[Posted in tow parts. Combined. BIG] I've never posted to the FML, though I've been a lurker for quite a while. About me, I am a sucker for underdog animals, and am constantly taking home animals in need. I currently share my house with 25 ferrets, 2 sugar gliders and 2 rats. All of these animals were adopted or rescued, and at least half of the ferrets are old or sick fosters from the Greater Chicago Ferret Association. I have had ferrets for 11 years and have had over 80 ferrets in my charge over the years (this excludes many more that I take home to love at the end of their lives). I work a full time job, and I make enough money to support myself and all of my babies properly. I have regularly volunteered in numerous shelters for the past 10 years and consider myself to be pretty knowledgeable about ferrets based on my experiences. I have volunteered at the Greater Chicago Ferret Association for 10 years, and am proud of being part of such a fine organization. I have many duties at the GCFA shelter and the club. In addition to exercising ferrets and cleaning the ferret cages, I give the ferrets their medicine and feedings every day, I give subQ fluids, I give vaccinations and emergency medicines when needed, I do therapy, I monitor everyone's health and needs, I work with our wonderful shelter vets, and I have been present for numerous surgeries and post mortems. Also, I handle all of the adoption paperwork, I write up all of the exercise, medicine, food, etc. checklists, I created a ferret database to track all aspects of the ferrets, I sell things on ebay to raise revenue, I do TV interviews to promote the shelter, I attend all meetings, I help with the newsletter, and I willingly help anyone needing it. I am constantly staying up all night with shelter fuzzies on the brink of death, telling them about the bridge, letting them know that they are loved, holding them as they leave this earth (either naturally or with vet help), and crying at their loss. Aside from our wonderful shelter director and his wife, I probably come in second in amount of volunteer time spent at the GCFA. Based on this, I can say that I am pretty knowledgeable about the happenings at the Greater Chicago Ferret Association. I saw the post made by FURRY yesterday, and I would like to address some of the issues brought up by FURRY. This post is not meant to be a flame. Since FURRY publically voiced some opinions about the GCFA, people who are part of the GCFA should be entitled to respond publically. Note that any statements here are my own (in my own capacity as a member and volunteer), and are not necessarily those of the GCFA itself. I personally don't understand why FURRY has a problem with the GCFA policies. Regarding using the FML to ask for volunteers, how is this any different than using the FML to ask for donations, adopters, or to post other club information (as your own organization has also done on numerous occasions)? Isn't that one of the purposes of the FML? The person who posted asking for volunteers (Amy) is a wonderful volunteer herself, and she took it upon herself to try to get more volunteer help. What she did was very commendable, in my opinion. Regarding the GCFA adoption process, perhaps you have only talked to a few of the people that we refused adoptions to, and just ask Randy Horton at Especially Ferrets, Inc. how such people can make things up. (Hey ferretguy, I can really relate to you on many issues). Our adoption process is not very complicated or cumbersome at all. (Please, we don't want to start another debate on adoption policies here.) The ferrets we take in are our charges, and we take it upon ourselves to do what we believe is best for them, as I'm sure you do at your shelter. We do not place our ferrets with anyone who walks in the door. Our process is not invasive. However, we do ask general questions either directly or in conversation to feel the person(s) out. We talk to the adopters, and if we feel comfortable with them and they seem knowledgeable and willing to learn, they will be allowed to adopt. It's their attitude that matters most. We educate the adopters as much as needed, and tell them to call us with any problems. We also have a return policy. Actually, it seems easier than your own adoption policies, whereas you state that you personally call with the potential adopter's vet or do a home inspection. We do not have the resources to do home inspections unless the circumstances call for them. Look at our track record. We have adopted out close to 3000 ferrets over the years (currently average one adoption per day), without constantly having to ask for adopters or donations on the FML, so we must be doing something right (although donations are always desperately needed and would be greatly appreciated). The adoption process is not our problem. The problem is the overflow of incoming ferrets. We take in ferrets from private individuals, from NUMEROUS other humane societies in the area (there are many, many more than just the Animal Welfare League), from police departments and landlords, and we get many strays. We also have traveled to other states to pick up ferrets. When one of our dedicated members (who lovingly fostered many of our ferrets) died, we took in 43 of his ferrets, mostly old and sickly ones. Another Chicagoland shelter closed its doors, so that placed an even larger burden on the GCFA. Thus, as fast as we can release the ferrets, more come in. Please keep in mind that Chicago is much larger than St. Louis is, and the various types of people in Chicagoland are also