As some of you already know, I'm no longer affiliated with WeezleWings Ferret Sanctuary. We had epic differences of opinion on a matter of truth, and parted ways. Some people will say "about time you wised up and left", but some may want more info. I know I'm not ready to share it all now, at least not through this forum. I don't want to hurt WWFS, but I do think that Susie needs more help than I can give, and she really needs to have a reduced sense of entitlement. Just my opinion, though.

On the homefront, Bug is still fat and happy. Tucker is too, but less so. He spends about half his time penned up with Katy who is no longer on free-roam due to her injury. She isn't having any seizures, though, and the vet is pleased with her condition. She actually said "I'm digging this blanket you've got her wrapped in." about the cheap fleece throw I'd cut up to make smaller blankets. I use a lot of fleece throws. I'll fold one in half to put on the floor of the playpen, one gets folded in quarters and is laid on the bed that's in the pen. They get changed daily, the bed usually gets changed two or three times a day. The ferret laundry is washed on the Sanitary cycle, too. I'm figuring this thing out, but I'd like to find a sweet little girl to be Katy's full-time buddy.

Not much else is going on, really. I'm trying to get the house ready for sale and movers, but I'm having trouble with my motivation. I suspect I'm depressed, but there's nothing I can do about it right now, except keep moving forward.

I wish you a wonderful 2013, and may it bring us all things awesome. To 2012 I say "good riddance to bad rubbish". I'll try to post more often, but we all know how that works. 

The Ferret: Nature's Suicide Machine?

We know how they are, I mean, besides being ridiculously cute, amusing, and endearing. They're so curious about everything that they get themselves in danger, and they do it with frightening ease.

We've all probably had one who we either suspected or knew had ingested something that wasn't going to pass easily. Some of us have jumpers, others have squigglers. We'll swear we were gone from the room "just for a minute" and find that our beloved carpet shark has something in his or her mouth, or that s/he is prostrate, with grey gums.

I know my Tucker has a chewing problem. Maybe I'd even go so far as to call it pica. When he was a kit he'd eat, and eat, and eat, then take a long drink of water before going back to the food bowl. Seriously, the boy was shaped like a light bulb with legs. His belly would be so distended that I was afraid he'd burst. We had a nickname for him; Nommin' Bates. Thank goodness he grew out of that phase. I wish he'd grow out of the one he's in now. The "hey! I like this texture, I think I'll chew on it!" phase. If I'm at the computer he'll sometimes come into the room and start finding places to chew the loveseat that's behind me. If I'm in the kitchen he'll start chewing on one of the rugs. He's stripped 4 small tennis balls and one large one. He chews on hammocks and sleepsacks. He just chews. He rarely bites Bug or Katy when playing, just defends himself, and runs. Hubby trained Tuck to be mellow, and that he is. There have been a few times I've had to treat him with some kind of laxative because I wasn't sure if he'd eaten something potentially dangerous.

Last night was hot outside. The AC was on, but the air was still. I don't like that. I want a little movement to the air while I sleep, especially during summer. It's just better all the way around. Hubby had fallen asleep in the recliner and was snoring. I moved out to the sofa because I usually wake up really congested when I sleep in the bedroom. So I was getting comfortable on the sofa and heard an odd crunching. I couldn't place the noise so I got up to find its source. I expected to find Katy on the kitchen island, rooting around for some forbidden treat. Instead I found her in my sewing room, behind a desk, chewing on a piece of styrofoam packing material. I immediately took it away and put it in the trash. I then took Katy and gave her a hefty dose of FerretVite.

Yes, I know that FerretLax or even petroleum jelly is more indicated in a situation like this, but I didn't want to stress her. I know she'll readily eat the 'Vite, but the 'Lax is a chore. Yeah, she likes the 'Vite.

I've been keeping an eye on her all day. She's been social, inquisitive, and distinctly un-Katy-like, but didn't seem distressed at all. When I changed the poo pads I noticed an odd structure to one mound. I called hubby over and asked "does that look like styrofoam?" He replied that it did. I can only assume that getting a mild laxative-like substance into her as soon as I noticed her eating the wrong stuff was the best possible thing I could have done. Would she have passed more styrofoam if I'd given her 'Lax? Maybe. There's no real way to know how much of the stuff she ate, though.

