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Woman spots ferrets on the loose in Waverly

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By The Associated Press

Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 - 12:34:44 am CDT

Here’s something that doesn’t happen every day.

A woman called the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office after she spotted two ferrets running loose outside her office building in Waverly early Tuesday.

Turns out, 18-year-old Scott Brick -- Bandit and Smokey’s owner -- had set them free outside his apartment early that morning because he couldn’t find anyone to care for them, according to an incident report by the sheriff’s office.

The woman who spotted the furry mammals, members of the weasel family, caught them with the help of co-workers and took them to a veterinarian, who said they were very underweight.

Their dirty cages were found in a nearby Dumpster.

A deputy tracked the ferrets to Brick, who ended up with a ticket for animal abandonment/cruelty.

And Bandit and Smokey were turned over to the Capital Humane Society.


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happy little ferrets wrote on September 17, 2008 4:48 pm:
" Seems like that 18yr old could've taken them to the Humane Society himself. I guess he figured just setting them 'free' would be the easy way out. I hope he gets what he deserves.
Ferrets are fun little animals, and will hopefully get put up for adoption. "

 Laurie wrote on September 17, 2008 9:35 pm:
" I'm not so quick to blame an 18 year old kid for a not-so-bright move. Kids know what happens to most animals that get taken to the humane society. I sincerely doubt that "setting them free" was an easy decision. I'm sure he thought he was choosing between possible death and certain death. At least he can be sure that now some self-righteous happy little ferret lover will call the society with offers to adopt. "

 Im shocked wrote on September 17, 2008 10:27 pm:
" that the Safe Haven Law doesn't protect ferrets, too. "

 Nicole wrote on September 17, 2008 11:23 pm:
" You know, you can post "free to good home" signs, or post on craigslist for FREE using a FREE public computer to give the ferrets to a FREE home...
There is no excuse for this, no matter what age. These were domestic animals raised in captivity, leaving them outside does NOT give them a chance, despite what people think. Today I drove over 6 hours total to pick up a FREE animal to give it a good home... there a lot of people like me out there... In fact if I'd have known.. I've have picked them up myself.
INEXCUSABLE! "

 Anne wrote on September 18, 2008 8:00 am:
" The Humane Society really does try to find good homes for adoptable animals. Using a "Free to Good Home" ad can be dangerous these days; you really need to check out anyone who answers it to make sure they are not picking up the animal to use as bait or target practice...yes it happens around Lincoln. Basically, the Humane Society will be your best bet, unless you find room at a no-kill shelter (dogs and cats usually). And if worse comes to worse, a painless humane death is better than being left to starve or given to someone who may mistreat it. It's tough either way, but these days you can't just let something loose or give it up without checking into who wants it. "

 Anya wrote on September 18, 2008 8:38 am:
" Hey! The kid is EIGHTEEN! Think about how much you knew about the world at 18! Give the kid a break. He probably has never heard of the pound or couldn't afford to drive all the way to Lincoln. "

 hey laurie wrote on September 18, 2008 8:40 am:
" holding someone responsible for their action isn't self-righteous. and neither is being opposed to animal cruelty.
Maybe your attitude is what's wrong with society. "

 Tom wrote on September 18, 2008 9:22 am:
" Remember people that the pets people release into the "wild" are domesticated...abandoning them is cruelty. If you can't find a home for them, get a spine and take unwanted pets to the humane society or to a veterinarians clinic. I agree with Anne....better they be put down humanely than die a slow death from starvation or exposure....or cruelty. "

 AJ wrote on September 18, 2008 9:37 am:
" Anne is absolutely right. Do NOT post "Free to Good Home" ads. They are extremely dangerous. There are people out there that search for these ads to get animals to use for laboratory research, or bait animals like Anne said. There was a case not too long ago of a man who gave his cat to someone in a free to good home ad and the cat turned up mutilated and dead. The person wanted to "experiment" on him. Please, please people never offer your pets to people in this way. The Capital Humane Society does its best, although they are stretched. If you really care, send them a donation or volunteer your time socializing with the animals. "

 connie wrote on September 18, 2008 11:00 am:
" I wouldn't be too hard on the kid. It hasn't been too long ago that ferrets were illegal in Lincoln (stupid rule). Maybe he was afraid if he took them to the humane society they'd be killed. They may have done OK anyway. Our ferrets run loose outside during the day. They kill as many rodents as a good cat does and they LOVE to play in snow. They make excellent pets and I hope these two find a good home. "

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