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CooCoo, AKA Big Mike, Jack & Zoey
• Surrendered to the Shelter on November 22, 2014. |
April 7, 2021:
OFD left a message, I don't know what time he called, I just found the message. It's not looking good for Mike. He has Lymphscarcoma throughout his body. I just got off the phone with OFD - we are going to let Mike go, OFD was unaware Mike was already on Pred. He said the Pred he's been on has slowed the growth of the masses. if he's this full of masses he is only going to go down hill quickly.
April 4, 2021:
Mikey - Donna and I got a picture, not a great one, of the mass on his neck, It seems to be getting bigger each day. I'll be putting a call into Doc this week. I'll try catching up with him tomorrow.
April 2, 2021:
I found a mass the size of a hazelnut on Mike this morning, left side just under his jaw on his throat. I'm going to have to get him into see OFD.
March 26, 2020:
Jack is gone.
March 17, 2020:
Jack is doing much better today as well, I even let him have the playroom with Mike this morning. Since Sophia doesn't need the sick pen I put him back in there, he ate both his midmorning and evening soup
March 16, 2020:
Jack has pretty much stopped eating, he didn't want his soup this morning, however I left it in the pen for him he finally ate it in two sittings. I wanted out of the pen so I put him in the cage with Mike because I needed to strip the pen and can't do it with him in there. Jack ate all his evening soup, he is still in the cage with Mike because when I got Sophia up for second shift I found her in a full blown crash. She was unresponsive, her little body jerking, glassy eyes. I gave her a Dex shot at 11 she was finally responsive at 3. I fed her a dish of soup then took her to a smaller play area. She couldn't walk, each time she fell over she flopped like a fish out of water. I took her to the sick pen, she was in worse shape than Jack.
March 12, 2020:
I put Jack in the sick pen he's not doing well, he's lost a lot of weight. He is eating his soup when I give it to him, I found him with his face in the kibble dish. I'll keep him clean and comfortable.
I've backed off the acidophilus for Jack, his poo is back to being yellow jelly. I'll see what happens after a few days without it.
December 7, 2019:
Jack - is not eating all his soup, he is leaving icky watery poo, he feels like he's lost weight. Something more is going on with him. The Albon helped while he was on it, 24 hrs after he was done he started leaving icky poo again.
September 7, 2019:
Jack and Mike, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them. Jack can't seem to get out of the way of his own poo once he leaves it. He has been getting up on the shelf but he is also pooing up there so the shelf is coming out today.
July 19, 2019:
Jack got his spinal x-rays, there are no signs of tumor or growth on Jacks spine. OFD says it looks like there is a calcified disk in the lower spine. Jack is not in pain, there's nothing more we can do to change his disability. He gets around, gets where he wants to go, we will except what mobility he has.
August 20, 2019:
Today was moving day for 4 fur kids, Razzle went to the cage that Jack and Mike were in on the south wall, Bandit went to the bottom cage that Razzle was in, Jack and Mike took the cage Bandit was in. Jack is struggling, I have put both Jack and Mike on soup so they are now on the sick bank.
March 6, 2019:
I also gave Mike and cooper a lupron shot, Mike's fur was looking a bit thin and Cooper is not peeing enough for my comfort. I've attached a picture of Mike, he was inspecting the poo pans to be sure I got them clean enough. That's what I get for turning my back on him.
June 3, 2018:
While I was doing meds the other day, I had Jack and Mike out and about they had the run of the playroom and ferret room while I worked my way between the rooms serving soup. I came back into the ferret room and found Mike had gotten up on the work station, he was helping himself to soup. Never a dull moment in this house
June 3, 2018:
Mary Ellen had her 4 far away fur kids vaccinated yesterday. Jack being one of them, when Marcia was here last week she noticed he was walking funny, Donna noticed it on Friday. Doc says his hip is displaced, slightly out of the socket. OFD said no need to do anything at this time. I bet he did it when he jumped into the play pen.
