Not wanting to get off on a tangent that has more to do with raising
children than ferrets, I would agree that the concept of offering
babysitting as the fee for a child to adopt a ferret sounds, in principle,
like a way for the child to realize the costs and joys of true ownership and
to simultaneously learn something about responsibility and accountability.
 
However, I would bet that most parents would prefer that if anyone, not just
a shelter operator, was going to make this kind of offer, then it should be
offered to the PARENT for their consideration.  After all, it is the
parent's choice on how to raise their child and what lessons they want their
child exposed to and when.  From the original post, we don't know how it was
offered, to the child or to the parent, and in what tone (e.g., was it
explained to the parent that the babysitting would offset a cost incurred by
the shelter operator along with the mutual benefits and disadvantages?).
And depending on the moods of the people involved at the time, we don't know
how it was given or taken.  Personally, depending on people involved, the
situation at the time, and the way presented, I could have also accepted or
refused the offer as an adoption fee.  However, as noble as an idea it might
of been, the respect we pay to each other, adults and children, through
proper communication can only help to enhance our understanding of each
other's interests and maximize mutual gains.
 
Now, about Gus.  I chopped off the front hypotenuse of his triangular litter
pan (16" sides, 22" hypotenuse) to about 1 inch high and filled all of the
other floor space with rags.  His hit rate has jumped to about 85% in his
cage and is still improving using apple as a treat.  Removing the wall
eliminated the perceived corner just outside his cage.  To make the training
take, I first placed some of the urine soaked newspaper in the litter box.
The pine pellets absorbe the urine so well, that I wonder if even Gus can
smell it!  I took it out a couple of days later and had a couple of misses.
But now he's using his pan 100% for the last 36 hours - too early to feel
like a complete success, but definately a sense of victory!
[Posted in FML issue 1814]