THE F.E.R.R.E.T. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Renee Downs
Storrs, CT
860-906-8798
Renee is coordinator of F.E.R.R.E.T., a member of the International Ferret Congress committee and moderator of the IFC's 2007 symposium in Portland, Oregon. She is a nationally-known ferret advocate and rescuer who was recently profiled in Ferrets magazine. In September 2007, Renee assisted with emergency sheltering and transportation during the rescue of approximately 600 breeder ferrets in southern Ohio, the largest ferret rescue in U.S. history. In addition to her work with ferrets, Renee is a member of the national American Red Cross disaster response team. She is experienced in operations center/disaster management, and her background includes response to hurricanes, floods and tornadoes. Renee is completing her PhD in animal science at the University of Connecticut. She has owned ferrets since 1993.


Vikki Caldwell
Palatka, FL
Vikki is an epidemiology specialist with the Putnam County Health Department in Florida, where she investigates disease, zoonoses and animal bites. A member of the HSUS’s National Disaster Animal Response Team (NDART),
the Florida State Agriculture Response Team (SART) and the Florida Department of Health Epidemiology Strike Team, Vikki is trained in bioterrorism response and experienced in animal disaster response and emergency animal sheltering. Vikki is dedicated to training and educating people about how to care for ferrets and how to prepare for disaster. Her background in law enforcement includes animal cruelty investigations, child abuse, domestic violence and satanic crime, which involved animal sacrifice. She is currently taking veterinary technician classes “just for my own benefit, to learn more about animals.”


Lisa Leidig
Virginia Beach, VA
Lisa Leidig has owned ferrets since 1985 and has operated a non-profit, no-kill ferret shelter, Ferret Haven by the Sea, since 1993. A well-known author and speaker on disaster preparedness, Lisa presented on the topic at the 2005 International Ferret Congress Symposium and published an article in Ferrets magazine the previous year. She works to educate the public not only about the domestic ferret, but also the habitat and behavior of endangered black-footed ferrets. Lisa has shown ferrets since 1995, served as a championship judge for the League of Independent Ferret Enthusiasts (L.I.F.E.) from 1996 to 1999, and continues to serve as an independent championship and specialty judge in ferret shows and competitions.


Lisa Oestereich
Silver Spring, MD
Lisa has owned ferrets for more than 20 years and is a co-founder of Friends of Ferret Shelters, which raises hundreds of dollars each month for a shelter in need of financial support, and is a member of Ferrets Across America. In September 2007, Lisa served as national volunteer transportation coordinator during the massive rescue effort of about 600 breeder ferrets in Ohio, a key leading role in placing hundreds of the animals across North America. She is a regular volunteer at The Ferret Inn shelter in Columbia, Maryland, where she assists with fundraising and shelter care.


Cindy Scheidt
Villa Hills, KY
859-341-3390
Cindy is a long-time ferret owner who assists county shelters in northern Kentucky with surrendered and rescued ferrets. With Lisa Oestereich and others, she collaborated on a well-known ferret breeder rescue in Denmark several years ago that launched a worldwide effort to improve breeding facility standards and requirements. In September 2007, she played both a leadership and hands-on role in the Ohio ferret breeder rescue of approximately 600 animals, and a subsequent re-surrender of 55 of the ferrets from an overwhelmed shelter. Cindy’s behavioral work and socialization helped most of the animals to learn to trust humans for the first time, and prepared them for successful re-homing.


Susann Thiel
Endicott, NY
607-341-1809
Susann is New York State Coordinator for United Animal Nations' Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS), a member of the national Red Cross disaster response team and the Louisiana State Animal Response Team, and is a task force leader in her county for the New York State Animal Response Team. Her disaster response includes hurricanes, floods, puppy mills and cruelty/neglect seizures. In September 2007 she assisted with emergency sheltering and transportation of surviving animals from the 600-ferret Ohio breeder mill rescue. Susann co-founded Friends of Ferret Shelters, raising hundreds of dollars each month for a shelter in need of financial support. She has owned, loved and rescued ferrets since 1982 and has presented on animals in disaster in New York, Louisiana and Oregon.