47 ferrets seized from bedroom

OREGON, Mo. -- A Holt County woman whose 47 ferrets were seized from her home has been released from jail on unrelated charges of passing bad checks.

Dorcus Pointer was released Thursday on three misdemeanor charges. The Holt County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate possible animal neglect, said Deputy Sam Glassford.

Meanwhile, the ferrets remain at a Kansas City animal shelter until a judge determines whether to return them to Pointer.

The sheriff's department removed the animals from Pointer's home about a month ago when deputies went to her house to arrest her on a probation violation, Glassford said. The small, weasel-like animals were locked in a bedroom.

Renee Harris, director of operations at Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, said several of the ferrets are underweight, a few are diabetic, and some are suffering adrenal gland disease.

"They were all running loose in this bedroom," Harris said. "It was pretty filthy."