quite different. The GCFA does NOT turn away any ferrets that are in desperate need. All ferrets at local humane societies are taken in, all strays are taken in, all ferrets in emergency health or give-up situations are taken in. However, we get many calls from people who don't have enough time anymore, or with various other non-emergency reasons to give up their ferrets. For these people, we try to coach or educate them so that they can keep their ferrets. For those who still want to give their ferrets up, and if our shelter is full, we ask if they can try to find a new home for the ferrets on their own, or if they can wait just a while until a cage opens up. We make sure these people know that if they must give up the animals immediately, they should not "dump" them, that we WILL take them. Thus, we have a waiting list of people who are willing to wait for a cage to open up. It is great that FURRY takes in ferrets from Animal Welfare League in Illinois. However, you make it sound like you are constantly helping the GCFA. FURRY took some of the GCFA "overflow" once. St. Louis is on the border of Southwestern Illinois, so yes, FURRY surely takes in ferrets from that area of Illinois. However, St. Louis is around 300 miles from Chicago, so those Illinois ferrets that you take in are closer to your shelter than ours. Please stop insinuating to the entire FML that just because you take in ferrets from Illinois, you are constantly relieving the burden of the GCFA, as the GCFA did not ask for any help. The next time the GCFA gets a ferret from Springfield (closer to you), can we post that we are helping with the FURRY overload? Regarding your comments of coming to our shelter to help with our overflow, please allow me to explain the situation. We would gladly transfer some of our ferrets to other shelters and we have policies for such situations. When we take in ferrets, we take on the responsibility for that life. We prefer to do an inspection of the other shelter to ensure that the conditions are proper. We also prefer to view the policies of the other shelter, especially relating to euthanasia. We are a no-kill shelter (only euthanize if the animal is in great distress and no remedies can be performed). Any old or sick animals that cannot get adopted out are approved for foster care. We do know of places that will routinely euthanize ferrets over a certain age, ferrets that bite, and ferrets that need special attention, so we want to ensure that our ferrets do not get sent to such places. One of our policies explains which ferrets that we will release to other shelters. In general, we prefer not to release ferrets that we have already spent loads of money on (vet exam, shots, diagnostics, surgeries, etc.) and have another shelter get the adoption fee and us nothing in return to help recoup our losses. Also, old or sick or depressed ferrets that we believe are not up to another stressful change in their lives are not released. The first ferrets in line to go to another shelter are those that are on our incoming waiting list, ferrets that we have not yet taken responsibility for. If we run out of ferrets on our waiting list, then we would start releasing our healthy residents. FURRY did graciously agree to take ferrets on our waiting list and did so. The GCFA called people on the waiting list and had them bring in the ferrets to the shelter and FURRY took those ferrets. The GCFA only acted as an intermediary in the process. This is very similar to other shelters that are full and post to the FML of ferrets in humane societies or households and ask for people to please get them directly so they don't have to go to the shelter. The "volunteers are too attached to them" comment was likely taken out of context somehow. If FURRY requested some specific ferrets they saw in our shelter, it is possible that certain volunteers were planning on adopting or fostering the animals in the near future. The volunteers cannot help but fall in love with some of the residents, and they are allowed to put them on hold until they can adopt them. I am grateful to FURRY for its help, but if they cannot accept the GCFA transfer policies, then please just don't help the GCFA anymore, don't knock our policies (which we believe are reasonable). Regarding publicity, the GCFA does many things to promote ourselves to our community. We have done interviews on FOX TV and WGN TV and on the radio. FOX even came to our shelter on at least two occasions and filmed the ferrets there, did an interview, and gave out our shelter information (we have tapes as proof), and Continental Cable spent two days with us getting material for their show. The GCFA does go to pet stores and hand out literature. The GCFA also has a booth at the very large annual Chicagoland Pet Expo. I don't understand your comment regarding the woman who said she filled out an application and sent it in for an adoption. We do not have any adoption "applications" or any offsite forms, just a form that is filled out at the shelter for each ferret actually being adopted. Could you supply more information or the person's name? Perhaps this person was mistaken about the shelter involved? In conclusion, please do not keep telling the FML world about GCFA policies or procedures that you have no personal (first-hand) knowledge about. Why not ask people at the GCFA and get your facts straight before making negative comments? The GCFA is comprised of many wonderful people, both in its membership and shelter volunteers. We don't deserve your comments. Donna Kalafut [Posted in FML issue 3225]