Welcome to Lakeroad Ferret Farm Rescue/Shelter, Inc.

Max & Shy, AKA Sly

   • Surrendered to the Shelter on September 21, 2017. They found a Forever Home February 23, 2019!
   • Max was a male. He left for the Rainbow Bridge August 18, 2023.
   • Shy was a female. She left for the Rainbow Bridge June 5, 2022.

   • They had a far away Mom!

   • Read about their latest updates below.

August 25, 2023:
Hi Brenda, Just a quick note to let you know we lost our little buddy Max a couple days ago. He slowly lost his appetite, so we kept him going for a while on Duck soup with a dropper. When he finally did go, he was peacefully sleeping. I'm attaching a picture from his last day. Myla and I are both sad for our loss, but happy that we gave them fun lives and that we have so many wonderful memories of Max & Shy!! Now they are happily reunited over the Rainbow Bridge. Thank you for all your support over the years & I hope you are doing well. Take care, Andy

    

June 5, 2022:
  Here you go, Brenda - the attachments should be better resolution (I think)! If not, let me know. We're honored that you're putting Shy in your calendar - Myla will be very excited to hear that, as will Max, of course! ;)
The great thing about that pic is she did it all by herself! We were soaking something in a soapy tub, and Shy walked over, stuffed her face in for a sniff, and came out looking like her whiskers were an old-fashioned handlebar mustache. It was so funny! Glad we were able to snap a couple pics before cleaning her off! You can choose whichever one you like for the calendar. Hope all is well - take care Brenda!!br>
                                            

June 5, 2022:
  I'm writing to inform you both that yesterday Shy passed over the Rainbow Bridge. As you know, she was a very tough little girl with a lot of personality! Though she recovered fairly well after her most recent surgery, a couple weeks ago she became lethargic and last week she began losing her appetite. She didn't appear to suffer and we gave her Duck soup, ferretone, and lots of love several times a day.
Thank you both for all you did to care for Shy and help her and Max to find our family! They've been a wonderful addition and we'll never forget all the fun times we've had with both of them. We're giving Max extra love right now to help him cope with the loss of his best buddy, and we look forward to seeing you both at the picnic next weekend.

May 4, 2022:
OMGosh, Brenda - you don't even recognize your own favorite destructive climbing escape-artist granddaughter behind that silly bubble mustache!? ;) Well let me pull off that disguise and happily say she's doing great!! That said, it has been a rough year for both of our fur kiddos - especially her.
As you likely recall, doc took off a growth right before she came to stay with you for a week in November. Well sadly that grew back with a vengeance and by February it was getting bigger than before. I got her in to doc for a much bigger tumor removal and once again she showed how tough she is getting thru that. She's healed up now and her fur is mostly grown back - she's not the climber she once was, but she's still much more active than Max and probably most other ferrets. She's my special girl and I'm very attached to her (and vice versa). Unfortunately I can already feel the lumps growing back, so I look forward to seeing doc at the picnic to discuss our options.
Max had a skin tumor on the top of his head that doc removed and it healed up well. He's on his pred and doing well - nice and fluffy and mellow and happy. I'll attach a few pics from their surgeries - looking fwd to seeing you!!

                   

November 26, 2021:
  I found Max acting odd, I did a glucose test this morning, his numbers were 36. He's on Pred now. I sent an email to Doc to let him know what I did and how I was treating.

November 9, 2021:
  Thanks for the post-op advice, Brenda! It won't be a problem to follow. We have several portable pen options that we can use. I'll be around 24-7 to keep an eye on her and take care of her as needed :) Plenty of duk soup ready to go!
  Shy and I are pretty close at this point. She is my (2nd) baby girl. She follows me everywhere, knows her name, and is always the one to initiate play. Max is our cuddle bear. He has a few spots around the house he likes to sleep, and we all know where to find him. Shy kinda treats him like her go-to warm blanket, and as you know she runs the house ;) I'm sure he'll be a very supportive post-op buddy!!
  Anyway - thank you for all the advice and I appreciate having you available if anything unexpected happens! I'll keep you in the loop on Thurs, and I look forward to seeing you on the 18th when I bring them to you for ferret camp!
  Take care, Andy

November 3, 2021:
  Just finished up with him. We scheduled a surgery appt for 11/11 @ 1pm. He said we probably won't biopsy it unless he feels it may have spread when he takes it out. I'll keep you in the loop and let you know how her surgery goes next week. Thanks for checking in!! :) Now for my 3 hr drive home - worth it to see OFD though ;)