June 25, 2017:
Jack kept jumping into the playpen, I discovered he was climbing the front of the cage and getting in there. Tina and I got the cage door covered so he can no longer climb it. I got some pictures of him trying to yesterday while Tina and I were cleaning cages. I wanted to be around to be sure he could no longer get into the playpen.
June 16, 2017:
Good Morning cyber friends and shelter supporters. I heard Mum groan, and say "what are you doing up there"? I ran to see what was going on. This news reporting is hard work sometimes; catching up with happenings when they are happening! Phew!
That Jack is always getting into trouble, if he is not climbing up on things he is jumping into the playpen to harass the fur kid that is in there! Here is a picture of what Mum was seeing when I heard her say "what are you doing up there?"
Gotta bounce
Lance
April 5, 2017:
I have been finding more than just Mike in the playpen with others lately, they discovered they could go to the top sleep box push through the coroplast and get down the back of the cage, then into the playpen. I found Odessa in the pen with the long island kids. I stopped what I was doing to fix the problem yesterday morning.
I had wanted a second set of hands to do it but could not wait any longer to get it secured. I pulled Jax and Penelope out of their cage because I needed to work inside it and on top of it to accomplish this task. I wish you could have seen Jack yesterday after I let him loose.
As I've told you before I let Mike and Jack run 3 of the rooms while I am cleaning cages, Jack usually finds his way into the playpen within minutes. He and Jack were running full speed through the rooms when I heard Mike run up the tube, I kept an eye on what was going on up there all of a sudden Jack looks over the edge at me as if to say what did you do with my escape hatch? try as he might he was unable to get through the area he had been. However I found Mario in the pen this morning. I was confident when I left M & M in the playroom last night they would not be able to get into the playpen. I was wrong!
I will inspect it this morning when I go back down to clean cages.
February 25, 2017:
Jack and Mike, have settled enough that they can be in the library, now they have 3 rooms they can hang in.
November 9, 2016:
I got two pictures of Jack and Mike sharing soup.
October 17, 2016:
Jack and Mike are rambunctious in their cage so the bigger one may give them a big more moving room to be happier.
July 14, 2016:
Because me and Mike are always getting into trouble, getting out of the rooms Mum puts us in; there are only two rooms Mum knows we are safe.
Bathroom and Window end of the dining room. She has been letting us hang with her while she is cleaning cages, that is when she takes barriers down and is able to walk from room to room until she is done cleaning. That means we get 3 rooms to run in and out of for the time it takes Mum to do her work. This morning Mum was cleaning cages she had us in the rooms with her, I decided I wanted to see what she was doing and why. Mum grabbed the camera and caught me in the act. Mike is standing down on the floor watching to see if I make it and if he should try. I did make it but Mike chickened out and went about his business.
Once Mum got our picture she took us over to the window end of the dining room so she could get her work done without chasing us to keep us out of trouble.
June 12, 2016:
I have been letting Jack and Mike hang with me when I am doing meds, it seems to help them spend some of that energy they have. I had them out and about with me on Thursday this is what I found them doing. They stayed put long enough for me to get pictures of their antics.
March 10, 2016:
Mike and Jack: I was feeling bad they were stuck in that back room all the time so I gave them my space, they got into all kinds of trouble, I took them back to their cage for the night. This morning I let them out to get some run, the only place I had for the time being was the library. It took less than 10 min for Mike to jump the barrier. I got meds done, kids placed throughout. I needed the library I went looking for Jack I could not find him. He was behind the fence AGAIN. He got put away.
February 1, 2016:
I was not thinking straight, after my morning coffee I went back down to clean cages and discovered blankets on the floor in front of some cages, telling me that Mike had gotten over the barrier in spite of me and was on top of the cages again. He was on one of the highest cages so even standing on the top step of the step stool I could not reach him, he was not interested in the ferretone I was trying to entice him with.
It took me a few minutes to get him down, he was put back in the cage. (when these kids misbehave I can legally lock them up) I went into the library to get Jack, I could not find him! I looked for warm spots in all the sleep places he could be no jack...I went in to clean some cages it was getting late, I needed to settle the shelter before I left for work. Once I got the cages done I went back to looking for Jack. I found him behind the-gate I put up to keep the ferrets from climbing the shelves. I had to dismantle the gate to get him out of the corner he had gotten himself in. I put him back in his cage with Mike.
