It seemed only a few years ago that hubby and I got our first ferret.
It's hard to believe it was 18 and half years ago. It's also just as
hard to believe that I sit here writing this as an operator of a ferret
shelter... who woulda thunk it? Not me, that's for sure. I had no
idea that one little male ferret that peed on me so long ago would have
changed my life so drastically... but he did. Little did our one eared
baby know that he opened the doors for many ferrets after him to have a
good home and a second chance at life as a ferret again...
As I sat here thinking about him, which came after reading Lisette's
posting the other day, that I began to feel like I needed to say one last
thing about ferret shelters and rescues before the end of the year...
and thus this posting. I write this because Christmas is the time for
giving, for caring, for sharing and for making wishes come true. This
is my wish for all shelters out there...
I wish all shelters to have the ability to work out their differences
before something drastic happens, like a split, a shut down or other. If
you're having difficulty within your own rescue/shelter, please consider
these things before you decide to make a major change that will impact
the future forever...
1. That 99.999% of cities that have a ferret shelter, only have one, and
there is a reason for that. Money simply is not there to be had like it
is for other human and non-human charities. Anyone believing anything to
the contrary is not being realistic and knows little about fundraising.
If it were so easy to do, why are not more shelters doing it? Why are
so many shelters a year shutting down? Why are so many shelters running
a deficit? Because they know that the dollars out there are in high
competition and any funds gotten now, do not necessarily guarantee funds
in the future. There are only so many times a person can go to the well
before it runs dry. Imagine two charities running to the well... it
dries up twice as fast.
2. Understand that even in a city of over a million people, that it
means very little. Ferrets are not popular like dogs and cats. And
animal fundraising still does not meet the same amounts of funds that
are gained each year for human conditions and sufferings. Fundraising
is far harder for shelters, as people still carry fear when it comes to
ferrets. They consider them rats or rodents and this remains so because
of unsubstantiated classifications that they are vermin and must be
destroyed. When you are relatively small in the scheme of rescues (the
Humane Society brings in over 10,000 a year... we bring in about 100)
that your percentage of usable funds is directly proportionate and is
merely a drop in the bucket when it comes to providing care for those
you take in. What is also sad to note is that it takes far more funds
to look after a single ferret in comparison to a dog or cat because of
their specialized needs and medical care.
3. Also understand that when there is a hard luck case that comes in,
attention is drawn to the hard luck case and away from the rest of those
that need the funds. If there was only one main ferret shelter, more
ferrets benefit as there is no division of funds/donations, and no
competition on who is more deserving. One place means that all ferrets
benefit and not just one small group. By dividing efforts, and fundings,
some ferrets will have to go without simply because people have to make a
choice, and they will choose. It will be one or the other, but rarely,
if ever, both. Is that fair on the ferrets? In one city, it is anything
but fair. Especially when the ferrets themselves never asked for it.
4. There are no issues that are insurmountable when you have team work
and the knowledge that anything can be worked out. If you have a
problem, work it out! Nothing, absolutely nothing, is worth losing a
ferret over. If you want glory, or constant pats on the back, you need
to reassess your reasons for volunteering at a shelter/rescue.
5. A larger group does more for a cause than a single person can. Sure,
a single person can lead a cause, but it is the force of a strong group
of volunteers that make change happen. It is also the different and
diversified strengths that only come from a large group that truly make
things happen.
6. That the reason for change should be based on the needs of ferrets as
a whole, and not on personal gain, position, or authority. When I look
into some the eyes of the ferrets we have in our care right now, I worry
about those that are left waiting for the care they need. I worry over
the ability of their shelter raising the sufficient amount of funds to
look after them properly. I wonder if those that are prepared to make
rash decisions based on unsubstantiated and ludicrous reasonings really
understood the potential fallout of their actions. So I ask each
shelter, that when you feel change is necessary, I want you to look into
the eyes of your ferrets and see what is there and see if you can still
make the same decision knowing you could be jeopardizing their future,
or that of another.
7. When you are competing with another shelter directly for the same
funds, keep in mind that sitting events on top of the other shelter's
events means that funds will be split, and that means less money for the
ferrets under their care. If the ferrets are truly the basis for doing
what you do, then thoughtful and considerate actions will be the result
of when you choose your dates. By doing so you ensure the success of
far more instead of the flounderings of two. By being respectful of
when others hold their events and choosing dates and events that are
completely separate and different, with weeks inbetween, you show a
desire for working together, and succeeding for all involved, not just
your own group. Remember that actions always speak louder than words.
What I am trying to say is that with the new year almost upon us, there
will be many people who will be reassessing their financial situations
within their shelters, reassessing the people that volunteer with them,
reassessing the viability of continuing the cause. More shelters are
looking at closing, and some of them know that if they hang on, they are
bound to run into higher debts to credit institutions, with their vets
and so on. It doesn't help matters when there is additional competition
already in place for a single dollar knowing that dollar is hard to come
by.
If you are having problems in your shelter and you are thinking of going
it on your own because you think you can do it better, think again, and
reassess your reasons for doing so, because whether you believe it or
not, ferrets will feel the harsh repercussions of your decisions. And
you may feel that it will benefit more in the long run, but you will have
those left behind wondering what they did to deserve having had your back
to look at. It simply is not worth it.
To make people decide, to choose, is not fair on the ferrets. So, if you
are a shelter that is thinking of changing things, or shaking things up,
look beyond your own personal reasoning for wanting to go it on your own,
and instead know that by pooling resources and utilizing the most out of
one single group of people, that the rewards are far, far greater, as
seen in the eyes of happy ferrets, and happy tails wagging in excitement,
along with money in a bank account just waiting for the next poor soul
to come in to be helped.. Running a shelter is a thankless job, but it
should never be for glory, or for raising your own position. The
voiceless should never be used as a stepping stone... so make your
decision wisely. Talk out what you need to and work to find compromises.
The risks are too great and the losses too deep otherwise.
My wish is that no ferrets will ever suffer at the hands of another
again. It is even worse when that suffering comes from the hands of a
shelter/rescue operator through bad decision making and poor judgment....
Think before you act and you will honestly have the best interests of the
ferrets at heart...
betty and her blur o'fur
for the love of ferrets
Missing Vincent, Hobbes, Max, Tasha, Midge, Titch, Smudge, Rocko,
Tinder, Bear, Taero, Squeegie, Jingles, Dolly, Mandy, Gizmo, Ripley,
Chook, Bella, Lace, Zsa-Zsa, Ping, Spaz and Squirt. What would life have
been without you...
[Posted in FML issue 4002]
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