I don't know where to begin, with the part says "have you lost your
mind?" or the part that says "do you just think we're all idiots?"!!

First of all, a "re-surrender" means that either somebody got in over
their heads because circumstances changed really drastically or
somebody allowed a large number of ferrets go to some one without
checking them out ahead of time. Since you won't disclose any info, I
have to guess the latter. In either case, it appears that the results
are that where others have vetted, spayed/neutered/vaccinated/
socialized and found adoptive homes for hundreds of ferrets - these
have been sitting around for at least a couple months with possibly
very little done with them. Since you're asking for support and
hands-on help for a 2nd time for the same ferrets, I feel we're
entitled to further explanation as to how this came to happen.

Secondly, I don't know what your experience has been in the past with
accounting for expenses and funds used - but the rattling off of some
things that money was spent on doesn't cut it.

This rescue/surrender/buy-out, whatever you want to call it, was
probably the largest to date in the US. It needs to be the model for
future large scale rescues to 1) show that it is possible and 2) give
donors and volunteers the confidence that their money and time are
being maximized to the fullest potential.

If you want to ensure that people say "screw this" and never donate to
something like this again, then just throw out some numbers and a list
of things that cost money and expect that to suffice.

As you know, a good number of the people who are active in volunteering
and donating within the ferret community talk amongst themselves and
many of them have talked on this one. The problem is that different
people are getting different stories and different numbers.

You might have negotiated the surrender of and been the landing zone
for these ferrets, but in addition to your taking on the responsibility
of them as they were physically at your site, you took on a
responsibility to every person who donated time, money, food, bedding,
cages, supplies, etc. You were the steward of their time and money and
it was your responsibility to ensure that the ferrets in your care, the
volunteers on your property and the dollars under your control were
handled responsbily and that this can be accounted for.

$33,000?? I simply don't believe it and as a donor, a volunteer, and a
member of a shelter who received of many of these ferrets who did not
get any support from you financially, I am calling for an accounting
of the funds spent. Receipts.....not generalities.

You say food for workers, sounds reasonable, but you've told people
that the meals for volunteers were all donated. Which was it?

Food - I am certain I remember you reporting that large amounts of
food - at least a pallet had been donated by one of the manufacturers
and know of a shelter group from Canada who donated $500 in food.
Myabe it took much more than that, I don't know.......show me.

We were told early on that you were being reimbursed by the large
ferret organizations for the $7-9K you paid to McKay's feed vendor (my
apologies, I don't remember the amount but it was in that ballpark).

Hired help? I wonder if people who donated intended to pay for hired
help?

You have claimed that $10K from PetSmart went to medical........who
got that money and how was that determined? Certainly there would have
been medical expenses at your site - but not $10K worth.

I know for sure the shelter in my state has paid a minimum of $100
per ferret on spay/neuter and vaccines. In addition, they had dental
and other medical work done on many with critical needs. They rented
vehicles twice, they took a van load of food, litter, used bedding,
new bedding, extra cages, carriers, litter pans, water bottle, laundry
detergent, etc. to your house, they fed & housed dozens of these
ferrets and have not seen a dime from funds donated towards the rescue.

And by the way, they (the several people from our local shelter who
have helped in different ways) have also never seen or heard a simple
"Thank You", whether they volunteered in the sweltering heat at your
site, took ferrets, donated supplies or money. You're 501(c) 3....
what good does that do us when our donation is not even acknowledged,
how do people file that with the IRS?

Bottom Line - There needs to be an accounting of your expenses - and I
would suggest you treat it like I have to my business expense reports -
if you don't have a receipt, don't expect to be reimbursed. Then I'd
see what percentage of donations went to ferrets directly in your care
-vs- the many shelters who came and got ferrets, then see were you
stand -vs- them. THEN I'd figure out a way to get some funds to the
whose who received nothing and after that, we'll get back to ya on
those 65 that you got back for whatever reason.

The feeling of "I've been had" comes to mind.

[FY]

[Posted in FML 5809]