October 18, 2021:
Hi Brenda - I hope all is well! I just wanted to send a quick update on Shy. It's been about a month since you and I spoke, and as you know we're about a month away from bringing her & Max to stay with you for a couple weeks (while Myla and I are in FL in late Nov).
Over the past month, the growth under her L armpit has probably doubled to about the size of a marble. So it's definitely growing, and I suspect that it will need to be addressed in the not too distant future. Good news is that we haven't noticed any other lumps in the other spots you said to watch. Poops and appetite are good and it hasn't slowed her down at all. She's more active than Max - and she checks the whole house daily for anything new. They're such a wonderful goofy pair and we love them both very much!
As an additional reminder, I have an appt with Doc in Brockport on 12/29/21, but you said you might be able to get Shy in to see him while she's with you (11/18-29). If possible, that would be EXTREMELY helpful. Of course, we'll just have to see how it goes, but I just wanted to give you a heads up. I'll check in with you about a week before I drop them off with another update.
Please let me know if I'm missing anything and thank you for your help and advice! :)
Best, Andy

September 21, 2021:
Hi Brenda - you must have a sixth sense, as I was just getting ready to write you with some updates! Myla and I are fine and Max & Shy are doing well overall. In fact, we just took them for a hike on Saturday and they are both still strong, active, and happy.
However, we've recently noticed one issue with Shy that I want to ask you about. A few weeks ago, we noticed a very small lump just a bit below her right armpit (lymph node area). We've been monitoring it and unfortunately it seems to be growing. Currently it is about half a centimeter in diameter and it feels quite hard or firm to the touch. She doesn't seem to be bothered by it and her activity is normal, but of course we are concerned and I'm hoping you can steer us in the right direction with this. Please let me know what you suggest, and I'm available by phone if you want to call to discuss it further.
One more thing - we're also due for a food & duk soup mix order. So when time allows, can you please send our usual double order of food (8 lbs) and a package of duk soup mix? I'll send you payment via PayPal once you let me know the total.
Thank you for any advice you can offer about Shy - I look forward to hearing back from you! I hope all is well :)
-Andy

February 16, 2021:
Hi Brenda, I hope you're doing well! It's getting to be about that time that time that I need to order more food for Max & Shy. When time allows, can you please send us our usual double order? Just let me know the cost, and I'll get it to you via PayPal - thanks! The kiddos are doing great! Full run of the house when they're out, and lots of play time (and sleep time, of course)!
Thank you and take care,
Andy (& Myla)

         

December 20, 2020:
Regarding what you said about Max sleeping on Myla, it's one of her favorite things to do with both of them! And yes, Shy even does it sometimes too after we play long enough to tire her out :) Again, no rush on the duk mix - I know everything is busy right now with the holidays! On that note, we wish you a Merry Xmas and a much much better 2021!!

December 20, 2020:
Hi Brenda, When time allows, can you please send us a double order of your Duk soup mix? No rush - we still have enough for a couple more weeks. Just let me know the cost when you send it out and I'll square up with you thru PayPal.
  Max & Shy are doing great and looking forward to Christmas. We'll send some pics of them opening their gifts. Hope you and all the kids are doing well - thank you!

                   

March 7, 2020:
Hi Brenda, Unfortunately, we've decided to cancel our FL trip due to the coronavirus spread. I'm sorry to cancel the fur kids' spring camp on short notice, but I'm sure you know what's going on. We had hoped it would get better by now, but obviously it hasn't. So I guess we'll just be looking forward to seeing you at the June picnic! As I'm writing this, both Shy & Max came over for some attention, as if to say Hi to their Shelter Mum! They are both doing well :) Please let me know that you got this message. I hope you are doing well...stay healthy!!
  Andy

Good Morning Andy, I think you've made a very wise decision. Now is not the time to mingle with folks you do not know in masses of many, in large/contained areas. Taking you and Mylas heath into consideration. Thanks for letting me know. Give the fur kids a hug for me please.

January 28, 2020:
Hi Brenda, I hope 2020 is treating you well so far! All is good here - Max and Shy are both doing well and keeping us busy and happy. We're also excited for our upcoming one year anniversary as fuzzbutt parents - less than a month away! I'm attaching a few recent pics of the kiddos for you :)

                                       

November 5, 2019:
Hi Brenda,
  I hope you are doing well!
  In the spirit of the coming season, Myla and I would like to take a trip up to volunteer a Sunday afternoon helping out with the fuzzbutts, if that's ok with you.
  We'd leave Max and Shy here at home so we can spend our time helping you out in whatever ways we can. I've also made it clear to Myla that we're NOT going to bring any new kiddos home any time soon. That said, we're both just interested in spending a little time helping you out, learning a few things, and of course meeting and caring for the current gang of personalities :)
  Looking ahead, I'm wondering about the possibility of coming up on Sun 11/16 (from about 12-4pm). If you'd prefer a different Sunday, just let me know and I'll see if it can make it work.
  Max & Shy are both doing great and happy as ever! They each have their own favorite toys and games, and not a day goes by that they don't get lots of love and snuggles (not to mention run of the house)! Attached are a few recent pictures for you :)
  Hoping to see you soon,
  -Andy & Myla

