I’m gonna be honest, the details of this event, from the comments of a previous update sorta make me dizzy. So let me just say that Abu the Ferret has been found and returned to the owner. I think most can agree that this is great news.
The reader says that the following two groups were key in bringing Abu back home:
A number of readers have emailed me asking for updates on the lost Ferret in Adams Morgan, Abu. While not a worst case scenario, there is a disturbing update:
“I do have some infuriating news. As I kind of expected, someone has decided Abu is so cute they want to keep him.
I got a call last night from a woman with a MD ferret rescue group, who had just seen my lost ferret posting on one of their message boards. They were doing a ferret event at the Petco in Owings Mill, MD on Saturday when a guy came in with a ferret matching Abu’s description. He said that he worked down in DC, and found this ferret Friday afternoon/evening when he was wrapping up for the day. He was kind of vague to the ferret people’s question about tracking down the owner, but he apparently told a Petco worker that he had no intention of giving back “Guido” (as he has re-named Abu). His reasoning is that if I’m so irresponsible that I can’t protect my ferret from getting lost, then I don’t deserve him!
This man obviously doesn’t entertain the thought that Abu got out because my new roommate stupidly left a window open, not realizing any curious ferret would push through the screen. This man doesn’t know that I saved Abu from a completely caged life with a homeless woman, and nursed him back from malnutrition and muscle atrophy.
The Petco and ferret people regrettably didn’t get the man’s name or info, but they’re rallying to my cause now that they know Abu’s story, and doing what they can to track him down. What they do know: He is a white male in his 50s with salt and pepper hair. They describe him as “about three feet wide,” and average height. He lives in Pikesville, MD, but was down in our hood for a short-term work gig. They’re not sure what he does exactly, but got the impression it was construction or some kind of outdoorsy skilled labor.
So if you have any readers who employed or saw a crew (with one particularly large middle-aged man) working on their house/building/street last Friday, I’d be very interested in any information that would help track this guy down. I’ll be driving to Pikesville today to paper that whole town with flyers.
If you can give a shout out to the Baltimore Ferret Club, that would be great. They’re organizing to help track him down.
This will all get sorted out and Abu will come home. To quote the Big Lebowski again: “This injustice will not stand, man!””
“Dear PoP,
I think this is worth debate. The city is spending 400 thousand dollars on a dog park going into a wealthy garden community in upper NW. McLean Gardens. Now I can see the city building dog parks in our dense inner city areas with few green places to walk dogs even on a leash, but there are ample places to do so in Mclean Gardens. But what really raises my brow is that at a time when the District claims to be struggling to come up with money for funding safety net programs they are spending 400 THOUSAND dollars on a dog park. Does it really cost 400k for a dog park? I could bulldoze my house and build a new one for 400k. If the residents really want their dogs to be able to run off leash can’t they just put up a chain link fence for 10k and call it a day? Isn’t that what the city did for a dog park in Adams Morgans’ Walter Peirce Park? And in addition to the 400k the city is spending the neighborhood raised 25k for amenities to add to the park after the citys investment. Will there be a pool and sauna? Does the city make public the break down for the costs associated with a project like this? I think we are getting ripped off. I’m picturing the invoice charging us 5000 dollars for a box of nails. and 30,000 dollars for a trash can sort of thing. Is this another no bid contract? I have an uncle that would gladly bid 50k to build McLean Gardens a sweet Dog Park.”
WTOP says:
“The 11,000-square-foot park will be located off Wisconsin Avenue at 39th and Newark Streets in Northwest.
The District is spending more than $400,000 on the park, and residents raised another $25,000 to pay for amenities, such as park benches.
The park is scheduled to open in August.”
“Dear PoP,
He still hasn’t turned up, though I got plenty of late night phone calls from drunk fuckers who saw my posters and decided it would be fun to make a cruel prank. I’m starting the reward at $500.”
Obviously the owner really loves their pet and while it is easy to joke this is pretty sad. So if you live in Adams Morgan/Mt. Pleasant look around a bit on your walk home and around the neighborhood. If you see the ferret email me directly and I’ll hook you up with the owner.
Sadly I was out of town for a wedding so these two posts are coming a couple of days late but hopefully it’s not too late for folks to keep an eye out.