The simple truth is that ferret-proofing is an endless job. We may think we've got everything out of reach, then they'll surprise us. Hubby had  said to me yesterday "You know Bug's up on that top shelf in there." What? I went in, picked him up, and put him on the floor. I then stood near the back of the recliner as he showed me how he'd gotten up there. *sigh* He'd climbed one of the recliners, then JUMPED from the back of the recliner onto a nearby shelf. Once I saw him do it I knew how to rearrange the furniture, but I didn't know he could, or would, get up there. Oh, while he was on that shelf he found a clay pot full of soil. One of my houseplants didn't make it in hibernation over the winter, and the pot was still there. Bug had a GREAT time digging in it. Then he proved to me that even if he couldn't get on the top shelf he could still get on the second shelf. Oy!

Yeah, ferret-proofing is an endless job.

Help!

On May 12, 2012, I returned from another two-week stay at WWFS. I took along our Shark steamer, and while it's not the newest model it sure did do a job on some of the cleaning tasks. The only drawback is that I was on my hands and knees (which aren't in the best of shape) for longer than I care to be, which is not at all. The process set me back a couple of days, too. I was so sore that I didn't feel up to doing anything. To complicate matters I ran out of my tylenol. Sheesh. Of course, it didn't hurt that I tripped the second day I was there and landed HARD on those same knees that I don't like being on at all. Why, of course it was a concrete slab floor! What a silly thing to ask! Anyway, I figured that I'm in a little better shape for doing manual labor than Susie is and that if it set me back two days, well, I hate to think of what it would do to her. With that in mind I broke down and purchased a Shark Steam Mop (refurbished). I used it to clean the floor in the Alpha Room and woo hoo! It did great!

I spent money on a few other things, too, learned what Stage 2 of hospice looked like - two of the boys from "Old Man's Row" entered it while I was there - and generally got a lot of administrative work done. We managed to re-connect with some of the past sponsors and found out about even more things that our ex-CFO (a title she claimed for herself) committed behind the scenes. Shipping address are reverting to their original state (the Sanctuary) and packages have once again begun to arrive there.

We held a very unsuccessful yard sale (on Cinco de Mayo in Texas? What were we thinking?) and had to revert to posting on our Facebook fan page for donations. WWFS really needs meds (especially pred) and other supplies. On the second day with donations only trickling in I added that donors would be entered into a drawing for one of my sleepsacks - custom size, no less - or a glass candle holder with 7 sets of votives in different scents. They're still trickling.

Upon my return here my hubby and I had a talk. The long and short of it is that we can't be the sole supporters of WWFS. We don't have the funds for it. If we were to win a substantial lottery prize then WWFS wouldn't have to worry about a thing again, ever, but we're not quite there. So tell me, what's it going to take to get some donations? We're not asking for any set amount per donation. If you can only afford a buck or two, that's great. We certainly don't want anyone to extend themselves beyond their comfort level. Keep in mind that Susie is available by phone 24/7 to answer questions about ferrets. She's had her own ferrets for  over two decades and has a nursing degree. Ferrets in her care can expect to live about two years longer than they would in anyone else's care. Yeah, she knows her stuff when it comes to ferrets and their care. She'll answer questions for anyone. Anyone. She's not living in the lap of luxury at the expense of her ferrets, she's not spending all her time on the computer. She's caring for her ferrets.

So, come on. What do you say?

Mischief, havoc, and misappropriation?

Okay, maybe that's a little too dramatic. I'll just say that when I visited with Susie I was quite surprised to find that she had a notebook which was partially filled with just about everything we've ever discussed in terms of WeezleWings Ferret Sanctuary. One night she pulled out her folder(s) and notebook(s) which contained everything she'd ever discussed with Michelle regarding WWFS. We started making a list of all the ways Michelle had failed in her position as CFO, and here it is.

(Keep in mind this was a notepad document that was typed up at some ridiculous hour of the night. While Susie's notes were extensive they weren't necessarily well organized. Papers went into her folders as her notes were made. I can't put this list into a more concise format without putting a lot more work into it, and frankly it makes me ill.)

Disclaimer: All monetary amounts, unless listed to the penny, are approximations. 

