>From: zen and the art of ferrets - bill and diane <[log in to unmask]>
>We wonder why some people think they and they alone KNOW what is best
>for ferrets.
We wonder why some breeders have a holier than though attitude towards
those of us who are involved in only rescue work.
>A shelter operating out of a store front should expect to be treated
>like a store.
Interesting concept; sounds like a dirty word from the tone of your
statement. All of the humane societies in our area and in most areas of the
US of A operate out of a store front, they too sell supplies in an attempt
to support a portion of their shelter and I'm proud to be one of those
non-profit shelters who care very deeply for dumped ferrets (and all
animals), and who do the best they can to provide good *permanent* homes
for these recycled ferrets.
>Shelter do need to understand that customers keep them in business too
You really don't get it do you! I do NOT want to be in the shelter
business! The humane societies do not wish to be in the shelter business.
We're in business only because there are too many animals being bred and
dumped onto the impulse buying public. Those two 10 week old ferrets from
my previous post were purchased from Petco only a month previous. They
were dumped along with their new cage, hammocks and tons of accessories.
(Ferrets $160 ea = $320, cage $149, litter boxes $16, hammocks $48, bowls &
water bottles about $12, several toys $10, food, feretone, treats $20---
TOTAL about $575 + 8.6% sales tax (yeah, but we don't have a state tax).
And yes, Petco takes credit cards.Why were they dumped? Well, Petco told
their "potential clients" they were already descented, but they weren't sure
that they really were because the ferrets 'smelled so bad' that they
couldn't live with them. (Geeze, these are sweet smelling babies.)
Bill and diane's ferrets belong to then and they can continue to sell them
to whoever walks through their front door. BUT....as long as there are
people who follow THAT path there will be those of us who have to follow
behind with a pooper scooper. Oops, I guess I meant to say with a shelter.
>When one shelter is unco-operative to potential clients it makes
>it harder for the other shelters as was pointed out in Sandi's post.
How can you possibly be disappointed by that? The potential adoptor (what
you call a "potential client") merely went to the nearest pet store to
complete her impulse purchase. Since many breeders sell directly to pet
stores, I'd think that you would be delighted by that.
>From: dfrazier <[log in to unmask]>
>Would that we all could be so well mannered and controlled in these
>circumstances...
Darn, I think I just momentarily lost that well mannered control. :-)
However, I will continue to do the best I can to place these ferrets who
have crossed my path, into the best possible homes that I can find. And
until I begin receiving financial support from bill and diane (nope, I'm
not holding my breath), I'll continue to do it *my* way.
Sandi
Best Little Rabbit, Rodent & Ferret House
Seattle, WA
[Posted in FML issue 2248]
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