OK folks, it's time to raise funds for a shelter again...only this time
it's a little different...
 
Many folks know that Ferret Wise shelter takes in some of the neediest
ferrets...the sick, the injured, the "special" cases that are hard to
handle and hard to place.  Although Alicia is up in New Hampshire with
her hands full of ferrets from the "Live Free or Die" state, she has not
hesitated to also assist Massachusetts by taking some of the worst biting
cases from pet stores and from Massachusetts shelters, often driving the
distance herself if no one can ferry the ferrets up to her.
 
Now Ferret Wise faces a large repair bill for the van.  At first it may
seem like a secondary concern to a shelter - a van rather than cages, vet
bills or food.  But when you consider the important things that Alicia
uses the shelter van for, it becomes very clear how vital this vehicle is
to the work being done at Ferret Wise...
 
The van is used to transport ferrets, sometimes from great distances, who
would otherwise be put to sleep by pet stores, or who need the special
"biters" work they can get at Ferret Wise
 
The van is used to get the shelter director to state meetings where she
lobbies successfully for changes to laws that help all of our ferret
friends and can help other states gain momentum to pass their own laws
protecting ferrets
 
The van transports Ferret Wise's educational displays to be set up at
locations where the general public can learn more about our beloved pets
who are still too often badly misunderstood and mistreated as a result
 
The van transports the piles of wonderful Ferret Wise bedding to ferret
events near and far to raise money for the shelter babies
 
For the Ferret Wise van to be out of commission, even for a short while,
would be a great loss to the ferret community as a whole.  This van is
part of the whole Ferret Wise package that works so hard to rescue
ferrets from far and near as well as to raise money for the shelter and
to educate and spread a positive message about ferrets.  Ferret Wise is
not just dedicated to its local area - it helps out its surrounding
states and does educational work that ends up in magazines and in the
news.  Ferret Wise is a full-service shelter in every sense of the word.
 
So, as ferret friends and lovers of ferrets who have probably all, in
some small or large way, benefitted from the work of Ferret Wise, let
us embark upon a different flavor of fund-raiser.
 
THE VAN-RAISER:
 
Here's the challange:
 
Find a card with a car on it.  Any car is good, but extra kudos if you
find a car with a van on it!!  A blank card, a funny card, any card.
 
Donate whatever you can spare, small or large.  Think about something
that can be skipped.  A morning latte at Starbucks, for example, with the
cost of the treat sent to Ferret Wise for the Van-Raiser.  While you are
sacrificing your treat, think good thoughts about all the good CAR-ma
you're storing up for later!!
 
The challenge is, let's see how much the Van-Raiser can pull in for the
repair of the Ferret Wise van, AND let's see if we can get a minimum of
100 cards with cars (or vans!) on them to Ferret Wise in the process.
 
The purpose for this is to not only donate funds and hopefully raise
enough to assist with the Ferret Wise endeavors, but also to let Alicia
know, by way of the "car cards", that we know and recognize what an
important part the van plays in the rescue of ferrets and the education
and lawmaking that help make ferrets' lives a little brighter.
 
So whether you give up your morning chi tea, your afternoon cheeseburger,
or a movie this weekend and instead send the $3, $5 or $9 to Ferret Wise
in a "car card", know that your personal sacrifice helps a shelter that
sacrifices a lot - time, money, and sometimes sanity!  - to not only
rescue ferrets in New Hampshire but also to endeavor to make life better
and safer for ferrets everywhere.
 
Meet my challange of sending at least 100 cards with cars or vans on them
to Ferret Wise with donations inside to help fix the Ferret Wise van!!!
 
Sincerely,
Heather W.
A Ferret Wise shelter friend
[Posted in FML issue 4384]