Items received by Michelle on behalf of WWFS's personal use. Never received at WWFS:

• Sketch of Karmah by K.M.
• Original "Chain Saw Massacre" ferret print by Shannon Moore
• Stand-alone beds by Karen
• Hill's measuring cups
• Food Scoops

Items Michelle claimed she had on hand and was ready to get to WWFS, but which were never delivered:

• 25 Tied fleece blankets by Stephanie Bowtie which were donated to WWFS for Christmas
• 130 (approximately) infant-sized Christmas Stockings which were donated specifically to be cross-stitched for WWFS ferrets and family OR cross-stitched and sold for fundraising
• Cross-stitched bag with Weezle Wings logo and Susie's Name
• Special cross-stitched blankets personalized for WWFS ferrets
• Crocheted blankets for all WWFS ferrets
• Wubby blankets with stuffed animal heads for all WWFS ferrets
• 40# bag Zupreem
• 2 cases of Mazuri less 4 bags (the only ferret-related package received since 9/2011)
• 2 large bags of Marshall ferret food. Donated by Marshall.
• 1 box of 14 G metal sterile implant needles (200)
• Donation of 2 moist Ultimate 8 in 1 Advanced Nutrition food 
• approx. $256 ceramic food bowls and a hammock from ferret.com which were donated by a generous person whose name was never shared with Susie
• Pill shooter (for administering pills to ferrets who won't take them otherwise)
• Pill splitter
• Otoscope $30
• Space Pod bedding
• At least 6 ferret care packages. Value unknown.
• Picture of Gris Gris angel
• Nobbly Wobbly ball
• Box of meds from online source valued at $300
• 2 sets of meds claimed as "lost" deliveries by Michelle. The first was replaced by the sender and the money was supposedly returned to Michelle's PayPal or credit card. Total value (two shipments of $232.85 and the credited $232.85) $698.55
• 2 boxes of 25 G 5/8" needle & 1cc syringe sets
• special syringe caps and bottle adaptors

Items Michelle claimed WWFS had paid for, but which were never received by WWFS or their intended recipients:

• Check to RM - $30
• Check for supplies paid to Dr. Kimbrough's office. Since this has not been paid they have added monthy service charges, more than doubling the amount originally owed.
• Allergen block - 100 tubes valued at $168.00 (WWFS wants either the items or the money back)
• Repeated promises of papier mache' animals after release of A Ferret Tale
• Large cross-stitch of Ferr'ouquea on specially ordered pink Aida cloth.
• Large cross-stitched WWFS logo (banner-sized)
• Cross-stitch kit auctioned in WWFS fundraising auction, won by WWFS family member but never sent out.
• Signed Ferret Movie DVD, "To Susie and the Fursnakes" paid for by donors.

Items Michelle collected on behalf of WWFS which she claimed she would deliver to WWFS:

• Large box of toys by Donna Clashman
• Cuddle cup by Donna Clashman
• Cuddle cup by Rose German

Business FUBARed by Michelle:

• 14 full-size implants, including 2 donated by Angela Neiswenter which she had won in an auction.*****
• 2 sets of 25 implants with 10 additional full-size implants.
• 3 boxes sterile gloves
• Betadine solution

Donations received by Michelle for WWFS fundraisers but never used in auctions

• Kim Corelli necklaces
• Zupreem, Mazuri, and Marshall promotional items
• Ferret Depot gift card, $50 - donated by Steve
• Complete playpen set donated by Steve
• Complete playpen set donated by Marshall

Sponsor items donated:

• Large box of Zupreem "I heart my Fuzzy" silicone bracelets, 5 T-shirts, and picture frame magnets
• 2 Mazuri insulated tumblers
• Crusher Hoblet T-shirt

Things owed to WWFS:

• Business cards & $48.05 for their purchase. (Susie says her cards only cost $15 so she can't imagine what extra services Michelle had done on her own cards).
• All WWFS writing implements
• 120ml bottle Prednisolone which Michelle claimed was in the mail back to Susie. Never received.
• 3 15ml amoxidrops - unmixed. Also claimed was in the mail. Never received at WWFS.
• Sterile Normal Saline for wound care. No amounts given.
• Donor gave Michelle money for one of the dancing ferret Christmas decorations. Never delivered dancing ferret to WWFS. Approx. $20 + tax.
• Order from Ferret Depot that Michelle had delivered to her own home and told Susie she would bring.
• 2 large bags of Marshall Food
• Ferret Depot order $38.67 - never arrived
• Ferret Depot order $190 - included:
• 10 bags of moist food
• Turtle Tunnel
• Critter Travel Home
• #1206  ferret tunnel and hammock
• Fuzzy beds - 4 large, 4 medium
• Nature's Miracle cage wipes - 6 cans
• Nature's Miracle Stain & Odor remover
• 16 oz FerreTone - 3
• 8 oz FerreTone - 4
• Monogrammed playpen tote bag

Items which were taken from WWFS to be sold in fundraisers, or which were borrowed by Michelle with the understanding that they'd be returned to WWFS:

• 50 Kitchen Weasel posters
• Box of 25 mailing tubes
• stack of WWFS coloring books with crayon sets
• Assorted "I love my ferret" jewelry
• 5 T-shirts to be sent to Brenda Taylor for embellishment. Brenda has not received these.

