I don't understand when people say that they want a life so they quit
sheltering.  Truly I don't.  That's not to say I don't understand what
people are wanting but I don't understand how they can not want to
continue to help ferrets, perhaps on a smaller scale or in a different
way.  To say they don't want to shelter anymore because they want a life
seems uncompassionate, rude and selfish.  Perhaps if they said "I'd
rather do something else with my life" or "this really isn't what I
want to do with my life" it wouldn't seem so harsh.
 
I don't understand how some ferret shelters can put these precious beings
in cages only to clean litter boxes, replenish food and water and leave
them there.  These little ones crave and need human interaction and out
of cage time each and every day.  How can one look into their eyes and
not see the pain and suffering this treatment causes?  How can you not
feel it?  How can you not take their feelings into consideration?
 
Sheltering to me means providing a safe place with loving care that
meets all the needs of the recipients.  For ferrets this would mean
daily out of cage time, fresh food and water, playtime with humans,
cuddle time with humans, clean litter boxes, medical care as needed,
clean cages, warm bedding, etc.  Please be honest with yourself and
others and do what is best for the ferrets.  There is no fame or fortune
in sheltering and there shouldn't be.  Sheltering is a way to provide
love, care, nutrition, socialization, exercise for those in need until
they can find their forever homes.  No matter how much you feel that
you love ferrets, if you truly do, you will do what is in their best
interest, not in yours.
 
My perception of life is NOT about having fun, nice things, going places
or being part of the in-crowd.  But even though that isn't my perception,
if I wanted to I could still do those things, even with what I do with
the ferrets.  But I want more from life than that.  I want to make a
difference in this world, even if it's only in a small part of it.
 
The other day a cricket was under my desk at work.  I'm not fond of
crickets but I respect life.  I gently placed a see through plastic cup
over the cricket and slid a paper plate underneath and placed it outside
in the bushes.  I did make a difference to that cricket as another person
might have killed it.  I was blessed with the opportunity to help another
creature of this earth.
 
Ferrets ARE my life.  They literally gave me life.  And I'm so very
blessed to be able to do what I do.
 
hugs to all. tle
Troy Lynn Eckart, F.B.S.
Ferret Family Services
http://www.ferretfamilyservices.org
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~sprite/ffs.html
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/5481/
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[Posted in FML issue 3918]