e-mail:  friend@FoxValleyFerret.com    (920) 735-1896 (backup cell phone)

A monthly donation of $25 will provide food and litter for a healthy senior or permanent resident.    

A one time donation of $50 will help provide adrenal surgery or ferretonin implants for a resident with adrenal disease or nearly cover the cost of a dental procedure for a ferret with dental issues.

If you would like to sponsor a ferret, please call us at 920-574-2277 (leave a message if no one answers) or email us with "sponsor" and the ferret's name in the subject line and we will provide the mailing or paypal information.  We will need your information so we can send your LPS ferret.

The following ferrets are available for sponsorship as of 1/20/12.

Shia was injured in her cage at a local P etco.  She was treated by a vet, but did not regain full use of her hind legs.  Petco then made the decision to turn her over to FVF so she could be better rehabbed.  She has gained strength and typically "commando crawls" to get around the ferret room, although when she is excited she sometimes picks herself up and runs a few steps.  When she was still learning to pick herself up, she managed to get a rug burn type injury on her belly.  Being as stubborn as she is, she chewed the sutures open twice before the shelter mom insisted on using an ecollar (over objections from Shia and the Vet).  The result is that she looks as if she has had a one sided tummy tuck.  She is very playful and active and does not seem bothered by her "disability".  FVF made her a "cart", but she didn't want anything to do with it.  She was probably born in January of 2007, and came to FVF at under six months of age.  She has made progress, but will never fully recover normal hind leg function.  She also does not seem to realize when she is going potty, and as a result, frequently soils her hammock, her sleeping partners, and herself.  She is very happy in the company of other "medium activity" ferrets.  She LOVES "babies" and will stash her small teddy bears in various corners.

Snickers arrived at Fox Valley Ferret after being surrendered at a small area humane society. They reported that there was "something" wrong with his hindlegs but he was crawling all over the little boy who came with the family surrendering him. When he got to FVF, it was obvious that his back has been injured in a way very similar to Shia. You can actually feel the site of the injury but our vet has determined nothing can be done for him. He is in the same foster home as Shia and she has taught him to "paddle" with the weak leg and pick himself up on the stronger leg. He can feel when he potties, and does hit the litter pan most of the time. He is the sweetest boy you would ever hope to find, but because of his "disability" we don't think he will ever be placed outside of the shelter or our foster homes. He is a kisser and a snuggler. He has never met a human face or neck that has been cleaned to his standards. After transitioning to the shelter food from cheap cat food he had a serious bout of diahrrea and prolapsed his rectum. He was purse-stringed and has fully recovered. Even with all the additional cleaning he needed during that time the only nip came when the sutures were removed.

Slinky arrived this summer from nearly 6 hours away. He had been part of a six ferret household but aggressive behavior got him surrendered. When the shelter mom first talked to the person wishing to surrender him adrenal disease was suggested but rejected by the owner. A couple of weeks after arriving at FVF, Slinky had adrenal surgery. His left gland was completely atrophied and the right gland was huge and inoperable. He is getting ferretonin implants which are controlling his symptoms, inlcuding the aggression. He has moved into the senior room but hasn't picked any special friends. He is frequently found by himself in a hammock. He will not seek out other ferrets, but he won't eject others from "his" hammock either. Although he is only 4 or 5 years old, he acts much older.
 