Donations reportedly made to WWFS but which have never been received at the sanctuary. List is NOT complete:

• $30.00 for Poindexter and Astrid by Facebook WWFS supporter
• Additional package from Laura Marsh for Mandrake - never received
• 2 baskets for Horla & Divia containing toys, bedding, etc., donated by Woldridge Antiques. Never received at WWFS and very generously replaced by Rose German with smaller sets.  *******  
• $100 from Theresa Bartoletta via PayPal to Michelle for purchase of moist food for senior ferrets. *
• $50 gift card for Pixie from her Ferret Giving Tree sponsor, Jean Hurley-Gardner. Michelle used this to purchase clearance supplies from Ferret Depot. Package never received. *

*Listed again below. Do not count as additional amounts in the total.

Promises and other claims made by Michelle: 

• Would deliver several picture frames
• Would see to the repair of a large load of ferret bedding
• 5 hammocks for Freestyle Frames, and hardware to repair them
• 2 ferret beds to be repaired
• assorted toys, hammocks, beds, and sleepsacks to be repaired
• sweaters for SnarlieMan, Nermie, & SnoodleBug - paid for by WWFS
• Dressing kits
• Injectible B-12
• Blanket for Ferr'ouquea
• Claimed to have sent out Christmas cards on behalf of WWFs. Susie received no acknowledgement of these cards. Expenditure was NOT approved by WWFS. Want to be reimbursed for the cost of the cards and the postage. (To date only one person has stepped forward and said she might have received one of these cards.)
• Would repair a canvas Ferret tote bag for Susie. Never returned.
• Promised to make a "Rainbow Bridge" cross-stitch with the names of the WWFS ferrets who had passed.

WWFS WANTS RETURNED:

• box of hardware saved from worn hammocks
• fabric which was donated to WWFS
• Squeakers which were harvested from damaged toys
• 48 eggs awaiting crocheting
• Locking casters and shelf clips from Midwest
• 2 large rolling bins for storage of litter and food (and replacement caster) OR the $60 which was spent on the rolling bins and replacement caster
• All WWFS letterhead and envelopes
• 3 Ferret calendars at $9.60, not sure if this was a total for the three
• $61.43 which came out of WWFS funds but which was an unnecessary expense because multiple people were contributing items for the Giving Tree ferrets which WWFS was sponsoring. It was an unapproved expense.
• 4 sets of "nail art" at $9.95 per set. Supposed to be for fundraisers. Unapproved purchase. WWFS wants the money for this.
• Case (24 ct) of Marshall Ferret Shampoo with baking soda for WWFS fundraising.
• 3 sock monkeys for ferrets
• Devil and Angel ferret figurines - Michelle gushed about these repeatedly. Never received at WWFS.
• 2 Hannah's large gift baskets. Michelle had these sent to her own home. One basket was to be sent to one of the WWFS sponsored GT ferret pairs. Never received by either WWFS or GT shelter. Still in her possession in early January.
• Michelle pushed and pushed for the WWFS money to pay some of the utility bills at the Sanctuary. When Susie finally and reluctantly agreed to let her do so Michelle said the bills were paid, but Susie started getting disconnect notices. When asked for confirmation codes Michelle repeatedly avoided that part of the conversation, saying she had more important things to do.
• Michelle called Susie with a list of items she claimed were her family's gift to Susie for Christmas. She later presented the invoice for these items to Jill Walker as proof of a WWFS approved purchase. It most definitely WAS NOT approved. She NEVER showed Susie any invoices for purchases she made.
• Collection of signed Shannon Moore prints which were to be used in fundraisers. Possibly 10 or more. Value unknown. One print was to be sent to an auction winner, but was never received. It is likely that this is still in Michelle's possession since she has a history of not mailing items.
• Over $900 collected in the last fundraiser. Any items that Michelle had in her possession were not sent. Donors had to email Michelle for info on high bidders so they could get their donations in the mail. (I know this for a fact since I had to contact her at least twice for this.)
• 2012 Ferrets USA magazine.
• 2 copper bracelets with WWFS and Ferr'ouquea's picture on them for fundraising.
• Snuggie with ferret picture on it.
• Order for sterile plastic tweezers. 1 case. Claimed to have ordered. Never received.
• Laminated cage cards for ferrets. Never received.
• Binders for each ferret with dividers. Never received.
• Michelle accepted a $50.41 card for phone time, with the promise of returning the favor when the WWFS phone time expired. She then charged $100.82 for additional phone time, but that was an unapproved expense. She admitted to doing this. The total here is $151.23 and WWFS wants the money returned.
• Admitted to ordering Ferret Depot items using funds donated by Theresa Bartolatta ($100.00), and a gift certificate ($50.00) then paid an additional $38.67 using WWFS funds. Package never received by WWFS. WWFS wants the merchandise or the money returned.
• Postage $11.95 for Kitchen Weasels
• Additional $18 for shipping on Kitchen Weasels to Ireland. A donor claimed to have paid for this postage, so Michelle needs to repay it to WWFS.

