Hello Guru's
 
After reading yesterdays post (When Ferrets are Advertised "For Sale") it
really got me thinking and I felt I needed to respond.  As most of you know
(Hi, Dee, Kat, Rachel, Rick, Pam) my post take you down a road of humorous
adventure and seriousness is usually reserved for work.  But here it goes.
 
First Melissa!  This is not a flame :-)  I have to admit you did one of
the best jobs I've seen so far for anticipating and covering potential
responses.  However I think you might have missed a couple.
 
Before I get started let me say this!  I think most shelters (especially
the ones here in southern Ohio.  Hi Lori, Debbie, Linda) do a great job.  In
fact as soon as we get our new home built we may start one ourselves.  I
know these folks put in a lot of time and effort for little or no financial
gain in fact I'm sure many shelters run in the red most of the time.  All
for the love of ferrets.  One key thing that most, if not all shelters do,
is they screen potential adopters and even that is no guaranty that they
will be well taken care of.
 
But one thing I've always thought about when buying a rescued ferret (we
have three rescued ferrets) and it has been mentioned many times on the FML,
is the stress ferrets go through during a relocation process.  Let's face
it, most of the ferrets are purchased at pet stores.  So how many hands do
these animals go through before they reach what should be their final home.
 
I also know that sometimes circumstances arise that require us to do things
we would normally never do.  I also believe that a majority of unwanted
ferrets never see the likes of ferret knowledgeable people or shelters.  I,
like so many people on this list are eager to help and inform those who know
nothing or very little about our little friends.  I cringe every time I hear
"I didn't know that!" especially when I'm telling them something vital to
their pets health.  I know I am preaching to the choir.
 
But here is the point
 
The shelters I have dealt with charge as much as $100.00 for rescued ferrets
depending on age, health and color.  They typically don't included a cage,
food, toys or any other items you would need (I'm not saying they should).
So why is it easier to justify spending the money with a shelter than
helping some individual who is already facing a situation they probably
would rather not be in?  Let's face it monetary compensation (in your
context) is requested to help cover cost NOT PROFIT in both cases.  If we
were really doing what is best for the ferret I would think limiting its
transfer from one person to another is the best possible scenario.  A
shelter is just another hand.
 
I'm not nearly as trusting as you are.  Unfortunately there are people in
this world who could con you into believing animals are their whole life
and within a couple of hours be selling them to who knows.  It has already
happened to some people on this list.  But as you mentioned before money is
a big discriminator and can sometimes ensure that the person buying is
serious.
 
Just Wednesday a couple contacted us about taking a ferret that they must
give up, because they are moving and their new apartment does not allow
pets.  They tried to find an apartment that would take pets but the extra
cost was too much.  They were asking $100.00 for the 10-month-old dark sable
male, cage and everything that they had gotten for him.  The most important
thing to them was finding him a good home.  This couple was young I'm
guessing around late teens - early twenties and had a son maybe a year old.
I would venture to say that a $100 is a good some of money for them.  They
had already turned down two people who wanted the ferret because they felt
he would not be well taken care of.  They asked if we could help them find a
suitable home and if time ran out they offered to give us the ferret, cage
and everything they had bought for him.  I have to admit I was very
impressed.  In thirteen years of ferret ownership and involvement I have
never run into a single person with a "SHOW ME THE MONEY" attitude.
 
I don't know about you, but responsibility whether it is kids, marriage and
pets always cost!  You have the right to choose just how much responsibility
you want.  This is just my opinion.
 
Have great weekend and we will see some of you at the GLFA show in
Belleville, MI.  Saturday.
 
Jerry, Nita and the six sock scarf's (Say that six times fast!)
[Posted in FML issue 2309]