The recent discussion of shelters, plus Troy Lynn's and Randy's observations on the needs of shelters, lead me to think this might be a good time to tell new folks about Support Our Shelters (S.O.S.). Over three years ago I volunteered to run a kind of clearing house or general fund for supporting the shelters on the FML. I could see how hard the shelters worked and how much they sacrificed financially to care for the ferrets. I found one idea for fund raising and asked for volunteers to work with me. I didn't think people would be as inclined to trust one person with their money as they would to trust several who provided a form of checks and balances. Ela Heyn and Georgia Wood volunteered and we've been working together ever since. To support the shelters, we sell The Ferret Coloring Book and FERRET WARRIOR bumper stickers through The Ferret Store (or from us directly). Ela is the one who makes the cute ferret soaps, and Georgia is the one who knits the little ferret afghans. (See the advertising issue or write to us for more info.) I put together the FML Shelter List that BIG will be sending to you soon. The FML Shelter List contains a little information about any FML shelter that may care to be listed with us. All the shelters hope you will come to them when you want another ferret or know someone who does. My goal in creating the list is to encourage you to help one or more shelters in whatever way you can. They do so much! Some of you might like to pick one shelter and get involved with them. If you don't want to make the decision yourself, I accept general donations to the S.O.S. fund made out to Judith White. Whenever we have about $100 we look for someone who desperately needs it. At the end of each year we try to help 10-20 shelters that have especially large vet bills. So don't trash the shelter list (it will come in two parts) but save it for when you may need it. I only get it together to send it out about 3 times a year. And do consider supporting some of the people who care so well for the ferrets that come to them. Blessings Judith <[log in to unmask]> Georgia <[log in to unmask]> Ela <[log in to unmask]> [Posted in FML issue 3075]