>whether they have a 501c or like us come out of pocket for every
>ferret in our care.

LOL--Bruno, there are many misconceptions surrounding 501(C)(3) status.

A 501(C)(3) makes a donation tax-deductable for the giver.

If you have a 501(C)(3) and someone donates $100 to your shelter,
the whole $100 goes to the ferrets, whereas, if you didn`t have the
501(C)(3) you would have to pay income tax on it, and your ferrets
would lose that portion.

A 501(C)(3) appears to make an organization more "credible" somehow,
when you ask for donations--but it does not guarantee them :)

As for the Giving Tree, these people are doing a wonderful thing to
bring some joy to the lives of overworked, stressed-out, exhausted,
financially depleted shelter operators.

These Giving Tree people work very hard so that little fuzzies can
receive some things they might not have otherwise had. God bless the
people behind this loving effort.

Love,
Zoo

[Posted in FML 7219]