Hobbes was rescued from a breeder in Victoria, BC in February of last year where he had spent his life to that point in a small guinea pig cage. Due to the mistreatment that he suffered at the hands of the breeder, this four year old ferret had the physical health of a much older animal. He had, some time before his rescue, been attacked by another animal and his former owner had not only failed to clean his wounds, it seems that his former owner had decided to stop feeding him. He was approximately 1 lb when he entered our care - less than half his ideal weight; we were not even sure that he would survive the night. He was also extremely aggressive towards people, snapping when at us when our hands went near his food dish and biting out of fear and pain.
Hobbes did survive the night and, with a few trips to the vet, medication, gentle care, love and constant cleaning of his badly infected wounds, he soon gained back much of his body weight began to recover and started learning to trust people.
Though he is much better now, due to the years of mistreatment that he suffered in his former home, Hobbes will never be physically fit and has been left with a myriad of health problems which will eventually claim his life. In the mean time, his permanent foster home is letting Hobbes live out what is left of his life in luxury, with as many treats and cuddles as he wants.
Update: Hobbes succumbed to his injuries 1 year after his rescue - on Valentines Day 2010.
Durango was rescued along with eight other ferrets from a home in Hundred Mile House, BC. At the time of his rescue, Durango weighed just barely over 1lb. It didn't take us long to figure out why he was so thin - it was not simply a case of malnutrition (though that may have contributed 
- none of the eight ferrets were in very good condition); Durango's teeth had been broken. A quick visit to the vet revealed that it was not only Durango's teeth that had been broken - his skull had been broken as well. The attending vet felt that the injuries were consistent with what one would expect from a kick to the head; at some point in the weeks prior to entering our care, Durango had been kicked in the face, and this kick has broken his skull and teeth. With weeks of careful care and feeding, Durango (whose name was changed to Corrignor by his permanent foster family) was returned to relative health. He still needs surgery to repair some of the damage caused by the blow to his head, but Corrignor is happy, fat, spoiled and well loved by his foster family - and he knows it!
