Jenni and Ennis all others (sorry, I haven't figured out how to save the
rest of the posts to view them,)
 
Thank you for summing up what we adopters have to deal with.  First of all,
in many cases the adoption application is used as an initial screening tool.
Bear in mind that many shelters are run out of peoples' homes to reduce the
financial burden.  I don't let just anyone visit my home.  Besides ferrets I
have dogs, fish, expensive birds and then my personal belongings, all are
the reason I have to work to feed and take care of.  I personally don't ask
about "marital status," but I do need to know who else "resides" in the home
for reasons of compatibility, i.e. do they respect animals in general,
capabilities to properly care for an animal and even whether someone is
asthmatic or has allergies.  Information is used to make as close of a match
as possible.  I've told people that I would recommend ferret B over ferret A
based on this/these reasons pertaining to your particular lifestyle.  I also
need to believe that a person can financially take care of the ferret.  I
don't ask to know their income, just that they have some.  Food, and many
other necessities cost money and has to come from somewhere.  Recently one
applicant screened extremely well, but the only income source was child
support.  What would you say?  Child support needs to support a child, not a
pet.  The bottom line is that these poor ferrets have been "homeless" for
one reason or another and we shelter people do not want to see them without
a home again.  Once is more than enough.
 
I  could go on and on, but I have litter pans to clean!  :)
 
Bridget
[Posted in FML issue 2287]