Items which Michelle claimed were donated to WWFS but which never arrived:

• water bottles

Items which Michelle said were sent to others at WWFS, or on which she paid the postage, but which were never received at their intended destination:

• Kitchen Weasel posters which were signed by the model & then sent back to WWFS for distribution. Approximately 20 posters and postage for them.

In October of 2011 Michelle hit all the WWFS contacts, Facebook people, mailing lists, etc., for furndraiser donations. Items collected were to be auctioned in 4 separate fundraisers. None of these items have ever been used in fundraisers, nor have they come back to WWFS.

She also collected recipes for a planned WWFS cookbook. She hit many groups, including the WWFS Facebook Fan Page subscribers, Yahoo Groups & other boards. These need to be sent back to WWFS.

She was directly responsible for messing up the WWFS bank account, and two layaways.

She is the direct reason that ferrets needing meds, implants, and surgeries cannot get them.

Any donations she received since her resignation from WWFS are still in her possession unless otherwise stated.

No financial reports were ever shown to WWFS, despite repeated requests for same.

Donations dwindled to nothing starting in October 2011. Michelle claimed she had these items sent to her home for Susie's "convenience", despite being instructed to NOT have any WWFS items sent to her home.

Whereas Susie's mail used to consist of Ferret item catalogs, pet care catalogs, donations, etc., now the only things she regularly receives are unpaid bills and junk mail.

One sponsor usually donates the following and it is likely that this is what was delivered to Michelle's house after she changed the the address to her own:

• 80 lb Ultimate
• 3 PB Yogies
• 4 Ferretbites RC Flavored bits
• 4 Banana Raisin Bits
• 4 Bags soft advanced nutrition moist food
• 4 Vitasol
• 2 35 ct Nature's Miracle cage wipes
• 1 Ferret Sheen
• 1 Dry Shampoo
• 6 20 Lb ultimates
• 3 Ultra

Michelle told Susie that there would be a PayPal credit card coming to her. Never arrived.

This list is by no means complete. Because Michelle NEVER provided any financial reports to Susie it's impossible to know how much she collected and spent on behalf of WWFS. It's only possible to work with the information that Susie was able to glean from discussions with Michelle and reports from countless individuals who paid money to Michelle's PayPal yet never received any goods or acknowledgment of donations.

EDIT: 
***** Susie contacted the donor of the 14 implants. On 3/23/2012 he verified that they had been sent to Michelle's address at the end of 2011.
*******  Rose German let me know that she'd verified with the USPS that the baskets had gotten lost while in their possession. 

I've been at Weezle Wings Ferret Sanctuary for almost two weeks now...