December 30, 2015:
We are so blessed to have so many helpen Mum take care of us. Thanks so much for helpen Mum make our Christmas at the shelter special...We hope you had a wonderful Christmas too. - Big Mike and Jack
December 26, 2015:
Big Mike got into the ferret room.
November 1, 2015:
I found Jack behind the gate again, there is not containing that boy. They were on the porch most of the day because that seems to be the only place I can keep him out of trouble.
October 25, 2015:
I lost Big Mike and Venus for a while, got Leo and Slinky mixed up and in the wrong cages...I remembered I had been doing kitchen stuff this morning so I checked the cupboard sure enough Big Mike was sleeping in the colander, I found Venus in a room that I did not expect her to be in so that is how I got Leo and Slinky mixed up. I thought they were in a different room… changing tags on cages this morning was not being done consistently.
October 24, 2015:
Jack spent the night behind the gate I put up to keep them off the shelves. I had to dismantle it to get him out.
October 2, 2015:
I left Jack and Mike in the living room with the gate locked. That way I would not loose Jack or so I thought. When I got home I heard him but I could not find him. I must have looked for 5/6 min. I kicked Mike out so I could hear only Jack scratching. I found him he had gotten into the foot locker I use to store my clothes. He got in but could not get out.
September 14, 2015:
It is cool enough to use the porch so Jack and Mike are out there. I had them in the library before I left for work, Jack kept jumping out so I put him in his cage until I got home from work.
August 17, 2015:
Jack spent a fair amount of time pouting in the library this morning, it seems the pen did the trick and he could not get up to the higher elevations or over the kitchen barrier.
August 16, 2015:
I spent a lot of time this morning trying to figure out how I was going to keep Jack contained and off the shelves. After looking at alternatives, trying to decide how I was going to put doors on the shelves I decided I was making things far too complicated. What I did, accomplished 2 things, it got the sick pen dismantled and removed from the living room, and the area Jack is climbing covered. We had a bed in that corner for them to sleep in but they rarely used it so now that is one less place I have to look for them.
August 14, 2015:
You know how I keep telling you what a challenge Jack is.. here is proof. I took Jack and Mike off the porch and left them in the kitchen for a bit. I feel bad that they have so few places they can play in. I had the barrier up at the top of the stairs to keep them from trashing my space. I was in the ferret room cleaning cages when I heard a kerplunk in the library...Jack had gotten out of the kitchen and this is where I found him. attached are 2 pictures. That boy is going to drive me to drink!
August 9, 2015:
I had to lock Jack and Mike up because Jack will not stay put in the library. That is the only place I have been able to keep him when we can't use the porch. It is 83 on the porch so I put them away until I get home. He can't be trusted to stay where I put him.
July 25, 2015:
All cages tagged get Moxy even if their poo looks better, they need Moxy for 10 days. Once they are done, I mix the bowls of soup for the kids that need Pred and Moxy but are well enough now that they are eating their full bowl of soup. Then I move on to the ferrets that are on Pred. Once I have meds done I start fluids.
July 20, 2015:
AM: I found Zoey crashed and lying in black, sticky poo this morning, a bath first to clean her up, Carafate to coat the tummy that is bleeding and a shot of Dex. Time will tell if I get her back.
PM: Zoey is gone, she did not bounce back with the Dex.
July 11, 2015:
Icky, sticky poo in Jack's cage so Big Mike is sick now too.
July 11, 2015:
Jack here popping in to say hi and give you an update on the goings on at the shelter. Daisy and Wilson said I could be the guest news reporter today. Mum is back to work on her Big Yellow Thingy for the summer...it is not as intense as the school year. She does a summer run because we refuse to stop eating for the summer. I was playing in the rice box when Mum asked me to help out with this report.
We have many campers coming and going, the military kids Mom got home from Afghanistan this week so they have gone home, they were picked up yesterday. A and O are back until September, Foster kids are coming in today, Becker's in a couple of weeks. Mum loves it when fur kids come to camp for a vacation while their families go away.
