>From:  Judith White
>People have said, based on the updates, that some shelters are wealthy
>and rolling in donations, when in fact they are under financial stress
>in spite of active fund-raising and careful management of resources.
 
If this were not so sad, it might send us both rolling in the floor laughing
huh Judith?  That anyone could think a 'real' ferret shelter could ever be
'wealthy' is astounding to me.  Most of us are lucky if we ever see black
ink on the books.  Many of us can speak from our struggles stating
confidently that a truly devoted shelter will never *profit* from rescue
work.  (BTW, if any shelter operator tells you they don't need money, RUN,
don't walk as fast as you can from this person.  They are either blatently
lying to you, or they are not 'really' operating a shelter that is taking an
active part in helping needy ferrets.  Either way, I would not put any stock
in anything they had to say.)
 
Troy Lynn did a beautiful and very accurate job of describing the life of a
shelter mom.  It was very interesting reading, as I truly didn't realize how
many small details in our lives are even similar.  We all keep odd hours,
get little sleep (if any) when nursing a sick 'kid', skip meals (simply no
time), make personal sacrifices to care for the 'kids' (no time or money),
and live from penny to penny trying to make ends meet and be sure the 'kids'
have everything they need.  But probably not a single one of us would give
it up.  Most of us are greatly rewarded for all we do everytime one of the
little fuzzies looks at us with those sweet little eyes, or one gives us
kisses, or we manage to snatch a kid from the jaws of death!  For most of
us, this is the reason we do what we do, and make the sacrifices we do.
 
I received a piece of personal mail from Chere McCoy, that I'd like to share
with everyone (I have her permission).  I think it illustrates very well
just to what level shelter operators give of themselves and the need for
shelter supporters, shelter ferret sponsors, shelter volunteers, etc....
 
>Subject:  Re: Monthly Update Changes
>From:     [log in to unmask]
 
>I read the first paragraph of this message and was thoroughly appalled!  It
>is evident to me (at least) that the people complaining have never ever in
>their entire lives run a shelter.  Care givers that run shelters NEVER make
>any money at all!!!  Care givers usually work just so they have money
>enough to buy incidentals such as: Litter, food, hammocks, play toys.
>Almost ALL MONEY DONATED to SHELTERS go for VET
>BILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>Last year our litter bill alone was somewhat over $1,000 - where did that
>come from?  It came from our shelter care giver Larry Huston (bought when
>we got groceries - not from donations).  Hammocks - those were made by
>FFIRCI people, Play toys - mostly gotten from Carpet shops and Grocery
>Stores (tubing from carpets and box's from the grocery store that we made
>ferret fun houses with).
>
>And you can tell whomever is complaining that most shelter care givers pay
>out of their own pockets when the Vet bills get to large and you have kids
>that need to see the vet and you simply can't charge anymore!!!
>
>Since I am on my soap box I will continue.  What about the SHELTER CARE
>GIVERS?  Did anyone every ask them when the last time they bought themselves
>something?  Something as simple as shoes, or new glass (so they can see the
>ferrets and what their doing) and hopefully I won't gross anyone out with
>this one: but underwear and other essentials?  You know why shelter care
>givers never buy anything for themselves and if you visit their shelter why
>you always see them in the same old cloths, ratty shoes, and broken glass'.
>It's because the people that run the shelters love the shelter kids and
>that's where their money goes.  I know many Shelter people that pawn their
>jewerly and sell their camera's, T.V's and other things so the shelter kids
>will not go without vet care or food.
>
>I don't know who is complaining - but it might be best that they be quiet
>and sit down until they have lived and walked in the shoes of Shelter Care
>Givers.
>
>Chere McCoy
>Ferret Friends of Indian River County International
>Ferret Friends Disaster Response International
 
Great letter Chere!!
 
Trish
Director, Ferrets First Rescue & Shelter
[Posted in FML issue 1805]