First of all, I am very disturbed that anyone would question the way a
shelter is run or why there are multiple "permanent residents" if they
themselves have never operated a shelter.  As everyone knows, shelters
are more often than not the ones that are so involved in rescues and in
turn are the ones to sacrifice of themselves financially and emotionally.
There is no way to determine who and how many ferrets come through the
shelter door each day will become a permanent resident.  Each is evaluated
separately and IF ADOPTABLE they DO go to a new home.  Maybe they just
need some time before they are ready, but then there are also those that
must stay at the shelter, permanently.  Ideally, any healthy ferret is
adopted out to someone who will provide for them and love them each and
every day of their life.
 
Many of the ferrets at shelters come from either a large scale rescue or
one of a much smaller scale.  Even if outwardly a ferret SEEMS healthy,
the stress of moving to yet another home after the shelter is too great of
a risk to their health.  Anyone who is educated about ferrets knows that
emotional stress can cause severe physical problems such as ulcers which
causes weight loss and nausea.  Why relocate them again and risk the
decent health they have and the happiness they've found at their new home.
Sometimes they just need stability in their lives to ensure their health
and happiness, not be moved again.  Its just not worth it.
 
For those that do need surgery, again, they've been through so much and
until it can be definitively determined what their future olds, either
before or after surgery, its not worth uprooting them and risking further
health issues.
 
SOS does a wonderful job helping out shelters so that they can provide the
best medical care for so many unwanted ferrets.  Instead of chastising
what a shelter does, put your money where your mouth is and do something
good.  You know, you can foster a ferret at a shelter and leave them in
the home they've made where they are happy and content.
 
Don't want to offend anyone or sound too abrupt, but lets not chastise
what is done at a shelter unless you have been in their shoes.
 
Shelley
[Posted in FML issue 3671]