The first named storm of the 2006 hurricane season has come and gone.
Fortunately, despite a sudden brief intensification, Alberto did minimal
damage.  We cannot expect our collective luck to hold.

The Emergency Love Fund was established last spring to provide assistance
for shelters and ferrets during natural and man-made disasters.  The
timing was fortuitous.  During last year's hurricane season, almost
$4,500 was dispersed from ELF to help ferret victims.  Over 50 ferret
victims of Katrina were directly assisted, many more indirectly.  By
far the greatest amount was spent on vet bills.

Over the last few months, a new group, the Ferret Emergency Response
Rescue and Evacuation Team (FERRET) was formed.  Members of FERRET are
trained and experienced in disaster response, emergency management
operations, shelter operations and emergency transport, ferret health
and education.  We have worked cooperatively with humane organizations;
local, state and federal emergency management and law enforcement
agencies; veterinarians and fellow volunteers.  FERRET's goal is to help
more ferrets during the future disasters.  If you are interested in
working with FERRET, visit our web site at
http://www.ferretemergency.org/

FERRET and the IFC are working closely together.  ELF is currently the
primary focus of fund raising to assist in FERRET activities.

The International Ferret Congress will have a vendor table at the IFC
Ferret Aid 2006 in Toronto next week.  All proceeds from the sale of
transcripts, tshirts, bedding and patches will be donated to ELF (except
for the raffle for the LOTR ticket, which is going to DIM research).
We will also be selling raffle tickets for a special basket of bedding
and supplies, and for the beautiful quilt donated by Ardith Raines to
benefit ELF.  See
http://www.ferretcongress.org/ELF.html
for details on the quilt.

Information on direct donations to ELF are available on the IFC web
site.  Donations are tax deductible.

Linda Iroff
Co-Director, International Ferret Congress
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
Board Member, FERRET
http://www.ferretemergency.org/
[Posted in FML issue 5275]