Thomas and Nelly (went to the bridge 6/13/10) arrived after their owner moved out and left his ferrets with his parents.  Thomas is very nice, but was out of shape when he arrived (He says Nah-uh, round is a shape).  He is missing all his bottom incisors, his canines are fine, and he has very worn but healthy looking teeth.  He has a very large spleen.  It is hard-but still pliable and spreads like a pancake all the way to his bladder.  It is one of those that you can see blue/black on the belly from it.  He is a tough bruiser who was put out by the change but not overly upset.  Nelly is sweet and, like her brother, tough.  She has a slightly enlarged and hardening spleen.  She also arrived very out of shape (and seconds her brother's statement).  She has worse teeth than Thomas-but is missing fewer incisors.  She may need a dental soon.  She was more cautious about the change, and confused. Both needed cuddles for reassurance.  They like to be handled, and we suspect they hadn't had a lot of interaction since their actual owner moved.  They had never seen a dog but were not phased by our volunteers' dogs in the least.  No litter box was in their cage when they arrived at the volunteer's home (newspaper lined the cage).  They are now at about 50% litter pan use-consistent with the other ferrets in the senior room.  According to the paperwork received with them, they were likely born late July or early August of 2004.  Vet check and distemper done on 10/7/09 (AMC). 

 Rogue and Zsu-Zsu have been at FVF since late July 2010 after their owner experience the death of a spouse and was forced to move in with her in-laws with her children.  They arrived with their younger brother, Gambit, who has been adopted.  The morning of the surrender, a fourth ferret reported as being much older reportedly died.  With all the upheaval in their lives, we waited to list them for adoption until we got weight on them and were able to get a sense of their temperaments once they were no longer stressed (this took some time).   Gambit is a social boy.  He loves people, other ferrets and playing.  He has never shown any nipping or biting behavior but will occasionally do "big pink mouth" when playing.  Based on the condition of his teeth, we believe he was born spring or summer of 2008.  Because he is very different from his sisters as far as activity and temperament, he could go into a home with other ferrets around his age and activity level.  Zsu-Zsu and Rogue are females who were likely born summer of 2006.  Zsu-Zsu had a broken right upper canine which was removed Dec 23, 2010 (LS), her teeth were cleaned the same day.  She likes other ferrets, and does interact with people somewhat, but she is nowhere near the outgoing ferret that Gambit is.  Rogue came in missing a toe on her left front paw.  She also came in as a biter.  She doesn't really seem to be a "recreational biter" anymore, though if stressed she will still use her teeth.  Zsu-Zsu and Rogue should be considered special needs and should not be adopted by anyone without lots of ferret experience.  Vet check and distemper done on 8/4/10 (AMC). 

Cujo arrived with his sister, who has gone to the bridge.  Although he is young (perhaps born as recently as mid 2008) he is insulinomic and has had some very severe seizures even on prednisolone.  He is the sweetest guy you would ever hope to meet.  He has bonded with Daisy (listed for adoption as a special needs ferret who will realistically not get adopted) and is currently doing well. 

Shadow (went to the bridge 9/25/11) and Sundance arrived as very active, playful boys, however Sundance is now a typical senior ferret.  He will occasionally nip during play.  Shadow is also very active.  He likes playing with people but is dominant with other ferrets.  They were originally adopted in Feb of 2006 when they were only a few months old.   They recently came back to the shelter as a result of major life changes for their family.  It was a very difficult decision for their family, but it was in the best interests of Shadow and Sundance.  Vet check and distemper done on 8/24/11 (amc).  Sundance had a dental cleaning on 9/29/11 (LS).

Smudge arrived with his brother and sister (both now at the bridge) as the result of a job loss.  These ferrets were extremely ill with a parasite when they arrived.  They underwent treatment and the follow up tests indicated that they are now free of it.  As a result of three weeks worth or twice daily foul tasting medication, they do NOT take any meds well and will fight and struggle if you try to syringe anything into their mouths.  Following treatment, they were left underweight and with very sensitive digestive systems, which delayed being classified as adoptable.  Smudge likes socks and slippers.  He also likes plastic balls and eggs, but will puncture them if he isn't being watched.  He has a broken upper canine (not bad enough to remove) and is missing an upper incisor.  He was likely born fall of 2005.  Yearly vet check and distemper shot is pending.  Most recent vet check and distemper done on Dec 27, 2010 (LS).  Smudge had a dental cleaning on 1/7/11 (LS).