Operation BABYSAVE
 August 1994

When  the South Florida Ferret Club and Rescue exhibited at a South Florida Pet Show, our club/shelter President, Angela Espinet, came across a vendor selling ferrets.

It was obvious from their condition that the ferrets were not well cared for and arrangements were made to visit the non-air-conditioned (in August - in South Florida!) warehouse where the ferrets were kept.

We were horrified to find 100 baby ferrets that were imported from England and kept in two 3' by 5' galvanized horse watering troughs filled with pine shavings.

The ferrets were fed occasionally by throwing dog food into the trough and they were hosed down once or twice a day to cool them off. Gloves had to be worn to handle the ferrets because they were used to fighting for their little lives.

Arrangements were made with authorities for our shelter to seize the ferrets. Only 78 survived long enough to be taken away by our club members.
 

This is a size comparison of two ferrets of the same age and sex. On the left is one of our healthy ferrets, while one of the Operation Babysave ferrets is on the right. Angela is seen on the right holding the Babysave ferret.

This is another photo of the poor condition of the rescued ferrets.  90% of the Operation Babysave ferrets  were albino.