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In
this 2003 photo, Debbie Sadowski of Phillipsburg and a
rescued ferrets in her home. |
Monday, November 16, 2009
By SARAH M. WOJCIK
The
Express-Times
lehighvalleylive.com
PHILLIPSBURG | For nearly six years, Debra and Keith Sadowski have
been trying to maintain their ferret rescue operation in town, but
a New Jersey Superior Court ruling threatens to undo all their efforts.
Debra Sadowski is owner of Furry Loving Ferret Rescue, which she
runs out of her Irwin Street home.
Attempts to establish the operation as a home-based business failed
before the Phillipsburg Zoning Board in 2003 and again in 2006. A Nov. 4 ruling in Superior Court in Somerset County upheld the
board's decisions because Sadowski failed to make any profit from
her business, according to her attorney, William Strazza.
Strazza said the judge noted that if the ferret rescue had nonprofit
certification, a home-based occupation would be possible. Sadowski
said the fees to apply for such status have been an obstacle especially
since she was laid off in January. A Nov. 4 ruling in Superior Court in Somerset County upheld the
board's decisions because Sadowski failed to make any profit from
her business, according to her
profit from
her business, according to her
attorney, William Strazza.
Strazza said the judge noted that if the ferret rescue had nonprofit
certification, a home-based occupation would be possible. Sadowski
said the fees to apply for such status have been an obstacle especially
since she was laid off in January.
Sadowski, distressed over what to do next, said she cannot afford
to appeal the ruling without financial help.
The Phillipsburg resident has about one month to decide whether
she will appeal the decision or surrender her animals.
"I'm tired of fighting, but I don't like being backed into a corner," Sadowski
said.
Though she is willing to shutter the rescue operation, adopting
out whatever ferrets she can, Sadowski refuses to give up the dozens
she considers her pets.
Pursuing her purpose
On the second floor of the Sadowskis' Phillipsburg home, the ferrets,
who she calls "the kids," reign supreme. Close to 70 ferrets occupy
two rooms, about 300 square feet of space, which Sadowski said are
cleaned daily.
Furry Loving Ferret Rescue began in 1998, moving over the years
from Washington to Independence Township and in April 2003 to Phillipsburg.
Unfortunately, Sadowski said, running a rescue means many of the
critters are victims of neglect with medical ailments -- making them
unattractive for adoptions. Sadowski said this means she considers
about 45 of the ferrets to be permanent residents in her home.
Some are healthy, she said, but others aren't so lucky. Take Chinook,
for example. The 5-year-old albino male suffers from insulinoma and
requires constant monitoring and frequent shots, Sadowski said.
The healthy ones are adopted out for a fee to cover expenses, but
Sadowski said she meticulously screens applicants for adoption, requiring
written permission from landlords, vet referrals and a home visit.
"That's my main goal," she said. "To make sure they have a permanent,
loving home."
Sadowski called the operation part of her life's vocation.
Without a profit, rescue not eligible business
Strazza said his client has met the requirements for a home-based
business, though it was determined the rescue generated no financial
gain.
"There is no question that they are not doing it for profit," Strazza
said.
However, to say that the operation produced no gain whatsoever
is untrue, he said.
Strazza said he argued that the "emotional gain or spiritual gain" the
Sadowskis obtain by running the rescue makes it a worthy enterprise.
When the rescue was unanimously denied as a home occupation in
May 2006, town zoners said they did not see how the rescue benefited
Phillipsburg.
Attempts to contact zoning officer John Fritts for comment were
unsuccessful.
Phillipsburg officials confirmed that the only animal restrictions
in town address cats and dogs. Nothing on the books addresses ferrets.
Strazza, who has represented his client since 2004, said the odor
complaint by neighbors William and Diane Masters in 2003 was an isolated
incident.
"I think it's noteworthy that there has never, in all the time
that I've represented (Sadowski), there has never been another complaint," Strazza
said.
Calls to the Warren County Health Department to inquire about any
complaints since 2003 were not immediately returned.
Reporter Sarah M. Wojcik can be reached at 610-258-7171, ext. 3631,
or by e-mail at
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