I've mulled over writing this for a few weeks and now that I decided to
do so I am still hesitant but I have to put my two cents worth in
again.

Since I found out about the Giving Tree in 2008 I have saved money for
an entire year to buy for shelters and ferrets on the Giving Tree in
2009 and this year. It's fun and it is so helpful for the shelters. I
can just imagine shelters with oodles of packages on Christmas Day and
ferrets tearing them open. This was what the Giving Tree was meant for.
To the person or people who came up with the idea...Way to Go...You're
brilliant. What a Wonderful Idea.

I was dismayed in 2008 when I found on one of the Trees a hoarder who
had taken to claiming they were a shelter so people would stop accusing
them of being a hoarder. They were anything but a shelter as they
purchased each of the dozens of animals they had and even went out of
state to buy intact males from a breeder. Now under the guise of a
shelter they were listed on the SOS shelter list asking for donations
and had ferrets on the Giving Tree asking for donations there. These
animals were their pets and they were asking for hand outs for animals
they had the money to purchase. They didn't need the money but were
playing a game not thinking about the real shelters and their need for
money, bedding, food and medical needs or the fact that they might be
taking the food out of a hungry ferret's mouth or from the wonderful
shelter parents mouth.

This year I see another shelter listed on the Tree that has been closed
for quite a while and their personal ferrets listed on the Tree. They
are also still listed on the SOS shelter list as well. Again, people
ruining it for the real shelters and taking food out of the mouths of
shelter ferrets or the shelter parents.

The Giving Tree is meant to be fun but it is also serious business.
This is meant to help shelters get the much needed things they can't
afford. Maybe you non-shelters want to play a game but you are taking
away from needy shelters, some just trying to keep food in the bowls.
Some admit how badly they are in need and Bless their Hearts for doing
without themselves to take care of the animals in their care. Shame on
you non-shelters for putting your pets on the Tree. The animals of
yours that were chosen means that much less for the truly needy real
shelters when you could have bought for your own.

I do not mean to take away from the fun and joy of the Giving Tree but
it makes me wonder just how many other non-shelter pet owners might be
on the list. Would you please take into consideration that there are
ferrets and people out there who really need the items and money that
the Tree brings in. It's too late for this year as now all the ferrets
have been picked but maybe you can leave yourselves off next year.
Maybe, after Christmas you could make it right this year and send some
of the things you received to the poor shelter ferrets whose Santas
didn't come through. Loving Hearts is having a real problem and needs
all she can get.

Again, it is not my intention to ruin the fun of the Tree but I had to
speak up hoping to get into the conscious of the pet owners. I love the
Giving Tree and want to see it go on for as long as possible. I just
want to see it used for the right ferrets and shelters. I even donated
to a shelter that did not list on the Tree as she felt the other
shelters needed it more. She needed to have something under the tree
for her ferrets for what she was doing for the other shelters. This is
a shelter folks who kept herself off the tree to help others when you
pet owners are putting yourselves on it. Bless you Millie.

I find that in writing this I just can't stop ranting. I've already
written a book and I think everybody is getting the idea. Let the
Giving Tree be for those who really need it.

Thank you for your time and attention and HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU
ON TWO FEET OR FOUR!!!

Thanks,
Carolyn L. Distel

[Posted in FML 6919]