By Jennifer
Jiggetts
 |
| One of ferrets being housed at the Virginia Beach SPCA, which usually
doesn't accept ferrets but made an exception due to the magnitude
of the crisis. (L. Todd Spencer | The Virginian-Pilot) |
The
Virginian-Pilot
January 30, 2008
(Click Here to view news video)
VIRGINIA BEACH
Authorities removed about 200 animals - nearly half of them dead
in freezers - from a home in the 200 block of N. Lynnhaven Road early
Tuesday, police said.
Animal Control agents, responding to a complaint of ferrets living
in poor conditions, found more than 100 ferrets, a dog, a bird and
three cats "living in deplorable, unsanitary and crowded conditions," according
to Margie Long, a police spokeswoman.
Most of the animals were suffering from dehydration and malnutrition,
she added.
Carcasses of a rat, cat, otter and 89 ferrets were found in freezers
in the home and garage, according to Long.
She said 61 of the rescued ferrets had to be euthanized because
of their poor health, more than 15 are in Animal Control custody,
and about 23 with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The animals will be held pending a court hearing.
There is no limit to the number of ferrets someone can own in Virginia
Beach, but they have to be properly maintained, Long said.
The homeowners could not be reached for an interview. A man who
came to the door angrily repeated, "Go away!"
Pinewood Garden residents were shocked at the number of animals
removed.
Bob McCrea, 77, lives across the street. He said he knew of just
two ferrets.
"They tell me there's 90 dead in there, but I can't believe it," he
said as he stood in his yard and watched news crews near his house. "It's
unbelievable."
William Ellett lives several houses down from the residence. Ellett,
who has lived in Pinewood Garden for almost 40 years, said Animal
Control has been called to the home before.
"Before she built her barn, she had some other shed, and the urine
smell was horrible," said Ellett. "We couldn't keep our windows open."
Teresa Lamarche, community outreach director for the Virginia Beach
SPCA, said ferret breeding can quickly get out of hand.
"People don't understand what's required to care for them."
Lamarche said the SPCA normally doesn't take in ferrets because
they should be left in the wild but called this case an exception.
Jennifer Jiggetts, (757) 222-5104,
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