In Response to comments: >From: Dee Eisenman >Most shelters that I have seen, that do breed, are doing it to generate >more money Generate money??? From WHERE?? I lose money in sheltering and I lose money in breeding... so where exactly is this money being generated?? Please show me, I could use it. >BUT how many times does a person come in to adopt and end up taking a kit >instead of the older ferret? Actually never, in fact more often the opposite occurs. Due to many reasons. 1. I only have limited numbers of kits per year. 2. Unless a person specified UP FRONT they ONLY are interested in a kit, I always promote the rescues first because they are in more need of a home. 3. I promote rescues as better choices for first time owners, families with young children or people who already have an older ferret at home. Some people may come not sure what they are looking for, but I have NEVER ONCE had someone come looking for a rescue and leave with one of my kits. Unless you are breeding and running a rescue yourself, I do not see how you can possibly make these assumptions. >This is the main reason I think that shelters should not breed. THIS is the biggest misconception. I know for myself and many others, I was not a shelter who decided to breed. I am a breeder who later chose to open the shelter because I felt if I was bringing kits into the world I had a moral obligation to help those ferrets less fortunate. There was not a functioning rescue in my town, and when ferrets got dumped at vets and pounds they kept calling me to come get them ... when I realized a need, I choose to open the shelter. As Sam pointed out.... each (responsible) individual takes on the burden they feel prepared to carry. I am a small breeder, perhaps 4-6 litters per year tops, this town is also still a "small" shelter area... I average 5-7 rescues at any given time and have never had more than 13 at once. Now, if someday this area became like other areas and I have 25, 30, 40 rescues..... I may reconsider my decision to do both or further limit my numbers of litters. >I find it amusing that this same shelter has repeatedly produced kits >since then. If this is true, then yes it may be possible you have an unethical person in this situation. They are out there. But why take their actions and judge the rest of us by them? Susan Rescue Shelter & Private Hobby Breeder And Proud Of Both Accomplishments. Ferrets Unlimited Rescue of Tulsa Fanciful Ferrets By Pegasus [Posted in FML issue 3213]