Big Lick Ferret Shelter and Hospice

Current Status

Updated April 2009

We have had several successful adoptions in the past few months. We still have several older ferrets looking for sponsors to help with their care. These wee ones are over 5 years old and most folks don't want to take on a furkid that may only be around for another year or so. If adoption is not an option for you at this time, please consider sponsoring one of the seniors in our care. A donation as little as $20 a month will help keep an oldster in kibble & snackies for 30 days. The hospice cases in our guardianship are medically challenged and in need of sponsors as well. Any donations toward their care is deeply appreciated. To sponsor a ferret in our care, please use this secure link:

Location & general stuff

We are located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of SW Virginia in Roanoke. We are a fairly new shelter, organizing in November '04.
While our goal is to place all the fur kids in our care WE DO NOT SHIP FERRETS! The prospective adopters must visit with the ferret and the foster parents to assure a good match. If other ferrets are in the household we encourage the owners to bring them to meet with the ferrets HOWEVER proof of current vaccines and ADV test results must be provided before the meeting can take place.

News

Because of a generous donation we were able to purchase an older box van to use as a rolling "Meet & Greet" mobile education vehicle. It is a '79 GMC that was a Dolly Madison delivery van in it's previous life. We are looking for donations for repairs & upgrades to make it ready for the fuzzies. We will need to add an air conditioner to it since it is an older vehicle and doesn't have any. It will also need some cosmetic touch ups. If you would like to make a donation toward this project, please send an email to us for the: "Weasel Wagon" project. We currently have 18 ferrets in our care, 7 of which are Special Needs due to their age or medical conditions. We have pledged to care for them until the time they cross over the Rainbow Bridge.
We have a sponsorship program designed to help with their continuing care.
To make a donation to their care, please go to: Our Services
From there you will be able to click on the Pay Pal link under our "Sponsor-A-Ferret" Program.

Who Are We?

The Big Lick Ferret Shelter and Hospice is located in Roanoke, Virginia. We are a small group of volunteers dedicated to helping local domestic ferrets by providing respite to them while they wait for their forever homes. All ferrets under the care of the Big Lick Ferret Shelter and Hospice are ADV tested and have been vaccinated for rabies and distemper upon intake if medical records are not available. We also offer information for educating the public in the proper care and treatment of ferrets.

If a ferret is sick, veterinary care is provided before any placement. All are medically assessed for conditions as related to ferrets, brought current on their distemper & rabies vaccines & are ADV screened. If a ferrets' health or age does not allow for adoption, we care for that ferret until he or she crosses the Rainbow Bridge.

Adopting a ferret from the Big Lick Ferret Shelter & Hospice

We NEVER put a ferret to sleep because we could not find him/her a home.

WE DO NOT SHIP FERRETS, so please do not ask.

We require a home visit of all adoption candidates so you must live within a 60 mile radius of the Roanoke Valley.

How do I adopt a ferret from your shelter?

In order to adopt a ferret from us, you must go through our adoption process. The first step is to fill out an adoption application.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL APPLICATIONS WILL BE APPROVED but all are considered.

This is followed up by an interview with our Adoption Liaison and a home visitation. During the home visit we implement our Ferret Proofing service to assist with areas of concern in the prospective adoptive home.
This process may seem a bit long and in-depth, but we want to be sure we find the perfect home for the ferrets in our care. They've already become homeless once and we want to make sure their next home is a happy forever after home.

We collect adoption donations based on the age of the ferret. Our adoption fees are as follows:

For a baby up to 3 years of age: $100.00

Age 3 and older: $75.00

*Bonded pair*: $125.00

A *bonded pair* is not just any two ferrets. Bonded pairs are usually ferrets that are older and have lived with each other their entire lives. Separating a bonded pair is NOT an option. It is not uncommon for a separated bonded pair to grieve to the point of death of one, if not both of the ferrets. It is for this reason we will not separate any bonded ferrets.

To get the ball rolling, send an email to: adoption information.

"How can I meet the ferrets?"

We currently do not have a public, central shelter site and are housing our ferrets in foster homes.

Anyone wanting to visit, please send an email request to: See The Ferrets so we can schedule an appointment to visit with any of the adoptables in our guardianship.

Our main goal is finding forever homes for our fur kids and welcome any opportunity to show them off!

Thanks for taking the time to check us out and hope you can find your ferret friend among the fuzzies in our care.

Big Lick Ferret Shelter and Hospice
Contact Information

Shelter Director & Foster Mom:
Debbie Saunders
North West Roanoke, VA
Send email to: Debbie

Foster Mom:
Robyn Little
Old SW Roanoke, VA
Send email to: Robyn

Foster Dad:
John Phelps
Salem, VA
Send email to: John

Adoption info:
Send email to: Adoptions

Click here for a list of pets at this shelter

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