>From: Anonymous Poster <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Gabriel
>I don't understand, if the shelter owner needs money for the medical care
>of Gabriel, how can they afford to go to Florida --- does this make sense?
It is called LOVE!!!! It is also called SELF-SACRIFICE!!!!
I will be happy to explain how Alicia, and how *I* will be able to go to
Florida. First of all, we are NOT going to "Disney World" or for "fun" or
for a "leisurely vacation". We are going to Florida to *WORK*. We have
been invited to attend the HSUS Expo (Humane Society of the United States)
there this week to help further the interests of ferrets, and hopefully have
an impact "for ferrets" on the entire humane community, some of whom still
believe ferrets are 'wild animals' and who strongly discourage them as pets.
If you can't see the advantage in this, let me explain just one issue this
could greatly impact, that is, legalization of ferrets in every state. If
the HSUS took a more positive stance on the side of ferrets, those states
holding out and refusing to legalize ferrets would feel much more pressure
to legalize ferrets. It will also impact cities where ferrets are still
illegal and I personally live near about 10 of those!! So this could even
impact "my local adoptions".
There are many, many more hidden impacts that our trip will likely have, but
she and I do not wish to make all of our intentions public at this time,
these things will come to light as time passes. Alicia and I have much,
much larger goals than simply assisting and rescuing dozens of local
ferrets, though that is very important to us, there are ways we can have an
even far greater impact, to save thousands of ferret lives.
Secondly, those who are closest to Alicia's shelter and to mine fully
understand our financial situations and they appreciate the work we do. No,
neither she nor I can afford this trip, but we feel it is important and are
willing to sacrifice our time and energy to be there in the interests of
ferrets everywhere in this country. It is *our supporters* who have decided
that we will go on this trip, and who have had to twist our arms repeatedly
to get us to *allow* them to help us go, because they feel our experience
and our intimate connections with ferrets and the ferret community will make
the impact so desperately needed. A handful of people, who know us
personally, are paying for our trip, our hotel room, and our Expo passes
**out of THEIR pockets**. I have had to scrape by (moreso than usual) for
the last month to gather even enough money to pay for my taxi to and from
the airport (no other alternative) and for my meals. This is all Alicia or
I will be paying for, thanks to the LOVE of certain OTHERS for FERRETS.
It is extremely hard for shelter mom's simply to *leave* their kids!
Gabriel will be well taken care of at the hospital, but many others at
Alicia's shelter and at mine will be on our minds constantly while we are
gone. She happens to be married, so her husband and a couple others will be
able to handle the shelter load while she is away. I, on the other hand,
must enlist the support of local club members to take 39 ferrets into their
homes to care for them, while I am away. Mork is terminally ill and it
kills me to leave him! But it is for the good of all ferrets! Luckily, he
has taken a drastic turn for the *better* over the last couple of days so I
may be able to handle being away from him. He will need hand-feeding every
few hours while I am gone, and believe me, if I did not have devoted ferret
lovers like Michael Runyon and Larry Fewell to care for him while I am away,
I simply would not be able to go! *They* are making sacrifices just like I
am for this trip! So are several others!! They love these ferrets too, and
they *support* what I do.
If you think Alicia and I have money to blow, then you need to visit our
shelters and take a look in our closets for example. We are both
*borrowing* clothes for this trip. Look in my refrigerator! It is pretty
bare, I can tell you, though there is plenty of Duck Soup in there. Look at
my empty bank accounts, look at my outstanding vet bills, look at the other
bills stacked on my desk. Ask me how many hours of sleep I get each night.
We don't live fancy, but we take care of every single need these kids have
and we hope to be able to help alot more ferrets by making the sacrifices
necessary to go on this trip.
You raised a legitimate question! I am actually glad you did, as others may
be thinking the same thing you are. I don't mean to sound so angry in this
message, you just struck a nerve with me. I wanted to set the record
straight for all who may have the same valid question that you have raised.
Stick around! Read the FML regularly and you will soon learn how much
Alicia, Troy Lynn, myself, and dozens of other shelter mom's and dad's give
to these ferrets. You'll learn of the personal sacrifices we gladly make,
though you have to read between the lines to see these, we don't often let
folks know of the things we personally need or do without, as they are too
generous and it is difficult for us to accept their love and sharing without
becoming teary-eyed, and without feelings that we don't deserve *this much*
love from others, we are of a *giving* nature, not a *taking* one.
These are the facts folks, you can flame me if you want, but it will be a
waste of effort as I won't respond to them, and they will be immediately
"deleted". It is too bad this poster who raised this question had to post
"anonymously", I would have like to know who he/she is and direct them to
people who have actually been to my home/shelter, and Alicia could do the
same. That would definitely set the record *straight*.
As for Gabriel, yes he needs everyone's support!! If you don't feel his
cause is a worthy one, then by all means, please, *do not* contribute to his
care. But if by chance you do want to help, then please do so! He is an
innocent victim, deserving, and very appreciative of everyone's support.
Trish
Director, Ferrets First Rescue & Shelter
[Posted in FML issue 1841]
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