                             

July 26, 2019:
Hi Brenda,
  As an update, the fuzzbutts are doing great. We camped (and hiked) for a week with them again at Treman park right before Myla started back to school. We both still regularly discuss how much fun they add to our lives, and we always do our best to raise awareness of what great pets they make! I'm attaching some recent pics for you - hope you and everyone there are doing well!!
  All Our Best,
Andy & Myla

                                  

July 26, 2019:
  Well Hello, Shelter Mum! Thank you for checking in...we've been doing great! Since the picnic, we've been on lots of cool adventures with Myla and her Dad!
  We went Greenwood Park and got to meet Myla's entire 5th grade class - everyone loved us (of course)! We also went camping in Ithaca, where we backpacked, explored, swam, and hiked all around! Along the way, we've been teaching LOTS of people how awesome, fun, and friendly we are!
  Of course, we love being home too! We get to play in the back yard and we now have a ferret-safe porch with a minipool for hot days - as well as a pretty sweet spot indoors right near the fan and AC, as needed. We get lots of visitors - especially Myla's friends - and we always behave ourselves. Shy shows off her climbing skills while Max does his Max stuff:)
  Anyway, enjoy the pictures...thank you for helping us find our very happy forever home! We'll be in touch - hope you and the gang are doing well!!
Love, Max & Shy :)
Myla & Dad too! :)

Shelter Mum's response: Good morning little ones. My, my you have been on some wonderful adventures! The pictures of you are fantastic, thank you! I will send them off to Miss Tori for your web page. I'm so happy that you and your humans are spending so much time together. The pictures sure show how much fun you have been having. Thanks for checking in - shelter mum.

                                                                                         

April 28, 2019:
Hi Brenda,
  I hope all is well with you and the fuzzies! Max, Shy, Myla & I are all doing great here. We've discovered that while Shy is quite the indoor athlete (as you know, she can go anywhere she wants), Max is a total outdoor enthusiast! We've gone hiking with him many times already and he is quite the trail hound. Even though he can ride in their comfy backpack anytime (Shy comes too, as long as it's not too cold), he usually prefers walking (harnessed) on his own - following trails, crawling over rocks, and finding his way up stream beds, occasionally even venturing in for a swim :)
  I'll send a few pics for you soon. After only 2 months, I'm very happy and impressed with these two goofballs. Trustworthy, loving, curious, and adventurous - but each in their own very unique ways. I'm very grateful we all found each other! So anyway, it's about time for the next food request. We'll do the same as last time, please (minus the Duck Soup mix), so $20 plus shipping. Thank you Brenda - we hope to be there on June 8th!
Andy

Shelter Response: I am pleased, Bless his little heart. I am thrilled you are happy they chose you. There was no doubt in my mind they decided you were their family. Okay like I said I will get that out tomorrow. Things are starting to cook for the 8th. Thanks for the update.

                        

April 4, 2019:
Hi Brenda!
  Good to hear from you and glad you're doing well! We are fine here...Max & Shy are all settled in. They know the whole place well and love doing their fuzzbutt things (hiding favorite toys, climbing their cage, getting in the couch, etc.) They've even been out on nice days for walks. Max impressed us with a long trail hike at Treman Park in Ithaca last weekend! He stayed right on the trail with us (it was a little chilly, so Shy stayed wrapped up in her blankets in the backpack carrier). They've been great - nothing too crazy or difficult. Just fun. And they both are great snugglers, which we love at the end of the day :) We're hoping and planning to make it to the picnic on June 8th...I'll let you know for sure as it gets closer. Thanks for checking in!! :)

                        

February 23, 2019:
Hi Shelter Mum!
  We just wanted to let you know that we got to our new home safe and sound! When we first got here, we both came out and explored our new world, then found a nice spot to poop :) We got very excited running around and playing in the new dig box!

Christmas 2018:
Dear far away Mom,
  Thanks for all the awesome presents for us and the one for Mum to keep us in soup! You rock. Thanks for sending my sissy some presents too. Mum got pictures for you here they are. Thanks for helpen Mum take care of us.
  Max and Shy

         

August 13, 2018:
  I had to fix the window end of the dining room, shy was getting out of it. 2 days in a row. It's too warm to use the porch. She was getting up to the 4" drainage tube I had slipped over the barrier, getting into the tube crawling all the way to the end getting on the hutch jumping down getting over the barrier to the kitchen. I stuffed cloth diapers into the tube when she discovered she could not go through she went across the top to the hutch and beyond. This morning I had her and Max on the porch before it got to warm. See attached she is climbing the screen.

