[Moderator's note: Sigh.... note this post contains remarks which may be
considered sexist by many.  BIG]
 
So glad to read that another ferret shelter is opening up here in the
Seattle area.  I've got 12 ferrets that I need to transfer to your new
shelter just as soon as you're ready to take them.  Please let me know
when you're ready and I'll drop them off.
 
With respect to Shelter Helpers, let me say that they are not worth the
time it takes to train them, for the most part.  Plus there's the
complication in scheduling helpers who think nothing of not showing up nor
calling ahead.
 
On the average, the female helpers spend more time "playing" with the
ferrets and "cuddling" them than cleaning the crap out of litter pans and
washing cages and utensils.  Plus the fact they are too weak to lift a
bucket full of ferret waste or lift a bag of fresh cat litter.  If there
are two or more here they are BS-ing most of the time & they eventually
both try to do less than the other one.  Once they are bitten by a ferret,
they become so gun-shy (or should I say "ferret-shy") that they are
apprehensive & become essentially useless and somebody else must remove
and replace any given ferret before any more meaningful work is done.
 
The male helpers have some advantages over the females.  They are stronger,
don't BS as much as the females, and don't spend as much time playing and
cuddling.  The disadvantage of the male helpers is they break things more
often.  And, the guys leave the floor really dirty with walked on ferret
poop and spilled debris from the cages.  They don't always remove their
shoes when going upstairs, walking on the gold-colored carpet, going to the
bathroom.  Coordinating the work times of helpers in the shelter is a very
large headache when I as the owner have other obligations that must be met
and at times have lost advantages to myself for the reason that I had to be
here for them.  It is very hurtful when I sacrifice my time for scheduled
workers who think nothing of not showing up or even calling.
 
Lastly, and perhaps not too important to some of you, is the liability, if
and when somebody gets hurt here working as a helper, and could possible
entertain a lawsuit for doctor bills and antibiotics.  I request that all
who enter Ferrets NorthWest sign a Waiver of Liability form, so that the
likelihood of a lawsuit is somewhat minimized.  About the only thing I ask
helpers to do is walk ferrets around the neighborhood for an hour or so.
Both the ferrets and the helpers seem to enjoy that and I don't have to
be here all the time for them to do this.  A few couldn't even do this.
 
So to those who are badmouthing shelters, maybe if you, like the Indians
say, walked in my moccasins for a while, you'd tread a little more
carefully and instead of posting your bitchings on the FML, would make an
effort to find out first why you are not always a benefit to a shelter.
 
To the buyers of ferrets, may I suggest that you not buy your ferret from a
ferret breeder unless that ferret breeder also shelters ferrets too.  The
breeders who don't shelter ferrets are ultimately increasing the load on
the shelters with their breeding and are not willing to depart with some of
their money to help the less fortunate ferrets that are indeed some of the
very same ferrets that they themselves have bred and sold.
 
Some say they won't take in shelter ferrets because they are afraid of
possibly infecting their breeder stock.  This is true of Judy Moon.  But at
the same time, she'll take back a ferret of hers that she's previously sold
to a customer and doesn't seem to have any concern whatsoever that the
ferret that is returned to her is or is not disease free.  Now that makes a
lot of sense?  Not much.  In addition she will also sell intact ferrets for
breeding by private parties.  All this adds a terrific load on the local
shelters.  So I would request that no one buy a ferret from a breeder who
is not also sheltering public ferrets.
 
Any of you hold similar opinions?
 
Edward Lipinski
[Posted in FML issue 2740]