I am one of the troublesome fur kids, I get into things I have no business getting into, so our business is confined to a few rooms Mum knows I can't get out of.. I like to jump barriers and beat up on the fur kids in the room I jump to. Mum says that is not nice so she keeps a very close eye on me. My sissy Zoey and brother Big Mike stay out of trouble.
I guess that’s all there is to tell this morning, we hope you have a fun and safe weekend.
Jack - guest reporter
June 18, 2015:
we are using the porch. I got out there to clean it up before I put Jack and crew out there. I was going to do it last night but just did not have it in me, so I got it done this morning. It won't look it when I take Jack and crew off but it is what it is with Jack.
It got really warm today so the porch was shut down at 10.. Jack did indeed rearrange the papers I had cleaned up and put out for them.
June 10, 2015:
It's Cool enough to use the porch. Good thing because that seems to be the only place I can put Jack to keep him out of trouble. I gave them the play room yesterday after the porch I found him in the playpen with Miku and Kiwi. They must have put him in his place because he looked up at me like get me out of here!
May 4, 2015:
I found Oryx in the library when Big Mike found her and started beating her up.. she got put away and so did Big Mike and his crew.
March 28, 2015:
Another picture I took after I put another pen segment up, Max figured out he could also get over the barrier between the two rooms just like Jack. I think this will take care of that problem but only time will tell.
March 15, 2015:
Man I was up here cleaning up more emails when I heard screaming down stairs. I thought Max had gotten over the barrier into the library to beat up on Fred and George. Nope it was Jack that had gotten into the kitchen side of the dining room. I have yet to figure out how that is happening. This is not the first time someone has gotten to the other side of the barrier.
There was a major fight going on. I got Jack and Slinky (camper) separated trying to decide who I had in my hands. Thank goodness for room tags. Once I determined who I had taken out of the wrong room I set him down with his cage mates. He was not moving. He was traumatized and in shock. I took him to the ferret room to give him a Dex shot. Went back to the room he and the cage mates were in, to sit holding him.
I hear more screeching; I go look back in the room the campers are in.. at this point I am not sure if it is Jack or Slinky that is in shock. Liberty will not let the other ferret into the tent with her. So I put Spencer back in his cage, put - I think - Jack in the play pen alone until I can figure out who is who. I am pretty sure it is Jack because his ID tag said he was 2+ pounds when he came in and Slinky is not and never has been that big. So until I figure out who is who I am down by one room so I can keep this kid separated, it will allow me to watch that he comes out of his shock.
Well I was wrong it was Slinky that was in shock, it took me a couple of hours to figure that out. I switched them again and Jack found a slipper and hid it.. Jack loves slippers so I knew I had identified them incorrectly, I was still not convinced but they are all in their cages and no one is fighting so I think I have them straight...I hope - I checked cages before I shut the shelter down and the boys were sleeping with their cage mate so I have them sorted out.
March 20, 2015:
I got the upstairs bathroom cleaned before I went down to do cages this morning. I gated it so the fur kids could not trash it.. HA! Jack jumped the gate got into the bathroom and trashed it. UGH that boy is going to drive me to drink!
I got 3 of the 4 horizontal cages stripped and put back together. Jack's cage now has a food sack in it. I swept out at least 2 cups of food they had scattered over the cage floor, it seems the sacks are doing the trick in the other cages I have put them in. Tomorrow will tell if it works in Jack's cage.. I am not going to hold my breath with that boy in the cage.
March 18, 2015:
I discovered how Jack is getting from kitchen side dining area to window side dining area, he is getting on top of the bean box, reaching up to the top of the barrier and crawling over. What I do not know is how he got from the window side to the kitchen side, before I plunked the rest of the business to that side.
I had them on the window side first, the kitchen side was still empty because I was trying to decide who I could put on that side that would fight back if need be- when I went to the kitchen I heard someone in the bean box. Knowing I had not filled that spot yet I looked over to see who was there JACK! The little snot got to that side. That entire room is off limits to that group. I moved them to the playroom.