And although I'd been hearing reports of what I'd find when I got here I don't think I was fully prepared for it.
The house/Sanctuary definitely needs repairs. Although the structure is sound the floors have been heavily damaged by multiple sewage back-ups. As a result there's no carpet in much of the house. Susie's spirit, however, is undamaged.
Susie's own hindered mobility, along with panic/anxiety disorders make leaving the house a major event for her. One night last week when I was starting to get a little bit of 'cabin fever' we did make a trip for a very little bit of shopping and to have dinner where her dear friend Meagan was supposed to be working. Alas, Meagan was not there. We stayed anyway as Susie hadn't felt any real anxiety while we were out.
Since I've been here I've done laundry. LOADS and LOADS of laundry. Susie's pain problems make it a very unwelcome task. I've suggested that she'd have less laundry to do if she'd keep less in the way of bedding and toys on hand for everyone, but she says she'd rather have more so she she'd have what she needed for when she goes through bad times and can't manage the laundry.  I don't want to say that I'm proud that I've done so much of it, but I do feel a certain degree of accomplishment over it. I mean, I hate to do laundry. I'd almost prefer to get a pelvic exam. Almost. Heck, I'll go ahead and claim the pride. Meagan came by a few times and helped Susie when I wasn't feeling well. Susie's lucky to have Meagan as a friend as Meagan has her own life and work to do. Meagan helps Susie out whenever she can and has bonded with several of the ferrets. She's become an integral part of the daily operations at WeezleWings and comes and goes as she can. The ferrets adore her and I'm grateful that she considers Susie and WWFS as important as we do.
I'd been told by Susie that she didn't do any real cooking because it hurt too much for her to stand for very long so I knew I wouldn't find much food in the house. Within an hour of unloading my truck (and oh, boy, did Susie gush about Bug!) I was off to buy groceries. Susie's repeatedly told me that she's eaten like a king for the past week. I'm glad - she looks way too thin to me (but then I'm a bit on the hefty side). I'd like to think that I've been preparing healthy meals. They're the kind of meals I'd make at home, and my husband doesn't usually complain.
On to the ferrets:
All the ferrets here appear happy. It truly is a Weasel Wonderland, and my three have been thrilled as play opportunities abound. Even my relatively untrained eye can see that there are ferrets here who many "rescuers" would have given up on way before now. SnarlieMan, Snoodlebug, and Melfi to name just three. It's good that she hasn't got any hospice ferrets right now, or we'd never have gotten out of the house at all.
The ferrets here are all well-socialized, affectionate, or at least attentive, and energetic. Even the oldsters want to play and appreciate the many shows of affection that Susie rains down upon them. None of them are ever left out. I don't know how she keeps track of who gets a daily dose of supplement and who hasn't, but she does.
Some people would ask (and rather nastily) that if Susie can't take care of herself then why would she try to take care of ferrets. The truth is that she DOES take care of herself and that it's the ferrets who keep her going. I've made suggestions for easy meal preparation (slow-cooker meals, mostly) and she's definitely receptive to the idea. My attitude is that anyone who's going to be nasty needs to just go someplace else and read a different blog.
Today when we took out trash we found that a couple of neighborhood stray dogs had dumped one of her trash bins. Ugh. We picked it up and I did what I could to make it difficult for them to dump it again. While I was collecting the last few bits of scattered trash Susie went to the mailbox. She came back to show me a much-needed donation, and said "Before Michelle took over the money I'd find donations like this in the mail a few times a month, and I'd get packages from our sponsors and other supporters at least three or four times a week." That made my blood boil, especially seeing the circumstances that are here now.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think this is a bad place for ferrets. I just can see how it could be better for Susie.
So any and all Michelle supporters, be advised, she's taken full advantage of Susie. I don't know if what she's done is so she can "come to the rescue" at a later date and get credit for saving Weezle Wings, and I don't care. What she's done is nothing short of premeditated evil. She's stolen from Susie and from these dear ferrets. In one conversation I had with her she said "I love Susie and those ferrets!" Well, Michelle, you've got a very interesting way of demonstrating your love. Please, don't ever fall in love with me, all right?

Oh, by the way, if you're the  parent of any shelter or rescue and received money, promotional items from our sponsors, or ferret care items from Michelle Ritcheson Chastain (or one of her many aliases) chances are really good that it was something donated to WWFS. We don't begrudge you any of it because we believe every ferret should get the best chance for survival, and placement.

If you're feeling charitable, WWFS will gladly accept donations. We are not a 501(c)3 organization for a couple of reasons, but please don't let that stop you. We can use Walmart gift cards, Visa gift cards, gift cards from either PETCO or PetSmart, gift certificates from ferretdepot.com, ferret.com, or anywhere that sells ferret food, supplements, supplies, or general household items like laundry soap, trash bags, etc.

Weezle Wings Ferret Sanctuary
228 Longmont
Hallsville, TX 75650

Thanks in advance for caring.

