In Response to comments:
 
>From: Dee Eisenman
>Most shelters that I have seen, that do breed, are doing it to generate
>more money
 
Generate money???  From WHERE??  I lose money in sheltering and I lose
money in breeding... so where exactly is this money being generated??
Please show me, I could use it.
 
>BUT how many times does a person come in to adopt and end up taking a kit
>instead of the older ferret?
 
Actually never, in fact more often the opposite occurs.  Due to many
reasons.
 
1. I only have limited numbers of kits per year.
2. Unless a person specified UP FRONT they ONLY are interested in a kit,
   I always promote the rescues first because they are in more need of a
   home.
3. I promote rescues as better choices for first time owners, families
   with young children or people who already have an older ferret at home.
   Some people may come not sure what they are looking for, but I have
   NEVER ONCE had someone come looking for a rescue and leave with one of
   my kits.
 
Unless you are breeding and running a rescue yourself, I do not see how
you can possibly make these assumptions.
 
>This is the main reason I think that shelters should not breed.
 
THIS is the biggest misconception.  I know for myself and many others, I
was not a shelter who decided to breed.  I am a breeder who later chose to
open the shelter because I felt if I was bringing kits into the world I
had a moral obligation to help those ferrets less fortunate.  There was not
a functioning rescue in my town, and when ferrets got dumped at vets and
pounds they kept calling me to come get them ... when I realized a need, I
choose to open the shelter.  As Sam pointed out.... each (responsible)
individual takes on the burden they feel prepared to carry.
 
I am a small breeder, perhaps 4-6 litters per year tops, this town is also
still a "small" shelter area... I average 5-7 rescues at any given time and
have never had more than 13 at once.  Now, if someday this area became like
other areas and I have 25, 30, 40 rescues..... I may reconsider my decision
to do both or further limit my numbers of litters.
 
>I find it amusing that this same shelter has repeatedly produced kits
>since then.
 
If this is true, then yes it may be possible you have an unethical person
in this situation.  They are out there.  But why take their actions and
judge the rest of us by them?
 
Susan
Rescue Shelter & Private Hobby Breeder And Proud Of Both Accomplishments.
Ferrets Unlimited Rescue of Tulsa
Fanciful Ferrets By Pegasus
[Posted in FML issue 3213]