Friends of Ferret Shelters: PRIZE #6 - 25-FOOT HEAVY DUTY PLAY TUBE!

This item was so hugely popular in our last raffle, we decided to offer it again! If you haven't seen the super heavy-duty play tubes offered exclusively by Robin Hochgertel, you're missing one of the best ferret toys found anywhere! This 25-foot tube will keep your ferrets happy and exercised long after other tubes have cracked apart. Robin operates the FerretsFirst rescue and shelter in Annandale, Virginia, and sales of these tubes help to support her shelter. Tube purchased and donated to the raffle by Lisa Oestereich.

ABOUT THE SHELTER

Think of a shelter operator who's always ready to pitch in with the critical rescues, and that's Cathy Tarzia. In June 2009,

she participated in the Parma, Ohio rescue in June of 2009. She received 10 of the 14 surviving ferrets taken from a horrendous hoarding situation. The ferrets were a mess and all of them needed medical care -- some very urgently. Her vet bills from that rescue alone were over $4,000.00.

Most recently, Cathy took 23 ferrets from Michigan, after a sanctuary closed and left 82 ferrets needing immediate new lodgings. Nineteen of the 23 are adrenal, and some have other medical issues as well. Cathy just ordered 10 Deslorelin implants at $1,000, and still needs eight more.

Today, Furetti Ferrets of Amherst, Ohio has 46 ferrets in its care. Most of them ferrets are special needs ferrets. As an RN,
Cathy well understands their day-to-day needs - and their long-term prognoses.

"I work full time," Cathy says. "At least once a week I work overtime to support shelter needs. I don't have time to do
fundraisers and some of the other things other shelters do to raise money - it's always been easier just to work the overtime. I also spend a lot of time maintaining the shelter."

The shelter has no volunteers. Cathy cares for the ferrets by herself, and her daughter helps out when Cathy has to travel out of town.

"Our focus is the sick and older ferret, but we take in any ferret in need of a home regardless of health or age," Cathy says.

"Our main challenge is cost of vet care, most all of our ferrets are sick and or older and have multiple care needs. We are

always in need of veterinary assistance, and we pay our vet bill as we go."

IN LOVING MEMORY OF ERNIE

"In 2008 adopted my first ferret, Ernie. Ernie was 2 ½ yrs old and had been living in a small cage sitting in a sunny window.

"His previous owners had no ferret experience. He had been bought for a Christmas present. Ernie ate cat food, had no toys and rarely got to play outside his cage. When I walked past his cage he reached out and grabbed my shirt begging for attention.

"When I took him out of his cage, Ernie tried to rip the socks off my feet, he ran all over the room chuckling and playing with everything he came across. Ernie stole my heart. I couldn't bear to put him back in his 2' x 3' cage so to his forever home he
went.

"Unfortunately it was only for a few months; it turned out that Ernie was already sick when he came home with me. When I took Ernie to the doctors for a vet check because he was itching himself to death it was discovered that his PCV was 17.

"Who would have thought that having only one ferret would be a problem? I didn't have a blood donor for Ernie. Finding a blood donor was exhausting. Ferret owners were leery of donating their beloved ferrets for a transfusion. I called everywhere begging for a donor.

"Finally when I had almost lost hope, I was put in touch with the previous Furetti owner who without a second's thought immediately produced three healthy ferrets to choose from for Ernie's transfusion. Ernie recieved multiple transfusions and we took a chance on surgery. Ernie spent several weeks in and out of ICU. When all options for saving his life had been exhausted Ernie came home to rest for the last time; he went to the bridge Sept 6, 2008.

"Furetti Ferrets was established in 2000 by a group of ferret enthusiasts in Denver Colorado. I started volunteering for Furetti Ferrets in Sept 2009 after Ernie went to the bridge. In 2009 I moved Furetti Ferrets to Amherst Ohio where we currently reside."

***IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT THE RAFFLE****

***EXTENDED!!! Entries in our raffle for FURETTI FERRETS are due by 9 p.m. EST on Friday, Jan. 22, 2010. Winners will be notified by email or telephone.

***IMPORTANT!!!!!*** Due primarily to the online gaming ban enacted by Congress, we are no longer able to accept donations via PayPal. PayPal does not have the resources to identify and enforce charitable online raffle laws, which vary widely between all U.S. states and counties.

It is very unfortunate that this online gaming ban is having such a significant and unwarranted impact on charitable fundraisers. Please contact your state and federal legislators if you would like more information about this ban, and to let your voice be heard!

You can still enter by check! Send your check, payable to Cathy Tarzia, to this address:

Cathy Tarzia, Furetti Ferrets
915 W Martin Ave.
Amherst, Ohio 44001

Don't forget to include your name, email address AND a snailmail address. A phone number is helpful, too. Let us know which items you want tickets for. If you win a prize, your item will be shipped as soon as the check has cleared.

Ticket prices are $2 for one, $5 for three tickets and $10 for six tickets. You can place your tickets on one item or on any combination of items you want.

Your money goes directly to the needy shelter and can be used immediately for food, medicines and veterinary care, supplies and other shelter operating costs.

Questions? Email us at friendsofferretshelters@yahoo.com and we'll be glad to help!

Thank you and good luck!

Friends of Ferret Shelters

PRIZE #6 - 25-FOOT HEAVY DUTY PLAY TUBE!

FURETTI FERRETS

MEET DOLLY

ABOUT THE SHELTER

IN LOVING MEMORY OF ERNIE

*IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT THE RAFFLE**

YOU MUST BE 18 OR OVER

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT UPCOMING RAFFLES?

ABOUT US

Friends of Ferret Shelters

PRIZE #6 - 25-FOOT HEAVY DUTY PLAY TUBE!

FURETTI FERRETS

MEET DOLLY

ABOUT THE SHELTER

IN LOVING MEMORY OF ERNIE

***IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT THE RAFFLE****

** YOU MUST BE 18 OR OVER **

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT UPCOMING RAFFLES?

ABOUT US

*IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT THE RAFFLE**

YOU MUST BE 18 OR OVER