While you may not see many shelters asking directly for funds or physical
help, the majority do need your support.  Many shelter operators spend
countless hours nursing sick and dying ferrets and cleaning up after the
little ones.  They do this not as a hobby, but as a service to ferrets, to
make the world a better place for those that cross their paths.
 
There are ways to provide financial support without actually sending a cash
donation directly to a shelter - 1) Send the donation to the ferret store
to apply to the shelter account of your choice (the amount will be applied
to their account and the shelter will receive notice that the donation was
made) or 2) send the donation to the shelter's vet and ask that it be
applied to the shelter account or send it in the vets name to the shelter
address so they can take it to the vet themselves (if sending donation to
the vet be sure to let the shelter know so they can make sure their account
is credited correctly).
 
Other ways to provide support are - surf iGive for your shelter choice,
send SayIt cards (any shelter can create a card and earn a penny each time
their card is sent out), if the shelter is affiliated with one of the pet
supply stores to make purchases through the link on their page, and to buy
their products (on auctions or from the advertising FML list).
 
If you live near a shelter, contact them and ask if you can come help clean
cages or clean house.  At this time of year there are outside chores too
such as lawn mowing, tree trimming or if you are mechanically inclined ask
if they need any repairs done.  Many shelters will spend more time cleaning
for the ferrets than they will for themselves and household repairs may be
put on the back burner because they put the ferrets first above all else.
If there isn't one near you, try to support one in another manner.
 
Please, don't think that if you don't see a plea here on the fml that your
shelter doesn't need help.  If you aren't sure what you can do for your
shelter, call/email them and ask what they need most.  Remember that ferret
shelters are run out of peoples homes and that they don't recieve any
state/federal/local funding like the dog/cat pounds do.
 
And to the shelter operators - graciously accept the sincere offers from
those that want to help.  It is their way of making this a better world
too.
 
Warm hugs to all. tle
Troy Lynn Eckart
Ferret Family Services
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~sprite/ffs.html
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/5481/
Please sign up to support our charity
http://www.iGive.com/html/ssi.cfm?cid=46&mid=58395
[Posted in FML issue 3057]