Because of Jackie Hawley's loss of Ben and Jeremy this week, I have looked
back over the FML Shelter List which I just posted to all of you through
BIG.  Barbara is listed as a branch of the S. Florida shelter and she is
listed as a 501(c)3 organization.  I believe the FL Dept. of State shows
that the corporation for the So. FL Ferret club and Rescue was dissolved
on 9/23/00 and so I think Barbara could not have retained their 501(c)3
status for herself.
 
Here is one of the weaknesses of the shelter list.  I cannot check up on
everyone who wishes to join the list, and that is one reason I ask for the
name and address of the shelter's vet.  If S.O.S. is considering sending a
donation to a shelter, we can talk with their vet.  This is also the reason
we never send cash to a shelter, only donations towards vet bills or gift
certificates to Jeffers or The Ferret Store... so that even if the shelter
is not honest with us, at least only an animal can benefit from our
donation.  We suggest all of you do the same with any shelters you don't
know personally.
 
I also keep shelters on the list even when I have not heard from them.  I
give them the benefit of the doubt and keep a shelter on the list at least
one or two times that I haven't heard from them.  This was the case with
Barbara and this list.  She never responded to my mail, and I'm sure of
that because I keep my entries from every shelter until the next time I do
an update.  In other words, her entry is out of date.
 
As for the situation between Jackie and Barbara, I only know it second
hand.  However we all know that it was Jackie who worked so hard to care
for him, and we know she is willing to hand feed him soft food several
times a day to care for his injured mouth, which is still a problem.  My
daughter has just adopted a ferret who was obviously much loved by the
little boy who became allergic to him.  He's sweet and loving and playful,
but it's easy to see that he is also sad and confused about where his
little boy has gone to.  I hate the idea of Jackie's two ferrets having
to leave a loving home.  It seems so unfair to the little guys.
 
People are speculating that Barbara took Ben to get the attention from the
AFA, but that seems unrealistic, don't you think?  The people in the AFA
know Ben's story, and Barbara could hardly expect them to give her credit
for caring for Ben when everyone knows Jackie is the one who nursed him
back to health.
 
Jackie is so well loved by the people who know her, and her work with Ben
touched so many of our hearts, I'm sure there will be strong reactions to
these events.  I hope you will try persuasion before flames for the sake of
the ferrets.
 
Blessings
Judith
[Posted in FML issue 3268]