March 5, 2014:
I found Zoey she was up in the higher sleep box, Sandy and Rizzo were in the lower sleep box so at some point where Zoey was she came out, because I had looked up there twice for her before giving up and coming up to go to bed.
February 25, 2014:
I had a "what were you thinking kind of day" today. I left the business of 3 - Big Mike, Jack and Zoey in the kitchen when I went to work this morning. One of them; my guess Jack was able to open the box that stores my food processor. It is in the original box with the foam storage. I had it sitting on the floor because I was going to use it today. There was foam pieces in every corner of the kitchen, all 3 ferrets were covered in the stuff. Fortunately they had not gotten to the sharp parts that are stored in that foam. I got that picked up, the kitchen cleaned up and then had to wet down the ferrets with my hand so I could get all the foam clinging to them off.
I then put the 3 in the living room behind the gate, this is where "what was I thinking" comes into play. Daisy and I spent time in the kitchen doing dishes and getting the BBQ sauce made.
I came upstairs to find Jack literally with his head stuck in the hp printer trying to get to the other side. I grabbed his butt scaring him so he turned around and bit me so hard that my right hand is not only punctured it is bruised and swollen. Once I got him out of the printer and off the desk only to discover he had toppled over my water and coffee. All the papers on the desk were soaked. I got lucky none of the wet hit the computer, key board, TV remote or Kindle. So I had that mess to clean up. Needless to say they got put to bed early I had had all I was going to take from that crew.
January 25, 2014:
Mum got the camera out this morning here are some pictures of the fur kids enjoying the bed Miss Ili got us for Christmas and playing on the couch with Mum.
January 11, 2014:
The newest threesome enjoying the new bed Miss Ili got us for Christmas.
January 06, 2015:
I tossed a lot of large blankets, large spreads, mattress pads and such behind the big cage in the play room. That cage is on the outside wall and it is cold. The top is not as cold as the bottom and after trying to sleep this morning being cold I decided I needed to something more to help make it warmer for the fur kids in that cage.
Filling that space between the cage and the wall in the playroom made a huge difference in the cage and the room. I even added a couple more blankets this morning when I was working in there. When I was in there this afternoon I found all 3 of the ferrets in the hammock on top of the blanket. Before I filled the space they were sleeping on the shelf in a big sack with blanket. It is very much improved.
November 23, 2014:
We had our first accident with a new kid… Coocoo (I think that is going to change) went to the top of the cage into one of the sleep boxes but instead of coming down the tube he came over the edge. I am still not sure he did not do internal damage. He was pretty stunned, and glassy eyed. After checking him for broken bones I moved them all into the bathroom. Coocoo is the exception to the rule, "ferrets take the path of least resistance", he climbed over the edge instead of taking the easy way down the tube.
This is all speculation on my part because I was in the ferret room doing meds when I heard the thump. Where he was at and how he was acting I put 2 and 2 together.
I am going to have to watch him closely, last I checked he was moving around and hanging out with Jack. He and his crew will not be getting any rooms that allow them to climb up past my knees.
Initial Contact, owners Mom, Tuesday, November 11, 2014:
Hello.
My daughter's living situation is changing as of November 30th and she cannot keep her 3 ferrets. She has two boys and a girl, ages 4, 2, and 1 (not sure which is which ) all fixed and litter trained, and she has been trying to find a good safe home for them with no luck. Could your shelter take them or assist with placement? What are your fees for helping us?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue
Shelter response:
We have an opening at this time, where are you located? This link will explain all that is required to surrender your ferrets to us http://www.ferretfarm.org/PrivateSurrender.html . The ferrets must be current on vaccines with documentation.
New York State requires ferrets to be vaccinated with the rabies vaccine yearly, a more important vaccine is distemper. The distemper shots that are given to the ferrets before leaving the breeder are null and void as the FDA label states this vaccine does not work on kits under 8 weeks of age. The kits being moved from the breeder to the stores are 6 weeks when shipped.
