Usually I lurk. Sometimes I leave. Today I feel the need to speak. I have known Diane Campbell of Ferret Guardian Rescue Haven for 5 years. I have served as an application screener, a foster home, a contact between surrendering and adopting parties and an adopter with FGRH. I will grant that it is often difficult to reach Diane, but not because she doesn t care. She is just extremely busy taking care of a lot of ferrets. Diane s first priority is keeping ferrets in their current home, if it is a good one. If the person is not spending enough time with them, has a new baby or the ferret is a nipper, Diane will go out of her way to educate and assist the owners to keep the ferret(s) where they are. If it is not possible to for the current owners to keep the ferret, Diane will try to have them keep them until a suitable adopter can be found. Whenever possible, she tries to have the current owner/potential adopter work with each other directly. One of the ways this is accomplished has been in the creation of an *Adoptables* page on the local club website. Diane asked me to work with people in my area of the state who contact her about giving up ferrets. I have taken many ferrets into my home on a temporary basis. I have known the joy of successful placements and the thrill of hearing back from the adopters and feeling like I was a part of something grand. I have cared for several of the *special needs* ferrets surrendered to Diane. They often require extensive medical treatment, as they have not received quality care in their lifetimes. I have known the heartache of holding a sick little guy on a long drive, knowing it was the last trip to the vet, when the owners decided they didn t want to deal with them anymore. Diane does this on a regular basis. Most of the ferrets Diane receives are old and sick. These ferrets are cared for 24/7 by Diane and will be clean, loved and treated with TLC and the appropriate medical care until they leave for homes where they can continue to receive the care they need or for the Bridge. This is not only physically and financially draining, it is emotionally draining. Diane WILL adopt out special needs ferrets to willing and qualified applicants. She will not break up bonded pairs and works very hard to place them together. Many times one is healthy and another ill. How many people are willing to take the ill ferret to get the healthy one? Not many. I do not see that Diane s application process is any more stringent than that of any other quality shelter. I have adopted from Diane. Because of my work with her, and other terrific people in North Carolina, I only take in special needs ferrets now. She broadened my horizons. The cute kits are great, but there is something special about the *little old men and ladies.* It is hard for me to take care of my 8 when I have a sick one. I now have 3 with insulinoma, 1 with adrenal disease, 1 deaf, 1 amputee, 1 neurologically impaired and 1 completely healthy love. It takes 2 hours to completely clean their room, cages and provide clean water and food bowls, as well as bedding. Diane cares for MANY more than that and is often up all night long. There are plenty of run times for the ferrets and they run in groups that are compatible. The cages are clean and the bowls are full. I have learned a lot from Diane about caring for groups instead of individuals. You asked what I would do. I would look at the list of permanent stays and I would offer to support one of these little guys. Or, I would send a donation to one of the vets she uses. Or, make an anonymous gift through The Ferret Store. Or buy hammocks or sleep sacks or wood pellets from her. She does this to help support the ferrets and the shelter. Good luck with your new addition. I can assure you that he was loved and cared for if he came from FGRH. And, he was not part of a collection. renee :) & The Poop-in-the-Corner Gang [Posted in FML issue 3768]