Centre hits back over re-homing
The animal re-homing organisation at the centre of a row over a missing ferret has defended its decision not to return the animal to its owner.
JCV Ferret Rescue in Norley Hall has been criticised after refusing to tell the owner where they had re-homed her pet.
Lab assistant Danielle Firth, 23, says she is "heartbroken" after the voluntary group refused to give her details for the new adopters and turned down her offer of a donation for the return of male golden ferret, Fez.
But centre spokesman, Judy Beyer, says JCV has to operate to strict rules or lose the trust of the ferret owning community and be "over-run" with stray or unwanted animals. It currently has more then 100 ferrets awaiting homes.
Ms Beyer said there are no national rules for the length of time a stray must be kept before re-homing, but they try to ensure it is seven days.
She added: "It is important we keep a relationship of trust with our adopters and that wouldn't last long if we allowed ferrets which have come to us legally to be properly re-homed only then to take them away again because the original owner has come forward.
"We had this ferret for about seven days before it was claimed."
Fez was found wandering in Liverpool after escaping from his cage and was taken in by JCV.
Miss Firth plastered her Merseyside community with posters, even offering a cash reward for Fez's safe return.
She tracked him down to the centre 12 days later, but when she phoned JCV, she found he had been re-homed.
She had offered to cover all expenses incurred by the rescue society to get him back.
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Weather for Wigan
Thursday 02 September 2010
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