Ferret Wise Shelter has been a state licensed shelter facility explicitly for the domestic ferret since January 1995. It was incorporated as a non-profit shelter in March of 1995, and remains a tax exempt incorporation with emphasis on education, humane worker education and abuse and neglect investigation of the domestic ferret in the State of New Hampshire.

Since its inception in 1995, the shelter has progressed beyond its initial mission to provide shelter and into a mode as educators and humane participants with the NH Federation of Humane Organizations. We are grateful for the many contacts this has afforded out shelter staff, and for the reception by the SPCA and Humane Societies who now accept the companion domestic ferrets into their facilities along with the canine and feline companion animals.

How did we come this far? In the early days of rescue 1993 to 1994, prior to being a licensed shelter facility, Ferret Wise took in and transported ferrets for another state ferret shelter. Soon Ferret Wise was asked to nurse older, sicklier ferrets back to health. Along the way the shelter experienced some very sick "kids", but Ferret Wise accepted the challenges of these special kids. The special care continued and after the shelter incorporation Ferret Wise continued to see ferrets who were victims of man's negligence, abuse as well as those who were subjected to many terminal illness.

This experience with neglected ferrets prompted some special training by several volunteer staff persons. Ferret Wise sent two staff persons to training sessions on Abuse & Neglect Investigation. This would help volunteers to to better understand the processes , and what would be needed to begin program implementation to protect our ferret friends. Under this program Ferret Wise Shelter works with state agencies and provides rehabilitation, behavior modification and protective custody services. It also has drop in volunteers who keep a watchful eye on pet stores in order to protect ferrets young and old under the care of the retailers.

A critical and important part of the shelters early and formative years were as a licensed rescue transport from the state of Massachusetts. Ferrets were not legal in Massachusetts when Ferret Wise rescue began, prior to its incorporated days. From early 1994 to March of 1995, when legalization took effect in the state of Massachusetts, Ferret Wise transported, cared for, and placed more than 150 ferrets. All were refugees of the state of Massachusetts. This would not have been accomplished if Ferret Wise did not win the trust and respect of both the Massachusetts Fish & Wildlife and the MA Environmental Police. We are proud to say we saved some precious ferret lives in our early days.

The Healing Arts Development
Providing all the shelter could, and with the helpful advice of veterinarians, simple useful equipment was gathered to make the healing arts successful. This included special veterinary homeopathic seminars to implement a better healing program with the combines use of allopathic and homeopathic veterinary care. A late stage lymphoma ferret, "Sir Peanut", who inspired the critical care programs brought the need for oxygen. A small tank and regulator made its way to the shelter Mom and Dad from a local ambulance service. Then a make shift oxygen bed was implemented to work with the oxygen and provide efficient, yet another low cost piece of equipment for those with bronchial infections or complications from heart disease or lymphoma.

Another crucial piece of equipment was a deep porcelain sink -- which a community resident located -- with it was installed a portable water massage unit which provides a water therapy for those ferrets who have lost mobility due to excessive caging or spinal injury. This equipment has allowed five ferrets (to date) who entered the shelter to gain the mobility which allowed them to utilize their hindquarters and legs.

Ferret Wise Shelter became international educators in the summer of 1997 when their pamphlet "Ferrets - a Mini Guide" was translated into Hebrew. It is currently being distributed in Jerusalem, Israel by the local ferret organization. Ferret Wise will continue to assist our friends the ferrets in special ways. Programs include in home consultations on ferret ownership and training within a 75 mile radius, low cost rabies vaccination clinics, veterinary referral service, and speakers for educational and humane training programs.

For further information on programs and services check out the shelter homepage
or write:

Ferret Wise Rescue & Rehabilitation Shelter
P.O. Box 561, Marlborough, NH 03455

or call:
(603) 876-4975.