Our web link includes ferret knowledgeable veterinarians available to get this done if you do not have a veterinarian of your own. http://www.ferretfarm.org/QandA.html#vets
Current means 8 months or longer before the ferrets need to be vaccinated again. As the web site states everything that belongs to the ferrets comes with them up to and including the cage.
We do not separate cage mates so it is imperative that if you decide you are surrendering your ferrets to this facility you keep us informed so we keep an appropriate opening for you. We work on a first come first serve basis.
The shelter directors work schedule varies on a day to day basis so we need to determine a time that fits both yours and her schedule.
Surrenders generally take 45 min to a hour to complete.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Owner’s Mom’s response:
Thank you Brenda for responding so quickly. My daughter lives in Hilton. I am sending her your email and instructions and hopefully we can get back to you by early next week. She does want to keep the three together and she has a nice large cage that will come with them. Talk to you soon.
Sue
Shelter response, November 12, 2014:
Email acknowledged, thank you.
Owner response, Sara, November 15, 2014:
The idea of giving up my ferrets is really hard. I know it needs to be done for the best of them. Do you still have the available slot for 3 ferrets? They will need their distemper and rabies updated so I will be getting that soon. I want to make sure you still have an available spot. Please let me know as soon as possible..
Shelter response:
Hi Sara, yes we still have a spot for them at this time...What is going on; is there something we can do to help you so you can keep them?
Owner response:
I got these ferrets with my ex and I have two cats as well. I'm a full time graduate student and the only reason I have to leave them is I can't afford food and litter every month. Him and I split everything and now he's not there. I spend about $100/month on Marshalls ferret food and Petco pellet litter.
Sara
Shelter response:
Well the first thing I can tell you is you can cut the litter expense… we use news papers and they are free. Attached are picture of how we use them. As for food if you were using a different kind of food the ferrets would be eating less and getting more out of their food. Marshalls pushes their food but it is not the best or the most nutritional. Here is a link to read about how we do it and why… http://www.ferretfarm.org/faq/Food.html let me know your thoughts.
Owner response:
I don't get how newspaper is free? I've never seen news paper free.
You use more than one food, or ZuPreem? I couldn't understand the website, it's written like your switching them from one diet to another.
Shelter response:
People donate them when they are done with them, I bet there are a lot at the school you are going to that they would gladly give up to you.
We use 5 kinds in our mix… 8 in 1 Ultimate Ferret Diet Crunchy, Marshall Premium Ferret Diet, Purina One Healthy Kitten (ONLY the teal colored bag), Totally Ferret Active Diet and Natural Gold for Ferrets. We are not switching their food.
Owner response, November 16, 2014:
I've given this a lot of thought and the fact that now I'm doing this alone is not fair to the ferrets. In the past week they have gotten out 1 hr a day and they are so good I think they deserve a better home.
Shelter response:
Okay then get them vaccinated with documentation and we will take them. Keep us informed we just took in another today. So opening are filling up.. we will keep an opening for you as long as you keep me informed of what is going on.
Owner response:
I plan to call Brockport vet tomorrow to find out if they can vaccinate and distemper without an office visit. I know many places charge an office visit and vaccination. Do you know of any that would only charge vaccination?
Shelter response:
We only use Brockport - they are the only ones we can afford. tell them you are surrendering them to us that may get you in sooner.
Owner response:
Okay then I will call tomorrow. I'm only available to drop them off on the weekends. Are you open? Also, do you want their large cage? Or do you want me to bring them in something smaller?
Shelter response:
Yes we want everything that belongs to them including the big cage.
Owner response, November 17, 2014:
I told them I have ferrets and surrendering them to you. I have an appt Thursday morning at 8am.
Owner response, November 20, 2014:
They are healthy and vaccinated. What time can I bring them on Saturday?
My dad is picking the cage, ferrets and I up in Hilton at 10am. How is after 12pm? I didn't know if you would be there all day or if I have to schedule something.
Shelter response:
We need to schedule because we have another family surrendering on Saturday as well, it takes 45 min to an hour to get paperwork settled and kids and stuff moved in. I have shelter duties to do in between that time. I have scheduled the other family for 10 am so are you looking at 12:30?
Owner response:
2:30pm would be perfect.