Yesterday's FML contained a plea for help with medical bills for a ferret
injured by a recliner.  The ferret belongs to Jason Salazar.
 
I would like everyone to know that I have e-mailed him (and posted here) my
offer to help with this ferret IF he is willing to let it go to a shelter so
it can find another home.
 
I am not saying anything good or bad about Jason here guys, this is not a
flame, I am sure he loves this ferret dearly, I am speaking to anyone and
everyone who may decide to ask for help with bills for their ferrets.  Since
the ordeal with White Fang, I think this matter needs to be addressed before
someone takes it too far.
 
Let's not be taken advantage of folks, don't send money directly to anyone
on the FML who says they cannot afford to pay their bills.  We all know the
risks we take when we own ferrets and I really think most of us have our
hands full caring for our own.  If there truly is a situation where a ferret
owner cannot pay a bill, then he should let us know, accept our help and let
us find a new home for the fuzzie just as we did with White Fang.  It was
REQUIRED that her owner sign a paper agreeing to turn her over to us BEFORE
we paid for the surgery.  This will tell us just how "unable to pay the
bill" they really are, and just how much they really love the ferret.
 
If you would like to help out this ferret (here we go again), e-mail me to
let me know that, and if Jason *does* respond to my offer, then we can start
collecting, coordinate payment of that bill and the pick up of the ferret,
arrange holding, and evaluation, and new adoption.  I have not gotten my
phone bills in yet to know exactly how much, if any, extra I will have from
the White Fang Fund, but if there is any left and Jason agrees to my offer,
I will use the leftover for his ferret the we will see where we are.  DON"T
send money yet, let's see what happens.
 
As for the Emergency Fund some are trying to put together, please let me
know what you are doing and thinking on this, I can tell you from experience
that it is a bigger task than you think and has income tax considerations,
etc, etc, Non-Prifits are a nightmare, guys, and how can you insure that it
will not be taken advantage of by some??  I think one way would be to have
the ferret owner turn the ferret over to a shelter if the fund pays the
bills, then the adoption fee could go back into the fund and the ferret
would be placed into a home that could afford it's bills.  Any thoughts on
this???
 
Thanks,
 
Trish
 
[Moderator's note: Yes, Trish sent a very well written note to Jason and
copied the FML, but it was really just that - a note to Jason... I decided
not to post it on the FML since her note above covers it quite well.  Later
on in this issue you'll be glad to read that Jason was able to get funds for
this ferret by other means.
 
Seems like there have been a lot of such posts lately, some more blatant
than others.  Also lots of posts about people and shelters having ferrets
to place.  So, time to talk a bit about my policy for such things:
 
First off, the well-being of a ferret is the primary concern.  Emergencies
happen and if the FML can help to save a ferret, then a post is warranted.
But, as Trish pointed out, this list is to aid communication among ferret
lovers (fanatics?) - it's not for mass solicitation.  Many people on the
list would love to have aid with their vet bills but let's keep it to
emergencies, please.  Owning ferrets is a responsibility you must face in
good times as well as bad.
 
As for shelters, well, if all the shelters starting posting about all the
available ferrets the FML would be too big to even try to read.  But if
your shelter is suddenly overcrowded, or has an occassional special case
(for example, a hard to place ferret) then absolutely, it's appropriate to
post.
 
Individuals who need to give up their ferrets due to circumstances beyond
their control can post an explantion here - that's usually a one-time
situation and I have no problem with that.
 
So, in summary, the FML can be a great resource of last resort but I really
expect that other avenues would be explored first.  Thanks.  BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 1563]