Alicia,
 
I am not sure where you got the feeling that I was undermining shelter
ferrets.  I will admit that one line of my post could have been taken
that way, but it was not meant to demean shelters or the shelter
operators, but rather to make the point of the burden some of these kids
place on the resources of the shelter.  I am sorry if I didn't state it
clearly in my post, but hope this clarifies my intent.  Alicia, you have
known me long enough to know that I have the greatest respect for every
shelter operator and that I am not someone who goes out of their way to
hurt anyone's feelings.  I am afraid that you missed the whole intent of
the post by focusing on one small phrase.
 
The shelter is the first line of defense for the ferret.  Once the
ferret has been processed into the shelter system, it then becomes the
responsibility of the shelter operator to assess that ferret's chances
for adoption.  Many of the ferrets that go out to an "unlicensed,
uninspected" home would have ended up ended up as permanent shelter
residents and a continued financial burden on the shelter.  In some
cases, and you know this all too well, there are some ferrets that stand
no chance for adoption other than by a person who has the heart to adopt
(and I stress the word adopt) these unwanted kids.
 
In a case of an individual dedicating their life to caring for these
unwanted kids, they are going it alone.  There is no Board or commitee
or volunteers to help with the chores, the vet bills, the long-term
medications.  Why should anyone be condemned for finding a way to help
with these expenses?  Whatever the means might be.  Anyone who is willing
to take in those ferrets that are unwanted or unadoptable, make room in
the shelter for a very adoptable ferret.  It would seem to me that this
would go far in helping the shelter to re-coup funds on having the room
to take in an adoptable ferret.
 
Rather than looking at this as being "competition", why can't we look at
it as a means of helping ferrets who now have a "forever" home.  Also, if
I might add, there are direct donations going to a SHELTER that is in
dire straights.
 
Phyllis M. Spy
Massachusetts Ferret Friends, Inc.
______________________________________________
A non-profit organization dedicated to education, outreach and shelter to
benefit the domestic ferret
[Posted in FML issue 4488]