This year for Christmas, I don't want much. I have pretty much
everything I need. I have been very lucky this year to get by, and had
all my needs and my shelter needs met. Yes, we still have medical bills
to pay, but they will get paid. We have the heating season to get
through, but I am sure we will. What I would like is for everyone to
thank a shelter owner. I am sure most of you know a shelter owner,
whether it be a larger ferret shelter run by a team of people or a
smaller privately owned shelter run by one or two people. I don't think
alot of people understand what it means to a person who is in charge of
a shelter. Just getting out of the house for a day requires a week of
planning. We can't go away for a week, it is just impossible.
My name is Marguerite and I personally run a private family owned and
operated shelter. We have the furkids not in a rented building, but
in our playroom. Like many individuals like me, I don't think people
realize what our day includes, or the work involved. Whether one is
sick and not feeling well, or you have a day that is not going well, you
still need to be there to clean the shelter. Now I am a small shelter,
housing just 25 residents right now. Here is a breakdown of our work
load each day and the materials used:
11 cages to clean:
Change towels and bedding as needed-at least one time per week-Shopvac
out bottom of cages to clean up wood pellets and spilled food.
2 playyards to clean
Change towels and bedding, shop vac up food and pellets, change out toys
to prevent boredom
40 lbs of woodpellets used for 25 ferrets each day (haul in clean-haul
out dirty)
Clean and fill 17 water bottles (about 4 1/2 gallons of water each day)
Towels Used-26 Large bath towels, 2 small hand towels used. All changed
one time/week, some more often. Translates into 1 load of ferret wash
each day.
Hammocks/bedding Used-47 pieces (must be changed each week and washed)
Cups of food used/week-142.5 cups
Treats Used/week- 156 ozs each week
16 ozs of Bi Odor each week
1 Tube of Ferretvite each week
1- 8 oz bottle of Ferrettone each week (2 bottles/week during shedding
season)
1/2 bottle of Melatoin each week
20 Cheweasels/week
2 tubs of Vaseline and 1 bottle of Olive Oil/week- during shedding season
1 Large Tub of Baby Wipes/week (Cleaning of bottom of cages and litter
pans)
15 litter pans to scoop and clean
2-3 hours of Active Fundraising (Ebay and planning the Informational
Days)
50 ears to clean each week (1 large Q-Tip Container used every 2 weeks)
500 nails to clip each week ( A FEAT IN ITSELF!)
1 Bottle of Sheppard and Greene Smell Good Spray each week
1 Bottle Of Four Paws Grooming Spray Each week
Numerous Room Deodorizers to keep us smelling good!
Keep in mind, I only have 25 Unwanted ferrets in my shelter. Everyday,
this takes me approximately 2 1/2 hours to clean and care for. Grooming
days, a bit more Now that is not to mention the once a month total wipe
down of cages. That cleaning takes about 4-6 hours. So this year, if
you know a shelter owner, small or large scale shelter, Send them a thank
you note for taking care of these ferrets who we all love and cherish.
It will mean so much more to them than anything materialistic. If you
have a chance..........volunteer!
Thanks you for reading. I am off to clean!
Marguerite Rauenzahn
TinyPrints On The Heart.....
TinyPrints Shih Tzu, TinyPrints Ferretry and Rescue
http://www.tinyprintsontheheart.com
To Give To Our Kids this Christmas-The Giving Tree
http://givingtree.friendsoffuzzies.com/page4.html
Our Petfinder Page
www.petfinder.org/shelters/PA369.html
TinyPrints Ferret Rescue Ebay and Half.com Stores
http://www.stores.ebay.com/tinyprintsferretrescuestore
http://half.ebay.com/shops/shops.jsp?seller_id=1093064
[Posted in FML issue 4698]
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