(name withheld because i don't know if she wants it revealed...:) ...i just wanted to reply to some of this for everyone to see...:) Just for the record..this letter to me was NOT a flame..it was very nice...but it did bring up some stuff i wanted to reply to... thanks, M...:)...HUGS!!!) >I can't believe this the first time I get to write to the great Kat <g> >Hope all is well in your neck of the woods! :)...all is great here...thanks...:)[a little thrown by the "the great Kat" though...:) ] >I have to say, I agree completely with Susan. This is not to mean that >you or others that can't afford to buy the ferret will not take care of it >- but I never encourage people to put a free to good home ad in the paper. >You would not believe the kind of people that come out of the woodwork >because it's "free" - or call the shelter because "the petstore told me I >could get it cheaper from the shelter". Unfortunately, there are way too >many of this kind of person :-( i am one that the ferret chooses, usually...so this does not always come into play...BUT!...when i DO spend money...i try to get the best deal for my money... some people have lots of money to spend...but very little compassion for what they buy...sometimes the more you have...the more you waste...it is replaceable...they think..."why bother to put good money after bad..." ...this is a generalization too...and i know it is not fair to those who DO have the $$ and DO take their responsibilities seriously...but some rich people DO say..."just replace it..."...they can afford it... >I always encourage people to put a price on their pet to weed out those >types of fruitcakes. you can do that with an interview too...with an open mind...and possibly find homes for a few more ferrets that are in shelters... i would venture to say that if i went to a shelter where i was not known...and wanted to adopt a ferret...i would be turned down...i can not SHOW that i can support a ferret...but i FIND what i need when i need to... they do not lack for medical care or love or good food or play time...i have an advantage over lots of people...i don't work...but in adopting, that means less income to take care of the ferrets...so it might be looked at as a drawback... i KNOW there are a lot of people without my commitment to my ferrets...BUT, on the other hand...maybe some great ferret mommy's and daddy's are being overlooked..or dismissed out of hand...because they do not have extra cash laying around... i do not envy you your job...i KNOW i could not run a shelter...and i would trust too many people, i guess... like i said...i have been told i live in a dream world... >I understand not being able to afford the purchase price, but I would >rather err on the side of caution in this type of situation. i understand a shelter having to feel this way...you see the worst of people too often...and these poor little ones pay the price...but some of us CAN give them a good, healthy, happy, loving, PERMANENT home!!!!...we really CAN!!!...if given the chance... >Good post, though. Too bad more people can't disagree in such a great >way thanks...i don't really disagree...completely...i see both sides...i just feel that discounting those of us without excess $$ is also doing a dis-service to the ferrets that need homes...i really can not believe i am alone in my situation...there have to be lots of people out there with little money, but with big generous hearts... thanks, M., for responding to me in a kind and responsible manner...i hope you don't mind me responding to this on the fml...i think we BOTH had some valid things to share...:) HUGS!!! kat ===== KITY=^..^=KAT... ( a.k.a. ...FuzzieMom ) and the krew... Rascal, Sassy, Wolfie, Monkey(Shine), Meeja, Narmy, PopPye, Noodles (Slyk), Sandi-Mandi, Hope-HollyHeart, Edison!, Lucky, Princess...and Uh-Oh!!!!! Missing pieces of my heart...Marcel, LittleWhiteGirl, OldGuy The Ferrets' Pages... http://www.geocities.com/ferretlover97 [Posted in FML issue 3175]