Greetings!
Ok, I am probably going to be ticking a few people off but that ok - and I
won't appologize because I believe in what I am going to say.
 
I got a copy of a NAFA (yeah, I know) newletter, where Chuck Skaggs is
warning shelters and breeders to be careful when letting there whole ferrets
go - apparantly there have been cases of ferret pit fights with whole males
in season.
 
Breeders need to check up on their kits, or include the cost of fixing the
kit in the price ( I know a few who do this and kits are returned at six
months to be altered for "free").
 
But shelters, should NOT adopt out a whole ferret!  I know it cost money.  I
know it can get extremely expesive (ask my mortgage company - the when the
payment is late it because of vet expenses - worse yet they know it).
 
I believe that a shelter that is working for the betterment of the ferret
does all it can to prevent backyard, uneducated breeders.  We do not know
the history of the ferrets that come into our shelters, we do not know what
defects there may be in their genes - they may have had parents with severe
medical or eye problem, and they just don't show it yet.
 
We DO NOT want to add to the over populated pet problem, or the fact there
are so many unwanted ferrets.  The ferrets farms do a very good job of
making sure there will be plenty of ferrets that are unwanted.  In the past
two weeks, I have gotten in 14 ferrets, all pet store ferrets who were give
as Christmas presents - Oh they were so cute!  They are too much work!  Why
add to the problem.  Wait untile three months after Easter.  I was in one
pet shop ten miles from my shelter, they had fifty baby ferrets, and they
asked for alot of business cards - that way they can give them out, and the
unwanted ferrets will come to me.  They actually tell people to bring them
to me.
 
I guess what I am saying, if you are a shelter that adopts out whole
animals, stop please for the animals sake!  If you can't afford to fix
everyone, then maybe you should foster.  Ask vets for a discount, or to
donate time, get really good at begging.  I am - sometimes I get great
things for free as donations (ie food, cages, litter, internet access,
printing once in a while) I don't get as much as I ask for usually I'll ask
for 20 different items and get one.  But one is better than none.
 
Find out what it would take for you to become reconized as "not for profit"
it is not as good as "non profit" but if the IRS sees you as "not for
profit" the people who donate to you can use it as a deduction.  (I know I
just opened a whole new can of worms).
 
Anyway, I guess I am done.  If you want to blast me - go ahead.
 
Jean & the Zoo Crew
 
PS  Correction on ferret math:  One ferret plus one ferret equal an infinate.
[Posted in FML issue 1887]