“Dear PoP,
I know you’ve had success helping lost dogs find their way home, so I hope you may be able to help my ferret. He got through a screen window and is now lost somewhere in Adams Morgan. He is very friendly and sociable; nips when he plays, but doesn’t bite; answers to the name Abu when he’s in the mood. I live on Adams Mill Rd near Walter Pierce Park, and he has little legs so probably wouldn’t get too far. There is a generous reward for his return, but he is so cute I could imagine someone keeping him anyway.”
“Dear PoP,
I lost a very important shoe (just one) on the mall last weekend and am desperate to find out if anyone found it.”
If you see the ferret or the shoe please leave a comment or email me at princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com.
“Dear PoP,
I’ve been a supporter of Washington Humane Society in the past. However, over the past few months, I’ve had a really disillusioning experience with them, which I just decided to write Mayor Fenty on, and I wondered if you might be interested. WHS euthanized a very sweet puppy named Shannon who had been fostered by a friend of mine, despite the fact that my friend had made clear that she was ready and willing to take responsibility for Shannon’s care until she was adopted.
I wrote to WHS to express my concerns, and ask for information on how this came about, and after quite a bit of back and forth I got a very disappointing response. In addition to denying what had happened, despite the fact that much of the evidence was in writing, they told me that they have no policy on euthanasia. Considering that so much of their fundraising is based on their “good home guarantee” I found the fact that they have no official guidelines on when an animal is euthanized rather shocking.
Also, looking into things, I found a couple of articles from the Washington Examiner addressing WHS management of the DC Shelter (http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/D_C_-animal-shelter-director-out-82635627.html; http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/PETA-claims-abuse_-ineptitude-at-D_C_-animal-shelter-8726855-80816312.html)
They referenced a PETA investigation of their practices, including poor hygiene, disease outbreaks, and inhumane killings.
I just wrote a letter to mayor Fenty, attaching one of the articles. and asking for his response. I’m not sure if the WHS contract for the shelter is still under review, but regardless, I think people need to be made aware of these concerns. I hope that WHS will continue to get support, but that people will also push them to better represent the organization’s expressed ideals.”
Full letter to mayor Fenty after the jump: (more…)
Ed. Note: Dog in photo is not the lost dog but an example of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
“Dear PoP,
i’m writing with the hope that you can help reunite a dog with his owners. i was driving back from yoga this afternoon (may 9) around noon and saw a dog in crisis. a man on a bicycle was trying to help the dog without much luck, so i pulled over to see if i could help. the dog was just cowering, scared out of his poor little mind, at the corner of kenyon and sherman avenue. he is a cavalier king charles spaniel and probably weighed maybe 7-8 pounds (little guy). he was maybe 6 years old. he had on a unique collar and is clearly someone’s pet. the police came, but the poor little dog was so afraid that and i stayed and sat with the little guy (who warmed up and let me pet him and feed him some treats i had in my purse and also drank some water) until animal control came to take him to the new york avenue shelter. btw, props to the humane society guys — they are total pros. i put something on craigslist but unfortunately don’t have a picture of him. i’m an animal lover and just know that if it were my pet, i would be sick with worry, so just wanted to do what i can to try to reach his owners and let them know their little guy is safe, but at the shelter waiting for them!”
I’ll admit it, the dog first got my attention but these are some pretty sweet flowers:
From an email:
“Festivities, program & demos for pet owners,
prospective owners, kids and visitors of all ages
Vendors-services & products, and contests.
May 2, 11am – 5pm (Sunday)
Marie Reed School (18th St NW at Wyoming)
Judged Sport: Dancing w Dogs!
World Canine Freestyle demo
Behavior Modification Techniques;
Tricks of Caring for Older Dogs;
The Dog Whisperer of Maryland:
The Magic Formula for Creating a Well-Behaved Dog”
Agility Demonstration –
11 Contests! (eg best kisser, best trick, biggest, smallest, best costume);
Pet fostering & adoption info w/ WARL;
Tall Tails Storytime;
Barks and Crafts Tent –
create a personalized accessory for a pal
Chalk for Peace (art on pavement)
“Dear PoP,
This dog was found wandering Euclid between 11th and 13th around 10am this morning. Hoping that he might have a microchip I brought him down to City Paws but they were unable to identify him. He is currently at City Paws awaiting transfer to the Humane Society on New York Ave. Hopefully the owner will be able to claim him.”
