I have been reading the FML for a while now and am becoming more and more
concerned about the begging for dollars that has been going on.  Like Ms.
Riccio, I think any shelter that cannot support itself locally should
rethink their position.  I have a very serious problem with sending money
out blindly without knowing the true status of the shelters being helped.
 
Folks, please if you feel a need to share your cash with shelters, seek out
local shelters.  Visit them to make sure they are doing the type of work
with which you would want to be involved and then pull out the wallet.
Remember, many shelters could use the donation of time as well as money.
 
As for all of the suggestions regarding FML readers sending cash in to a
central fund, that sounds like a very reasonable concept.  EXCEPT .  .  .
whoever collects that cash and puts it into a bank -- after all, we wouldn't
want that amount of cash laying around the house or apartment -- would have
an additional $20,000 (the most recent suggestion, based on a donation of
$10 a year) of taxable income to account for until a tax-exempt status could
be arranged.  Any lawyers or accountants reading the FML can tell the rest
that while it is possible to set up a non-profit, tax-exempt status, it is
not easy and very heavily regulated.
 
So folks, we end up back to Ms. Riccio's original and excellent suggestion.
Support the local shelters with your time and cash.  This way you will be
able to get the satisfaction of seeing how your money is used to save the
ferrets about which you are so concerned.  Kind of a fuzzy return on your
investment.
 
Scott
and the seven ferreteers
Lovejoy, Miss Marple, Marlow, Ginger, Dix, Sam, Campion
[Posted in FML issue 1610]