Washington Metro Area Ferret Outreach

14/08/2024

We don’t usually do political posts, but this right here!!
The Musky/Ember ticket!

23/07/2024

Waldorf aka “Wally” had two stubborn growths removed from his paws this morning! He is already eager to move after his surgery but we have to keep him quiet for around 10 days.
He was such a good boy about getting all bandaged up post-op.

09/07/2024

We were so sorry to read about Larven. Our thoughts are with Marie and also with Larven’s friends.

The last walk.

Larven passed away yesterday not long after after our last walk.

It was a cool morning, mist still in the air after a rainy night, when
Larven and I ventured out on our early walk in the garden. Our
almost daily routine since so many years.

Larven was as eager as ever and checked all his specific spots,
searched for beetles (none this morning), and made sure his holes
in the ground were dug afresh. As always I followed him closely just
a few steps behind while he, determined and excited, travelled his
meandering paths throughout the garden.

Finally satisfied, he went back inside the house where I left him
while I stepped out again to do some work on the house. I had not
been out for long when I was called back in. Larven had settled
down, as he always did after walks, on one of his many favourite
rugs. This particular one is out in the hallway where he can sit and
watch everything that goes on.

But this time he was unusually still. As I sat down beside him he just
barely acknowledged my presence, just so I know he knew I was
there. I could see that he was already well on his way along a new
path, the one where I could no longer follow him. I picked him up,
and he sat comfortably in my arms, completely still with his eyes
closed as if he was deep asleep, until his breathing slowly faded
and stopped. Sometime between noon and half past noon.

Larven loved to be held. He could sit in my arms forever and ever,
even as a young kit, so I like to think that he felt very safe during
his last moments of this life. I couldn't have wished for a better
ending.

Still, there are no words to describe the depths of this sorrow.
Anyone who has ever experienced the same, knows. I've had a long
time to prepare. I knew it was coming, yet the expected still came
so unexpectedly.

In the end it was his heart that eventually gave out. His rhythm was
very irregular and I could feel his faint pulse as it faded until I could
no longer feel it.

For 15 remarkable and wonderful years I've had the
immeasurable privilege to have Larven in my life. It feels like he has
always been here. He has been such a huge and important part of
my life with ferrets.

I know he has also touched and inspired many others around the
world. That will be his legacy. He was such a happy little charmer.

I've chosen this photo to announce his passing. It's from an
October evening some years ago and it has that ethereal feel to
it. It's how I like to picture him, on his way from this world into
another, heading towards a new adventure.

Larven D.I.P.
You will always be with me, even if only as a never fading memory.
June 16, 2009 - July 6, 2024

05/07/2024

Happy Independence day to The United States of America!

02/07/2024

Today we said goodbye to the last of our original group "The Artists"., with the exception of Judy Chicago, who resides with our friend Conrad. We bid farewell to Salvador Dali. This boy was part of a group of four coming from Baltimore City back in 2019. Salvador was preceded by his friends Michelangelo, and Bob Ross. He was a Path Valley boy and always showed s***k, curiosity, his handsome champagne coat, and had a bit of a feisty nip here and there. Over the past year, he was caged with the four Cromwell kid girls- Sprite, Splendora, Tw***ie and Astrid. I know they will miss him. As shelter mom, I will really miss him too.
Lots of ferret friends and our volunteers send him off to the bridge with kisses and memories to be shared.
Goodbye Sal...and say hi to the gang on the other side.

16/06/2024

Let’s all send love and birthday wishes to my far away friend Larven who turned 15 years d today!!❤️❤️❤️

30/05/2024

Hope is with us tonight at Warm and Fuzzy vet for routine maintenance!

23/05/2024

Help increase awareness! Other countries have banned fur farming and so should the United States!

Why, in 2024, do we still have the unnecessary and inhumane practice of mink farming?

We know, from a biological/psychological standpoint that modern mink farming is stressful and inhumane to the mink. These highly intelligent, athletic, solitary semi-aquatic predators are kept in cages smaller than the minimum recommended size for a guinea pig. They are housed by the tens of thousands, the stench unbearable, never setting paw into water as they are designed to.

We know, too, the part that crowded mink farms can play in global pandemics, and we are playing with fire by keeping these farms operational. Yes, as the data has changed, my stance has changed on pandemic-related action to restrict mink farming. It's important to remember that it is not individual (wild) mink that pose a threat, it's specifically the crowded conditions on these farms. Mink are highly susceptible to a number viruses that also impact humans. In a large, crowded, stressed population of mink (farm conditions) there is a very real risk of viral mutations that could jump to humans. We literally watched this happening during COVID.

Now we should be looking at the FAR more deadly Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. It has already demonstrated forward transmission in farm populations of mink. Will mink be the species that brings HPAI to its full zoonotic potential?

There is no valid argument for farming fur animals. It is not filling a need. It poses a grave public health risk for nothing more than wrapping the mega rich in a single piece of clothing worth three months rent for an average family. I don't know about you, but I am sick half to death of watching the mega rich figuratively and literally burn our planet to the ground for their creature comforts, as the average person struggles to buy groceries and keep the lights on. Fur farming is not only grossly inhumane to the animals and a zoonotic disease risk, it also serves ZERO purpose, has zero benefit to society as a whole.

Why, in 2024, are we allowing this.



