After reading Amy Mc's post requesting volunteers for the GCFA I want to encourage the numerous Chicagoland people to take advantage of this plea for help. I was a volunteer when I lived in the Chicago area. I began a month after I brought home Vinnie, my first ferret, and the experiences I gained while working there are invaluable to me. When I began I knew very little about ferrets so I was asked to just play with the them. Can you imagine a better way to spend your time than cuddling, petting, tickling, wrastlin', grooming, and loving these darling animals that have been, for various reasons, given up to a shelter? I volunteered to clean out the cages - an easy task as cages are cleaned daily & no mess was too great. I helped with play time, and I asked to be trained to clean ears, trim nails, give feedings, meds and even, at my insistence, shown how to give sub-q fluids. I learned alot about adrenal and insulinoma first hand. I learned a little about ulcers and ECE. This is in no way to imply that I now know everything about ferrets, but when Howie first started with his tumor I was able to recognize it and get him quickly to a vet. (In other words, I am no longer clueless!) I also met so many wonderful, caring people, especially Norm & Mary, who taught me about non-ferret things, like responsibility, caring and friendship. The shelter is ECE exposed, yet in all my time I never brought it home with me, even after adopting three ferrets from the shelter. I am not saying it couldn't have happened, but with simple precautions, it never did. The GCFA is a no-kill shelter and has had up to 140 critters inside of it's doors at a time. The shelter does not operate as a warehouse, but tries it's best to act as a temporary home until the ferrets are placed into permanent families. If you volunteer, at the GCFA or another shelter, you will be doing a good thing for these homeless animals. But you will also be doing a wonderful thing for yourself. Cate B. [Posted in FML issue 3198]