All have brought up some very good points and asked some very good
questions, so I will try to answer each one here.
 
This whole thing is not something that was taken on lightly, or wily
nillly.  The thing that was a mistake I made was thinking the Builder
actually understood the city codes and was dealing with an architect that
KNEW shelter design.  I should have INSISTED on talking to him.  But the
people who are willing to fund 3/4 of the project wanted to deal with it,
and who am I to disagree.  I gave the builder my "general" ideas.  That
is another can of worms I am dealing with.  Basic design of the building:
One quarantine room, with it's own ac/heating, water, storage ect.  There
is where all incoming would be, surgery kids recovering and sick kids.
The room is big enough to have a total a 12 cages, more if a pinch
happens, but cages up so the floor is open for toys and play times.  It
would have it's own entrance.
 
There would be three general population rooms, again with it's own water,
cabinetry.  Again the cages would allow the entire floor to be utilized
for play and romping.
 
The fourth room would be a grooming/boarding room, which in a pinch can
be used for general population.
 
There is a storage/laundry room, and the front area of the building would
have a retail store in it, and a work area behind the counter that would
serve as the office.
 
Each room would have video and audio monitoring.  There would be a
hallway and each room would have a large plexi glass window in the
hallway to look into, as well as the door,
 
Oh yeah and a General purpose room for working on projects, meetings,
a what have you room, but may have to be deleted.  Not sure yet.
 
All of the animal rooms would have outer walls that would consist of
glass block.  At least 1/2 of the wall, to allow natural lighting.  The
"windows" looking into the hall would allow the light to spread through
most of the hall, the hallway where it connects with the retail area
would have a door in place.  No one would be allowed back with the
animals without someone with them.
 
Tours can be given with out the ferrets in the shelter being stressed
out, for education and show and tell we have a group of educational
ferrets that are used for hospice visits, nursing home, boy scout,
school, and public programs.  They would be the ones everyone could
hold and pet.
 
It is my belief that being in a shelter is stressful enough for the
shelter kids, they don't need the added stress.
 
Adoptions will be with people who have approved adoption applications on
file, ones that have been check out.  No adoption app, no ferret.  No one
will be allowed in the areas where the kids are without an application,
and if they want to meet kids just to see what they are like, there is
the educational group.
 
How would we staff it?  Volunteers.  In fact in it's own facility it
opens opportunity for some of the "special ed" program volunteers,
halfway groups, the local vet tech program requires a mandatory volunteer
hours.  Many of these programs do not like the idea of a home based
shelter, but public building, well, then that makes you a real shelter.
 
I would be there all the time, no different than here other than the fact
I won't be telling people to get out of my bedroom.  Even when the door
is closed, people go in there and "look" around.  Not to mention my one
volunteer, whom I love dearly and appreciate more than she can ever know,
loves to "rearrange" things to where it makes sense to her.  There is no
place in this house I can go where it is my personal space, nor can my
husband someplace where it is just me and MY ferrets and mink.  And that
includes the bathroom too, people don't knock on closed doors, now there
is a lock.  sigh.  (you can use your imagination there)
 
Ferrets who need 24/7 care come home at night.  There still will be
a room here for kids who need care over night.  Which probably will
benefit them more.  They would get more one on one time in the process.
 
In case of a power outage, there is a gas powered generator to keep the
shelter's electricity for needed items running.  In case of fire, there
is a sprinkler system, all public buildings need to have them.
 
What would happen if there is a fire during the night?  They would have
a better chance at survival there.  City codes require fire retardant
materials.
 
What would happen if there is a fire here when I am at the vets?  This
house is 102 years old, and wood.  If I am here and it burns, some
ferrets will be saved, but I can promise you that there will be an obit
about the nut who died trying to save all the animals.
 
How would we fund it?  Grants, donations, boarding, the retail store
which, by the way, will carry more than just ferret items.  Gift items
for the non ferret, and items by local artist on consignment, along with
consignment items from the ferret community at large.
 
Being tax exempt we would not have to pay real estate taxes (a little
know thing in Cuyahoga County).
 
Electric, gas and water: Being more energy efficient, it would probably
be less to deal with than here.  Keeping the kids cool tops out our
electric bill close to $300, don't even want to look at the gas.
 
Water actually is reasonable in Cuyahoga County.
 
Insurance isn't as bad as you think.  Being a business and in a business
sitting (let's face it, shelters are a business, non profit yes, but
must be run like a business to work)
 
The shelter would be put in the same category as other animal shelters.
And after talking to a few agents and an attorney to draft hold harmless
agreements, and required signs that would be posted, it becomes very
reasonable.
 
I have been talking to a couple of foundations that write grants to help
with subsidizing medical costs for individuals that go to a shelter's vet
for needed surgeries, a sliding rule type of thing.  But we have to be
independent of the "home" style shelter, and establish ourselves in
"their eyes" as a shelter.  The potential for reasonable needed surgery
for individuals that may be down on their luck, but have a huge heart?
 
Or better yet, what about the possibility of offering a rabies clinic or
distemper clinic, or an ADV clinic for $15, which would include a health
examine?  My vet is willing to do it, that could get more vets involved,
and he is good at educating them too.  It can't be done here, and the
owner of the clinic he works at says we can't do it there, but he'll let
him use clinic time to do it.
 
Yes this whole thing does set a precedent, one of the reasons that I
have been trying to get media attention, interviews and the such.  It
is a precedent, ferrets are a viable companion animal.  They deserve to
be treated better than they are.  If this can come from a home based
shelter, than shouldn't they be considered just as viable as a dog or
cat shelter?  Elephant shelters on private property get more respect
than ferret shelter, and funding too.  Just an example.
 
There are already promises of used office furniture, a commercial washer
and dryer, 3/4 of the caging in storage, a stove, a commercial meat
grinder, blender.
 
The whole problem now is even with changes, deletions, finding used
cabinets, doing all of the painting my self, and anything that I can, or
get used, because of the city requirement of a concrete parking area and
drive around, it goes over budget by $26,163.28.  They are willing to do
half of it.  But I have been fundraising my butt off locally, and it
isn't working.  Again, it is the perception that ferrets are not good
pets and wild.  (Some one accused me of domesticating them, well if I
am THAT old, then I earned my aches' and pains!  LOL!)
 
I made a general appeal to the ferret community in Ferrets Magazine.
I mainly post on the shelter's website and ask for help there.
Occasionally I will post eBays on other ferret sites and boards.  I do
not want to come off and spam people like it has been done in the past,
or try to shove this idea down anyone's neck.
 
I do post and ask for volunteers or ideas that one person can put on
that would appeal to more than just the ferret community.
 
I try to give back, even if it is just a box of goodies for an SOS
raffle.  If it isn't something like that, it is done behind the scenes
with the understanding no one knows, or it is anonymously.
 
I am eternally grateful to all of the shelter's volunteers and everyone
who has donated.
 
Oh yeah, anyone in Ohio that thought of doing a Casino Night, contact
me.  I learned all the regs from the Attny General Office.  Cheapest
rental of the equipment is $3500, that doesn't include any food or
drinks either.
 
I think I went off tangent.  Sorry this is so long, but I hope I answered
some questions, probably made a few of you think of a few more, so ask
away.
 
Jean
Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter
www.ferretsunlimited.org
Non profit No Kill
 
P.S.
The total square footage would be about 900 to 1000 sq feet.  forgot the
dimensions on the entire building, will try to find them.
 
Jean
[Posted in FML issue 5339]