"Phoenix" the Cleveland Ferret

On July 12, 1998, Phoenix crossed the Rainbow Bridge after a brief but intense battle with an unknown virus. Several trips to the vet, subcutaneous fluids and force feeding could not keep him alive. He will be sorely missed, but the legacy of his life will live on.

At 1:45pm EST Monday March 2, 1998, Phoenix the Cleveland ferret, was freed into the custody of Jean of Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter, where he will remain for the rest of his now happy life! More pictures of Phoenix Story by Jean Caputo-Lee Story by Linda Iroff

This is the ferret that reportedly bit a 5 week old infant up to 50 times while her parents lay next to her in a drunken stupor. He was reportedly found in his cage in the morning with no signs of blood on him or his cage. The incident happened during the night of Feb 18-19.

He is about 1 1/2-2 years old, weighs only 1 1/2 pounds (severely underweight), and has been treated by Jean of Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter in Cleveland for ear mites. She also trimmed his nails and gave him a distemper shot. He is being held at the Cleveland city kennel for a 10-day rabies quarantine. He is housed in a cage brought by Jean with appropriate food, litter box and even a nice soft hammock.

The parents (aged 21 and 22) have been charged with 8 different counts, including felony child endangering. Social services has been granted emergency temporary custody of the 4 other children under 7 years old, and they have been placed in foster care.

Baby Samatha was released from the hospital and also placed in foster care.

We don't know what name these people called the ferret by, if anything, but we have named him "Phoenix".

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