I have mixed feelings about the FML letter you sent Sarah.  I think
gossiping is really destructive.  I received a letter in the mail about 2
months ago stating the same thing you wrote concerning GCFA from someone
else.  My main concern here is for the ferrets.
 
First, I would like to say how sorry I am that things have not been very
well with you lately.  I understand that among several diversities in
your life, you closed your shelter.
 
Selfishly, as a ferret lover, I am really saddened at the number of
ferrets that may not find shelter now.  Please let us know if another
shelter in your area opened, and where you are telling people to go with
their ferrets when they call.  Unselfishly: my sympathies.
 
It is not my place, as I was not with GCFA at the time, to comment on
what you wrote.  But as you also wrote it to me privately a year or two
ago--the exact same thing, AND are spreading it so far that a letter was
sent to me in the mail a month ago indicating that numerous people
believe you: there sadly should be something said.
 
1. I have talked to several of the people who had to vote at the time on
your coming to take ferrets, and they have given me an entirely different
story of what occurred Entirely different.  Night and day.
 
2. GCFA just gave up 20 ferrets of different ages and in different
states of health to a shelter in Michigan.  They are utterly thrilled and
so very happy for the ferrets.  They could not speak more highly of
*THAT* experience.  The experience with YOU made them afraid to get help
from another shelter, I have been informed---by 3 people.
 
3. One of the shelters here did put ferrets into the pet stores on
adoption day--came back to the shelter with the ferrets hopping with
fleas.  The shelter cannot afford the infestation.  simply cannot.
 
4. There were 2 shelters here.  One had to close down-even after it had
to seriously consider euthanizing the older ferrets.  The volunteers all
said no!  We will take the ones no one wants.  That is how I got
Cheyenne.  Even after all these were gone-this shelter still could not
make it and closed.  This has left GCFA with the burden of Illinois
unwanted ferrets.
 
4. GCFA has over 100 ferrets.  It SHOULD have about 40.  Many come in
old and ill, or burnt or blind or deaf, or serious bitters.  Over 250
ferrets have come into the shelter since the beginning of the year.
 
Obviously,then.  the ferrets are being adopted out--------mostly that are
young and attractive, healthy and pleasant of disposition.
 
Of interest:
GCFA does not just take the young attractive healthy ferrets, Sarah:
 
a. Since I have been keeping in touch, a mostly dead ferret comes to
the shelter at least every two weeks.  Another came in last week.  Norm
kicked the people out that brought him and rushed to the vets with the
baby in his arms.  The little boy died in his arms in the car.  The vet
is literally 5 minutes away.
 
b. A little whole girl has come in from a fur farm.  She was just
rescued.  She is wild and bites painfully, Norm says.  Norm, who is
in the now famous ferret book of "Ferrets for Dummies" for his gift of
taming biters like this, actually held her (a certain way) in his arms
and held her up to his face.  He loves her already.
 
She is a pretty silver mitt with that flat nosed, show ferret kind of
face, and glossy fur.  You should come by for a peak.
 
So, not just old ferrets here.  Wild, rescued ones from fur farms, or
burnt in boiling water ferrets.  And we have one now with all the nails
surgically removed.
 
Let the gossip end guys, please.  I know how easy it is to gossip.  How
easy to believe gossip.  But, You are harming the innocent shelter
ferrets with this garbage.  You really are.
 
Lisette
[Posted in FML issue 3884]