Here you will find the ferrets who we would like sponsors for. The ferrets on the list have all been gifted to the rescue but for one reason or another, usually health related, we feel it would be in the ferret’s best interest to stay with us. So we ask any kind sole if they would like to help with the up keep of these special ferrets by sponsoring them on a month by month basis. We ask for a 20 donation to sponsor a ferret. for a month. That isn't a lot and one vet visit cost that alone. So if you have been wanting a ferret but can't have one or would just like to help why not consider sponsoring one? Thank you.

April’ and Olaffs Story

April and Olaff live with Sarah and Andy at the Cramlington Branch.

In April (no points for guessing how she got her name) we where contacted by the P.D.S.A asking if we had room for a ferret. They told us that someone had found it the week before and as no one had come forward could we possibly take it. We where told that it was a boy and the vet (even after been bitten) had given him a clean bill of health. So 4 hours later we arrived to collect him only to find out that he was in fact a she! A very frightend, smelly albino she to be exact. After we got home we gave her a bath to get rid of some of the smell and dirt as she had obviously been running loose.

Within the first couple of days we noticed some odd behaviour, she would always be on guard, seem to be in a panic and bump into things, she would jump and get a fright if you went to pick her up, she seemed to take a very long time to settle in to her new routine but she did bond with my son very quickly and it wasn’t till he was carrying her upstairs and the light reflected of her eyes the we noticed her eyes had white discs behind them, at that point the penny dropped and her behaviour had an explanation! she was in fact blind and a trip to our vets confirmed it.

The past few months have been a learning process for us and April and we discovered that as long as her food and water, and cage or kept in the exact same place she manages just fine, also we cant move any furniture around as this confuses her and you have to talk, let her smell your hand then go to pick her up. As we now keep everything in the same place she has her exercise time out of the cage without any problems. I was very impressed at how for the first couple of weeks she would zig zag up the stairs from side to side till she got to the top but now she goes straight up the middle of them, how you may ask? She knows if she is standing on vinyl flooring with her nose touching carpet (she is it the bottom) when the carpet turns in to laminate flooring (she is at the top) very impressive.

She bonded with my son first, then us, but the minute we have visitors and she gets a smell of them she starts to hiss at them and uses her nose as a tracking device as she does with other ferrets, and as soon as she works out which part is the head she goes on the attack. We have tried to get her a friend by pairing another ferret with her but she is having none of it except for one kit, an Albino hob called Olaff who was given to the rescue and has problems with his back legs, its as if she can sense he has a problem and so far she seems to have accepted him and will happily cuddle up with him and sleep.

It seems that she has accepted the house as her domain and my family as her group as she will sit on your shoulder and give you a good clean (making sure we have no fleas or ticks I guess) but will have nothing to do with anyone else or any other Ferret  except Olaff, other than try to bite them. In view of her condition and behaviour we decided that her only real option is to be a permanent resident at the rescue along with her friend, so we ask any kind souls if they would like to help with her or her friend’s upkeep by sponsoring one or both on a month by month basis.   

April has been sponsored for the month of Sept 2008 by Imelda Woods of Kirk Merrington. Thanks Imelda!

  April has been sponsored for the months of Nov and Dec 2008 and Jan 2009 by Jayne Crabtree of Stockton. Thanks to you Jayne and your son. 

Mr. Woo

Mr. Woo came to us after his owner hit a rough spot and they weren't able to give him the extra care he needed. Mr. Woo is a very happy friendly chap and is five years of age. 

Mr. Woo also has lymphoma which means he has to stay in the rescue or be fostered out to someone near the Bishop Auckland area where his vet is located. All that he requires is monthly injections and weigh-ins and love. Nothing more. Wear Valley Ferret Rescue will pay for all his veterinary care. His lymphoma is very obvious and we are keeping a close eye on the ones near his throat as we have concerns that it may hinder him being able to eat at some point.

Mr. Woo is a polecat hob and has a crooked jaw which makes one of his fangs stick right out. I think it makes him look even more adorable than he already does.

Mr. Woo is sponsored by Nadia from Sunderland for Jan, Feb and March of 2010. Thank you Nadia! 

Bows Story     

 Bow came to us after his owner passed away. We had no idea of his age but he was definitely the wrong shape for a ferret. We took him into the vets and they had a good feel and found some masses in his intestines that shouldn't be there. We suspect intestinal lymphoma. Also, he has quite a large mass, over half the size of a pinky finger in his stomach. On top of that, we suspect he also has liver failure as his body keeps swelling up with fluid. He is on two types of medication, one for the masses and one for the fluid.

We think, and the vets believe that Bow is atleast 8 years of age, if not older. He is doing very well although he doesn't look the most handsomest with his fluid belly and his lesions that keep popping up on his body. But he is a happy chap and loves to be fussed over and adores his treats. Due to Bow's various illnesses, we felt that re-homing him wouldn't be in his best interest. Instead he lives inside with another old man with lymphoma and has bonded very well. 

 Bow was sponsored for the month of August by Jude of JCV Ferret Rescue.

Bow has now been sponsored for life by Veterinary Surgeon Catherine Piggott of Wilsons Vet

 Update: September 9th, 2008. Bow has been diagnosed with intestinal lymphoma. His spleen has also grown in just the last 3 weeks. His pred has been upped and we are instructed now all we can do is keep him comfortable. He is happy and such a very nice natured fellow. Hopefully the meds will keep him comfortable for a while to come. But the good news is the mass in the stomach is gone. Vet is perplexed but perhaps it was a blockage that has moved through.

Bow had another setback while jumping from the seat of the sofa at the beginning of December. His back hock broke and we opted to amputate his leg. He is doing great.

Bow developed a tumour around his wee hole and it had to be amputated and reconstructed. The surgery site has mended very well.

April 6th, 2009:  Bow isn't doing very well anymore.  He was in quite a bit of discomfort the other day due to severe acid reflux. The pred has given him ulcers which we are treating but he just had a bad day that day. If it happens again, we have decided that we will help him on his way. His stomach tumour has grown quite a lot and two of his lymphomas in the intestines have also grown. 

Sadly Bow had to be PTS the end of April. He will never be forgotten. I am so glad such a wonderful old man graced my life. Thank you to everyone who helped out with his treatment and loved him. RIP Bow.