Have been reading the FML for awhile now and have got some great info here!
Now I need HELP!! I am afraid I may be in over my head!! (kinda normal
for me!) First, a little background: about 18 months ago I took a job at a
god-awful place-a pet store. I only lasted about 2 months because I am a
major animal lover!(I am owned by a horse, goat, dog, 5 cats, hamster,
guinea pig, hedgehog, parrot, rat, Degu, 3 fish tanks and two wonderful
ferrets), and one such as I should not attempt to work in a place such as
this! When the nightmares started, I had to quit, but I was there long
enough to fall head over heels for the ferrets! Decided I had to have a
couple, put a nice cage and all the supplies I needed on layaway and in
January I finally brought my two boys home! I do not exaggerate when I say
that almost all of the information on ferrets I received from the pet store
was inaccurate!! Being owned by these guys has turned my world upside
down!! I adore them! And I wish more people could know the joys of
ownership! This is the place where I got in over my head!! The owner of
the pet store where I bought my boys-(a small privately owned one-not a
part of any chain)has agreed to let me do a Ferret Awareness Day at his
store! I have been after him for several weeks to allow me to do one, but
I never really thought he would agree-he has! I see this as my chance to
not only educate whatever public happens by, but also to educate the pet
store workers!! He has given me free reign to do whatever I want-as long
as it doesn't cost him any money!! So here is my plea! I admit, I am a
new ferret owner and I do not know all I should-but I am learning! I
have pulled some great stuff off the internet and have had the aid of a
wonderful, wonderful person(Hi Fran!)who is busy in her own area! If
anyone out there knows of things that would help me-please let me know!
I have printed off the new Ferret Owner Manual-by Dick Bossart to make
copies of. I am not a surfer-I like to go and get what I need-not browse
around(although I guess I miss an awful lot because of this!) But I just
don't have the hours it takes to search for things! I am visiting a
shelter tomorrow night and am hoping to pick up some good stuff there
(Stuff-not ferrets! Fertiplication will not get me!)!! I also have to
foot the bill for this project! I have many wonderful ideas to raise money
during the awareness day-that money will be used for further education
projects and part will be donated to the shelter in my area. But how do I
raise money to help me get started! I have a small amount to work with and
I am running auctions on ebay and yahoo, but after checking the cost of
advertising-I realize I will need more. There are 3 local printers that I
have written to explaining what I am doing and have asked for their rock
bottom price on copies-as I know I will need a bunch of those, too!
Hopefully, one of them will come through with a good price. I thought
about writing letters to the many people I know asking for small donations,
but isn't this a little presumptuous? However-I will do what I need to do!
I just am not sure how to proceed from here! The pet store owner is
allowing me to set up out front his store-he is located right beside a huge
Wal-mart. I have already talked to a photographer friend who will do a
"picture with your ferret" thing and he will donate a portion of his
profits. Should I attempt to get someone else in? Any suggestions? I
also want to see if there will be enough interest to organize a "Ferret
Walk" maybe in the fall! Haven't a clue how to do that? Are these like
the "walk-a-thons" my daughter has participated in where people pledge so
much money for each mile, or is there a flat entry fee, or is no money
collected, and it's just for fun? I know this is long so I will end!
Anyone with any suggestions that might help-please feel free to e-mail me!
Thank you all for taking the time
to read this! Della and the tumbleweeds
Tyson(Aw Ma-it's just an ear!)
Einstein(Leave me alone-I'm thinking!)
[Posted in FML issue 2717]
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