgery not to mention all the other $$ they have already donated.

Holly’s grandma Mary– for crocheting those darned crocheted eggs.

Julie Andreca – Sponsoring Nokki at $10 a month

And a special thank you to those who adopted/fostered special needs fuzzies, Char, Holly, Amber, Michelle, Angie, Echo, Steve & Jackie, Linda, Marilyn, Ardith, Poppy, MC, and last but not least, Robert.

I can not believe it! I had expected that perhaps, we would raise around 200 dollars or so… maybe a little more, maybe a little less. Since it was our first yard sale, I wasn’t sure what to really expect. Can you believe we raised over $800?? Yep, that’s $800 going towards vet bills. Now Freckles & Sunshine can get their much awaited adrenal surgeries. They’ve been at the shelter the longest, and I was starting to worry that they would keep getting pushed further and further back due to emergencies. They are next, no matter what, unless I have another expensive emergency like Buddy’s, I have faith that Freckles & Sunshine get to go in next.

Just a little side note. While the efforts of the yard sale have been extremely rewarding, the work that was involved with it has been exhausting to everyone who has put forth their energy, efforts, time, everything. There is a wonderful circle of volunteers, but they are tired, and if you’ve been looking for an opportunity to volunteer, now is the time to step up.

Yard

Sale

Results!

Hello everyone, Buddy here.

Remember me, da Pink boy?

Well, I not Pink anymore. I Brown. All over. Even my tail. Some of me is dark Brown, some of me is light Brown. Still gots da Pink nose though.

Last week I went to see Dr. Ross. He called me his Miracle Boy. I went from day before dead to my 2 - 1/2 pound happy self in only six weeks.I still take meds for my big ol' heart, otherwise I cough and wheeze. My foster mom puts it in yummy stuff, I like that.

Mom says I strong enough to go get my distemper shot. What's a shot? Do they put it in yummy stuff?

I have friends here to play with. One is a kitty, she likes me. We both get in a plastic bag. She gets in first, then I go in and she runs out and jumps on me. Then it's my turn.

My momma doesn't get very much done some days. I wonder why that is?

Your friend, Buddy Boy

Also, the NNFN is joining with the BLFS to hold our annual raffle. Great human and ferret stuff, for more info, call us. Info should be up on the website soon. Pictured above to the right is a sneak preview of raffle prize, there will be two prizes, this is number 2.

2^nd Annual Ferret Frolic

The second annual ferret frolic will be held on October 9^th of this year at the Northtowne Petco, vaccination and ADV tests required, please contact us for more info or check our site! www.nnfn.net There will be a $5 admission fee. For more info please check our site or contact us.

Dude

Dude came to our house to die. I got one of those calls from Jackie after she got a call from October. A sweet little ferret needed a good loving home to die in. He was abused and neglected, and sick. He was bald, and so emaciated it brought tears to the eyes of all who saw him.

He came home, but he did not die. That weekend, Jackie did her spoilage thing, and cared for Dude, while I entertained the others fuzzies. She fed him, and cuddled him and let Fizzy do her welcome home thing. Before long he was firmly ensconced with Bear and Fizzy. Slowly he began to gain weight. His hair grew back. He became such a handsome little white with black eyes.

Six months came and went. Dude was the party ferret. He loved everybody and everything. He played and frolicked.   He was a much loved ferret. But he soon began losing hair, and was sluggish. Uh-oh!

A trip to the vet confirmed his Adrenal issue. We instantly consented to have the surgery.  After surgery, came medicine. He hated medicine time, so we had to make it as much fun as one could trying to give one of your kids medicine it doesn’t want. For awhile it looked great.

Dude became the happy playful little chap he had been. Then one day he seemed to slow down. He stopped eating and coming out of his cage.

We were worried and scared for our brave little Dude. He had been through so much and it did not seem fair for him to suffer. The others in his home seemed to know something was wrong and cut him a lot of slack. They cuddled when he wanted, and left him alone when he desired. He lost some hair, but seemed less lethargic and was back to his sweet affectionate ways.

Weeks went by and just as we were thinking the worse was over, he stopped eating entirely over the weekend. The best we could do was feed him Ferretvite and tenderly care for him. Monday came and the Dude put on the feed bag and we again blew a sigh of relief. Tuesday I went to work after feeding the ferrets with Jackie and went to a normal day. That afternoon Jackie called in tears. Dude curled up under his blankets and died. No drama, no jumping up and down and screeching. He just curled up with the others and passed on. Jackie took his little body and buried it outside the bedroom window so we could see his resting place.

He was sweetest of the sweet and had suffered so much. He came home to die over a weekend, but lived long enough to experience love and companionship. The end to his suffering came when we had the privilege to care for him and pour our hearts into him. He had time to play and dook and frolic and cause mayhem. He had time to be cuddled and spoiled. We felt so wonderful to be a part of his peaceful passing, but the toll his departure had on us made us firm in our resolve to not take in dying and sick ferrets.

Then came Slinky. Sick, and thin and old and neglected, he needed love and a home to die in. We took one look, heard his story and that was decided.

           But that is another story.

By Steve and Jackie

Did you know?

Ferrets can’t digest hairballs. They shed twice a year and it’s very dangerous for them. This is why you should give your ferret a laxative such as laxatone at least once a month. If you think laxative is expensive, just think of the cost of the surgery for a hairball blockage.

Crossed to the Rainbow Bridge: JJ – who is missed dearly, it never gets easier.

Machy – Made it through surgery, but was such a mess, she couldn’t hold on, she passed away three days later in the hospital.

And sadly, we have a human who recently crossed over and was re-united with all our special babies. Marilyn Larsen-Hill has left us suddenly, she left behind her husband Keith, and 11 fur babies. To the right is a photo she submitted a while back that won cutest ferret photo contest. Marilyn is missed terribly by all those who knew her.

For those that have had losses

Gods sky has another star shining tonight.
My little one has gone to light the night.

Take care of him Lord, he was so young.
A life so short after it had begun.

It's his first time away and I miss him so.
I didn't know you wanted him, it was hard to let go.

Such a tiny being to help brighten your sky.
I know he's looking down and seeing me cry.

His spirit is at The Bridge waiting for me,
but his soul is shining with thee.

Yes I see now, many more stars flashing their light.
They tell me they've welcomed him and others into the night.

My heart is heavy and sad right now.
Though there are so many more here waiting for a home.
I'll take in another so it won't be alone.

They are unwanted by many, abused and abandoned.

Perhaps you took him with you to give others a chance
That they might have reason to war dance.

My heart will heal, I have his memory you see,
and there is his light, burning with thee.

He moved over so another could be loved.
Thank you Lord for your heaven above.

Your sky is ever so bright with all the little souls that left earth tonight.
A wonderful place, so near you
For each ...tiny light.
Lynn

News!

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