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Homes for ferrets needed as rescue centre shuts |
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Tuesday, 11 March 2008 |
------------- Shelter News
------------- Written by: Joe Shute
Homes for ferrets needed as rescue centre shuts
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March 11, 2008
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Having to move out: Carol Pope, who is looking for foster homes
for her ferrets |
Evening Courier
By
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Location: Halifax
A WOMAN who has run a ferret
rescue centre from her home for the last decade is moving out.
Carol Pope is now seeking foster
homes for the animals as she prepares to close down the Oasis Ferret
Rescue Sanctuary at Cragg Vale.
Carol, 62, is losing her home at Bent Close Farm, Coppy Nook Lane, where
she has lived for four years along with her cat, three dogs and 22 prize-winning
ferrets.
"I have to move out of here on April 1 and my choices are a six-man tent, my
portable shed 'the ferret hotel', or a flat – but there isn't a chance
I can get all my ferrets in there.
"I am going to have to shut the sanctuary down and find foster homes for them.
They are my passion and I am absolutely gutted."
After saving Polly the ferret in 1996, Carol started the Oasis sanctuary
in a two-bedroom house in Mytholmroyd and has established a reputation for
her work.
More than a thousand have passed through Carol's hands and, at its peak,
she had 97 ferrets in her care.
Carol also races ferrets in charity fund-raisers across the country and has
won first prize at several agricultura
l shows, including Todmorden.
Following the death of her son Paul Dutton, a Gulf War veteran who was killed
in a fight in Chester five years ago, Carol's passion for her ferrets has
increased.
"He wasn't the sort of lad who would have wanted me to sob in front of the fire," she
said, "and the animals have got me through the pain of his death."
Carol is looking for foster homes for her ferrets but plans on keeping 15
of the most needy ones.
Landlords Roger and Elva Wood, of Bank Top Farm, Cragg Vale, said: "We are
not allowed to discuss any of our tenants."
Pennine Housing 2000 says it has classed Carol as a priority case but can
only offer her a flat as they do not consider animals.
Executive director Amanda Garrard said: "We are happy to rehouse her but
unfortunately won't be able to accommodate the ferrets.
"We wish her all the very best in finding a new home." |
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