Man, a lot has happened in a few days...

If you read my first entry here you know where my loyalties are. If you have any clue what's been going on in ferret-y circles, you know that Weezle Wings Ferret Sanctuary is facing serious problems. The wrong person was trusted and that person took full advantage of that trust, absconding with money, supplies, and severely damaging Susie's self-confidence. That person caused further damage by misrepresenting some of the spending to a third party (who, for the life of me I can't figure out is even involved) and made Susie look like she'd been playing fast and loose with 'ferret money'. It gets worse; it looks like that third party has been accepting donations on behalf of WWFS and has been using them for her own shelter. At least that's what one has to assume. Donations for Weezle Wings Ferret Sanctuary were sent to her and she welcomed them, but the money never made it to Weezle Wings.

To compound things some bonehead posted this to the Ferret Mailing List:
Please Please People, if you are wanting to donate to Ferret Shelters
and Sanctuarys or wanting to run raffles or Auctions for them Please
just check the shelters out on www.supportourshelters.org with in short
is called S.O.S.
We have alot of people that have gotten screwed by someone perfeesing
to be a Ferret Sanctuary and these little ferrets are the ones that
have to suffer not the person getting the money .


Remember that all misspellings are said bonehead's and not mine.


The problem with S.O.S. is that it's run by people who have biases. They don't support all shelters or sanctuaries equally, and won't support some at all.


As for me, well, I've heard the way Susie Riddle talks about her ferrets. That's right, I called them her ferrets. They ARE her ferrets from the first day they come to her for care. She doesn't claim to be a shelter and isn't looking to place any of the fuzzies in her care. I doubt she'd place one with someone else if she had the chance. Susie's mantra is "as long as no ferrets get hurt because of this". Whether she's being maligned, lied about, or just the topic of stupid and pointless gossip, Susie isn't the one causing any of it. She prefers to mind her business and her ferrets. She repeatedly turns the other cheek so she can mind her own business.


If you ask me, more people should take lessons from Susie Riddle.

So what makes me think I should have my own blog?

Absolutely nothing. I don't see myself as anything special. Sure, I can be funny, and I can cook and bake. I also sew, make beaded jewelry, and sometimes I even garden. A domestic goddess I am not, though, I assure you all.

As of this writing I'm 49 years old. I've been married since 1994 to a pretty decent sort of guy, and he seems to think I'm pretty all right because every time he goes out for a gallon of milk (he doesn't smoke) he always comes back. We've had at least one Great Dane in our lives almost since we got married. Right now we have two, both rescues, and both about 6 or 7. It's hard to tell with rescues. In December of 2009 we brought a slightly-used male ferret into our lives. After a few days of trying to figure out a name for him we settled on Bug because he was a cute as a bug in a rug. I know, groan, right? He's a sweetie, though and we call him our little Cuddle Bug.

In August of 2010 we brought a friend into the household for Bug, hoping to correct what we saw as behavioral problems. Bug was getting nippy, especially with our ankles. I searched through local ads, craigslist, petfinder.com and settled on taking a look at a little sable girl who was on the NW side of Oklahoma City. (We live about 2.5 hours south of OKC.) Again it was love at first sight and Bug really took to Katy (named after Katy Perry, but we pretend her name is "Katydid" to go along with the "bug" theme).

A month later we brought a pathetic kit home from the local PETCO. He'd been beaten, chewed on, and pretty much bullied by the other ferrets. His coat was dull and lifeless, there was a scuff on his left eye. He looked terrible and he seemed a little... slow. We named him Tucker. At his initial wellness check the vet told us he had a heart murmur and that often other defects would tag along with things like that. We nicknamed him our "Special Needs Ferret" and he occasionally proves that we were right. When he stayed with Katy in the "condo" I had to rig up a net so he wouldn't tumble to the ground floor. When all the ferrets learned how to all get along we got a Ferret Nation cage. They've got four beds available, yet they always congregate in the hammock (which I have to reproduce regularly because Tucker chews on the sides).

Anyway, we've got a household of two adults, two geriatric Great Danes, and three ferrets. What makes me think I should have my own blog? Absolutely nothing. But I made the mistake of letting Susie Riddle, Weezle Winger extraordinaire, read something I'd written in my Live Journal about a medical procedure I'd had and she said she wanted me to have a blog for Weezle Wings Ferret Sanctuary. Pfft.