Some of us are willing to take in the old and sick.  In these situations,
it makes sense for the shelters to reduce or waive the adoption fee
as those ferrets will need medical care that we will be paying for
ourselves.  Perhaps instead of an adoption fee, the people could
volunteer cleaning cages, loving ferrets, etc for the shelter for several
hours.  It would probably cost about $7 an hour to pay someone to do
these tasks so if one were to work the equivalent time for the shelter
as the reduced adoption rate for the oldsters then everyone wins.  The
ferrets get the extra love and attention, the shelter gets more tasks
done in less time, the volunteer gets to do something really helpful and
meaningful AND gets a new family member, and the oldsters(s) get a new
family and home.  Please do not separate oldster pairs or groups as
ferrets bond very closely and separating bonded ferrets could be deadly.
 
It's a win/win situation for all.
 
For each ferret that gets a home, there is another cage open, less work
for the shelter operators, less supplies/food expense, less medical
expense, etc.  It's important for shelter operators to look at the entire
picture and not the loss of an adoption fee.  They actually gain so much
more!
 
Of course there is the issue of making sure the volunteers are
responsible and loving, and not another Morrison of the ferret world.
Ask for references from those potential homes (vets, friends,
associates), make home visit or have other volunteers do so for the
shelter.
 
The priority here are the ferrets.
 
Come on people, let's make this happen!!!!
 
hugs. tle
Troy Lynn Eckart, F.B.S.
Ferret Family Services
http://www.ferretfamilyservices.org
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~sprite/ffs.html
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/5481/
Please sign up to support our efforts
http://www.iGive.com/FFS
[Posted in FML issue 3883]