HPAI in mink: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9853945/

Avian to bobine to feline: https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2024-4/h5n1-influenza-from-avian-to-bovine-to-feline-and-beyond/

12/05/2024

Our WMAFO fundraiser was a grand success! We had over 60 attendees and raised over $3000 dollars. I am so grateful for all of our supporters who came out and bought tickets, and for those who bought tickets online.
I want to give a special shout out to our sponsors:
· The Pampered Ferret
· “My Name is Musky” and friends
· Marshall Pet Products
· Performance Foods “Totally Ferret” (Liz Lovins)
· Mother Dookers (Jason and Danielle Rummel)
· J. Marie’s Salon
· Broho Sauce Company

And also for everyone who donated their time, and donated raffle items! We could not do it without you!
· Pam Zak
· Erica Hohing
· Chris Ortiz
· Kathy Stewart
· Cheryl Ursida
· Jean Hurley-Gardner
· Warren Benner
· Amanda Bowers
· Bridget Brown
· Nancy and Tom Wilson
• Cindy Ming
• Angela Neiswenter
• Julie Loving
• Anna Marie Weber
Photo credit to Vlad Borisenko

05/05/2024

Go to the event page to preview some of the fantastic raffle baskets that will be at WMAFO’s Gangplank Gertie’s backyard fundraiser Saturday, May 11th!. Drop Bonnie a private message to purchase advanced raffle tickets, especially if you cannot make the in-person fundraiser. Payment arrangements will be made through the private message. Tickets are $1.00 each, Buy as many as you want. 100% proceeds go to the shelter. We will cut off advanced ticket sales at 5:00 PM Friday, May 10th. Have a friend pick up for you if local, or pay for shipping!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/geMocSzNJ4cPxnDj/?mibextid=WC7FNe

07/04/2024

Another wonderful and perfect adoption story! Daisy and Snickers went home with our friend and volunteer Amanda, to join her gang of Willow, Wolfie, and Monster. Alls can be seen in a ferret pile and are getting to know each other. It's only been a couple days! We could not be happier for these two girls to land such a great home and ferret mom! Last weekend, these girls were supposed to be adopted out, but the home visit proved to be, sadly, unacceptable environment. But this sealed the deal for Amanda, who had been eyeing these girls for a while at the shelter. It was meant to be!

07/04/2024

Our new friend Marissa picked up this boy weeks ago who had been previously passed around from home to home, and living a bit neglected over his first two years of life. The original plan was for her to just rescue and transport. But, she fell in love with him within hours. He came to us, was vetted, and vaccinated while Marissa was in the midst of a move to a new home. So after a few weeks, Marissa was reunited with "Ravi" and took him back to her place and now this handsome fellow is in his forever home. Please congratulate Marissa, and Ravi , as he joins his new friends Lou and Nox!

02/04/2024

Get some Krispy Kreme donuts and help the AFA!

Help American Ferret Association fundraise by ordering delicious Krispy Kreme Digital Dozens today! Enjoy mouth-watering dozens & share to support their Krispy Kreme Fundraiser!

02/04/2024

Read the fine print!

HAPPY NATIONAL FERRET DAY! While the rest of the United States 🇺🇸 celebrates National Ferret Day, we proudly celebrate MUSKY THE FERRET DAY here in my Ferret Kingdom! For those of you who don't know, on National Ferret Day in 2022, Musky was bestowed the greatest honor in Mustelid History, when New Jersey declared April 2nd to be Musky The Ferret Day here in the Great Garden State! Even though I was just a Kit at the time, I was at the ceremony with Musky and I remember it like it was yesterday! It's the type of thing you never forget, folks!

Anywho, whether you celebrate National Ferret Day or Musky The Ferret Day here in New Jersey, today is our officially official holiday! So, be sure to embrace your inner Fuzzbutt today and love your Woozle! WORLDWIDE FERRET DOMINATION 🌐 is just around the corner! I can feel it in my Fur!

Love,
🩵
Stubby!

www.mynameismusky.com

17/03/2024

Special Guest too!!

25/02/2024

Hello fellow ferret crew members!
We will be having a in-person fundraiser at our shelter located in Sykesville Maryland on Saturday, May 11th, 2024.
We will be creating an facebook event on my personal page and sharing it here so that anyone interested in attending can R.S.V.P

14/02/2024

02/02/2024

Follow our friends at Mustelid Madness! Always great info on minks, and other members of the mustelid family!

Happy February! Smaugy is excited because it's almost the Year of the Dragon!! He wants to know where in the world our followers are from- how far can Smaugy's post go??? Let us know where you're seeing this from!

26/12/2023

https://youtu.be/hi5aKRKdDKc
We would like to thank Amanda, Erica, Jean, Mary, Cassie, Kitty, and Jan for all the gifts, toys, food, gift cards, etc for our shelter kids this year. Watch the video to see some of the kids and their presents! Yes, kitties snuck in there too!

WMAFO had 10 ferrets on the annual Ferret Giving Tree this year. Our shelter kids got lots of gifts and toys and food!Thank you to all of our supporters and ...

22/12/2023

Good news everyone! ALL FERRETS on the 2023 Ferret Giving Tree now have Santas!
Also..someone (or some ones) put $300 on our vet account and we are very grateful!
XOXOXO
Salvador says thank you everyone for all of your support!

20/12/2023

Don’t forget to grab a last minute ferret and be their special Santa!
For instance, this cutie belongs to Richmond Ferret Rescue League and still needs a Santa!