James wrote:
>Susie don't you know Sukie Rules
 
Oh, gads, no.  Thanks for compliments but I hope that no one takes this
as a competition or fight because I am NOT judging the rescue.  What I AM
doing is trying to find why to improve conditions so that a barrier which
caused problems this time doesn't exist in the future.  That is why I
asked questions.
 
The important points of doing a rescue simply are things I have recently
become immersed in (multiple sources, many here on the FML whom we all
hold in high regard, multiple resources, etc.)  That is the only reason
why I was familiar with some points.  I've been learning from others and
immersed in their expert statements.
 
But that is not what is IMPORTANT right now (though you are sure to have
your socks knocked off when the final version of the guidelines to help
with rescues comes out -- Renee and I have been working but there were
some problems with lost files and how to best say some points).
 
What I am considering important now and discussing now is NOT what
already happened!
 
What I am discussing is looking to the future and learning from EVERY
past rescue, then sharing what was learned so that with FUTURE rescues we
get better and better as a community.
 
James also wrote:
>She is all for making sure the ferrets are rescued, but further to
>make sure the sickos don't get another chance to commit the same crime.
 
Exactly!
 
The things we should try to achieve EVERYWHERE include improving
cooperation with existing humane organizations.  The reasons are easy
enough to see:
 
1. it increases the chances of prosecuting which in turn decreases
   the risks of repetition,
2. it gets more allies and contacts for changing laws and policies
   for the better for ferrets
3. it helps with education and acceptance with the general public
4. it better distributes the economic burden
5. it better distributes the labor needs
6. it provides facilities and equipment
7. There are a pile more advantages; just think about the topic and you
are sure to see more to perhaps share with the FML in a post of your own,
each and every one of you!  Let's all teach each other!  The FML has made
so many things better through the years.  Why not this, too?
 
Please, folks, do remember that rescues are emotionally painful for us
all, but one thing I know for sure from my immersion is that they rip the
emotional guts out of whomever is working with the animals so the people
do get a bit extra tender and a bit more likely to be defensive as a
result of that, exhaustion, and whatever else is going on that we know
nothing about.  I think that is why Sue at first missed my point and why
I was asking.  It's not any big deal and it's not a fight.  Those folks
are TIRED and they are sad because of what they have seen and all of
their hard work.
 
It helps them, too, to think about improvements for next time so their
work then will be easier and perhaps may stop someone who would otherwise
repeat.  Hopefully, they will find the time to contribute on ways to
achieve that and also on what worked and what didn't work for them
(things every rescue operation wind up reviewing afterward to get better)
when they feel a bit more rested or want to think about something very
hopeful.
[Posted in FML issue 4301]