  

July 13, 2018:
  Attached are some pictures of him and of Shy after I put her in the room Hannah and I Shy proofed. She did get over the barrier to the kitchen side. I had to move the tube down closer to the wall because she could get on the litter box and get over where the tube stopped. There is nothing for her to step on to get up into the gap that was left when I moved the shorter piece.

     

           

June 29, 2018:
  It is Max that is sick. He is going to be hard to treat, he fights me at every step. He needs fluids he is going to hurt me or himself if I try to get that done this morning. I literally have to scruff and hang him over the counter top to get meds in him. The whole time he is kicking and scratching at me.

June 28, 2018:
  2 more kids with icky slim green poo; well I think it's only Max but since I don't know if it's Max or Sly I am treating them both.

June 27, 2018:
  Shy was in the pen again this morning. I've no idea what I am going to do with that girl.

April 25, 2018:
  Shy has been doing her thing again, I let her and Max run between the ferret room and playroom while I am cleaning cages. I've attached 3 pictures of Shy, I have no idea how she got up there but I grabbed the camera quick to capture her adventure.

        

April 8, 2018:
  Donna just left, she got some floors steam mopped, and we got the end of the cage that Shy was climbing modified so hopefully she can't climb it any more.

April 7, 2018:
  I could not find Shy this morning, as I was collecting Max I discovered a container that is kept way up high off the floor, I went to put it back thinking oh boy did Shy get up there? Sure enough she was in the wire basket looking down at me. See attached she got herself into a real jam. I have no idea how long she was up there. Tomorrow I need to see how I can fix the side of the cage so they can't climb the cage.

     

February 22, 2018:
  I stayed busy, I moved Shy and Max to a different bank of cages, I moved Bonnie into the cage they came out of. I messed up when I put Shy and Max on the same bank of cages Jack and Mike are in. Max and Shy can only be out in the playroom and porch if we can use the porch. Jack and Mike can only be in the playroom, window end of the dining room or the porch. Since we could not use the porch today Jack and Mike had to be in the window end of the dining room all day. I now have them separated so I can give Jack and Mike more options.

January 9, 2018:
AM:I am going crazy nuts looking for Max - he is M.I.A. - I was getting everyone up when I opened the cage to get Max and Shy up Max was not in the cage. I moved them to a cage they can't get out of back when I found them in the cage with Shasta. The cage still had the playroom tag on it so that tells me I did not find him yesterday when I was putting them all away...
  I thought I might have put him in M and M's cage, I've done that before but no he was not in there. I keep Max and Shy in the playroom for play time, that is the only room Shy seems to do the least amount of damage when she is having one of her demolition days. She is getting better but no enough to put her in any other play are because she gets up and over the barriers before I can.
  I've stuck my hand in cages to count heads so far I've not found an extra kid in any cage. I had so many plans to get so many things done this morning but until I find that kid I am not going to be able to focus on anything. I am going to go back down to see if I can find that little snot.

PM: Found him! Max was in the food closet - I looked there twice before check in, when I went back down I looked in there again only this time I moved food bins, he was under one of them sleeping. UGH - I did not even see him out and about when I went in there to grab a new bucket of food. What's that take 30 seconds? shame on me for not paying attention. He is fine, Shy is happy to have him back to hang with - I am feeling better, now I can get on with my day.

December 16, 2017:
  As I was shutting the shelter down, making sure the poop pans were covered I opened the cage to Max and Shy they were not in the cage! I stood there looking in the only 2 places they could be, they were not in the cage. I opened the other side where Shasta lives, they were in there. I will have to spend time fixing that so they can't do that again. I put them back where they belong, I hope they stay there for the night.

December 7, 2017:
  Miss Bonnie G. picked up Shy for her far away fur kid, I've been telling her about some of the antics Shy has been pulling. Bonnie came back with a suggestion that we change her name to Sly.. I agreed Sly is a far better name for her. I told Shy AKA Sly that she was growing on me. She was a good girl today, stayed in the rooms I put her in. She and Max had the playroom first, more room to run that energy off, then the kitchen for a bit, then the library. She did not jump a barrier or even try. I think she is finally learning.

December 1, 2017:
  Shy has discovered she can get out of the downstairs bathroom, up and over either of the Plexiglas barriers. She then promptly went from the kitchen to the library to the ferret room. I tucked her back into the bathroom, I found her in the playpen next. She is impossible to keep contained.

November 15, 2017:
  I am sending a picture of Shy, she is dangling, working her way up to get up on and over into the playpen. I have found her in the playpen, I keep hoping she will get tired of climbing and getting into a place she can't get out of. So far that has not happened. She is wearing me down with her antics.