Happenings and such

Things are a bit stressful here. Ok, a lot stressful. With the holidays, trying to raise money to get the things we need for a building, for day to day needs, and trying to find a building, along with most of the population here getting the flu in November, and various other "fun" stuff.

We didn't make the target of $5900 for the cages. They are a necessity, not a luxury, somehow I convinced a bank to loan me the money so I could get them.

The deal was too good to pass up, and the only reason that the companies were willing to give us the deal was the end of the year tax deduction opportunity. They even paid for the freight, which was sent by Overnight Fed Ex Freight. They are great, but right now sitting in a storage locker waiting for the building.

I said it has been stressful, and it has. Someone came into the shelter not over the flu, and passed it on to them. We dealt with that. One of the new surrenders decided to shed coccidia after the quarantine period, which means all the ferrets here had to be treated, all the cages stripped, scrubbed, bleached, and alcholed. Now that they seem to have gotten over that, some how we find a total of 5 fleas on my cats, three cats, three cats ALLERGIC to flea bites. This is the first time they have every had fleas. They had never been sick before in their lives, until now. One is 18 years old, one is 8 years old, and we just lost our 17 year old cat.

Folks, not only animals carry fleas, you could walk through an area, or be near an animal with them and bring them in on your clothes.

So now the shelter is on shut down until I get enough Revolution to treat everyone. We haven't found a flea on a ferret (Thank God), but I would rather be safe than sorry. Once they all get their first treatment, we will be adopting again.

On to one more item, and please, don't take this the wrong way. I don't mind helping people, I rather enjoy it. But I am not a vet. I cannot treat your animals, I cannot tell you what is wrong with your animals. If one gets sick, I can give you advice on how to band aid it until you get to the vet. But I always tell you, GO TO THE VET. I am NOT a vet.

If your animal isn't responding to treatment, question the treatment, if you have doubts, then find another vet. Just because a man or a woman is a vet, doesn't mean they are always going to be right, and if there is any doubt, get a second opinion. Vets are not God, they cannot work miracles, but they are better qualified to give you advice than I am.

Like I said, I don't mind helping, but if you think your ferret, cat, dog, bird, snail, fish, bird, whatever needs a vet, then my money is on they NEED TO GO TO A VET. TAKE THEM. I can give you ideas on questions to ask, I can offer a band aid in an emergency until you get to the vet, but I AM NOT A VET.

If I were a vet, then there would be lots more money in the shelter's bank account for things like lupron, ADV testing, Revolution, food, new hammocks, ferretone, and so on and so forth.

Oh, just one thing I ask you to remember. There is more pressure on a vet to get things right then a regular MD. When a person dies, many times people will say, "It was God's will", or "At least now they are not suffering", many phrases like that. When a pet dies under the care of a vet, they blame the vet, or other people. Vet's don't have a magic golden syringe that makes everything all better. They are human too, due respect, compassion and caring.

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