Rocky's Ferret Rescue And
Shelter holds an annual fundraising event to benefit the shelter and its
ferrets.
Posted: July 21, 2008
SmallAnimalChannel.com
© Courtesy of Kevin Farlee
This 130-acre Maryland farm is home
to Rocky's Ferret Rescue And Shelter.
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In June, about 100 ferret enthusiasts from across
the United States arrived at Rocky’s
Ferret Rescue And Shelter in Maryland to celebrate Ferretstock
2008. This annual fundraising event for the shelter takes place at
the 130-acre farm and can last for a weekend. It began in 1998 as a
simple social gathering. Barb Clay, director of shelter affairs, said it
was exciting to greet guests one by one, see old friends and meet new
ones. “We were honored to have representation from the president
of Ferrets Anonymous and CDFEA, April from Totally Ferret, and about
12 shelter operators.”
Fun With Fundraising
Event activities included music played by DJ and emcee Bob Adams, raffles,
great food to eat and a bonfire. After 11 p.m., a pole dancing contest
for adults began. “This is a fun event with a representative
or the shelter operator taking to the pole next to the DJ and dancing,” Clay
said. “While dancing, the audience is encouraged to make donations
to that shelter. How they place that donation is the silliness and
fun of the event!”
Guests at Ferretstock are invited to tour the
shelter, which is located in two dedicated buildings – one for
quarantine of newly arrived ferrets until they pass a health screening
and the other for the general shelter population. “The true stars
of the event are the ferrets that reside at Rocky’s awaiting
their opportunity to go to a forever home,” Clay said. After
a stop at a parvocide station for clean up, guests can meet and interact
with the ferrets. “Rocky’s volunteers are manning the station,
as well as both buildings to supervise and answer any questions about
the ferrets,” Clay said.
People’s personal ferrets aren’t permitted
at Ferretstock so that the shelter’s ferrets are protected from
diseases like ADV. It’s truly an event for the shelter’s
ferrets.
© Courtesy of Kevin Farlee
After Ferretstock, people gather at the Great
Gunpowder River to relax. |
Memorable Moments
Excessive heat was one factor that made this year’s Ferretstock
memorable. “To comfort our guests we set up a wading pool, as
well as a misting station,” Clay said. “It wasn’t
long into the day before all concerns about appearance were forgotten,
and comfort and cooling were the focus.”
Perhaps the best moment for Clay at this year’s
event was the announcement that 15 ferrets had been adopted. “Everyone
just stopped what they were doing and erupted in cheering and applause,” she
said. “All adopters had previously submitted applications and
had been pre-screened. It was just a matter of those people coming
into Rocky’s and seeing if they connected with any ferrets.”
This year’s Ferretstock was a success. “We
measure the success of Ferretstock with first the guests’ enjoyment
and the adoptions,” Clay said. “The financial success was
truly appreciated when we were able to pay off a substantial outstanding
vet bill and those credit cards that supported the operation of Rocky’s.
That debt was nearly $5,000!” Of course, the bills continue to
come in, but Clay appreciates the temporary respite.
So what happens after a weekend of ferret fun? “The
day after Ferretstock, all of us go to the back of the 130-acre farm
and relax and enjoy the Great Gunpowder River,” Clay said. “The
river trip is now a tradition, and a relaxing way to spend the day
after such a high-energy event as Ferretstock.”
Plans for next year’s Ferretstock will be
under way soon, but the fall event, Oktoberfest,
is already set. It will take place on October 18, 2008.
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