I don't understand when people say that they want a life so they quit sheltering. Truly I don't. That's not to say I don't understand what people are wanting but I don't understand how they can not want to continue to help ferrets, perhaps on a smaller scale or in a different way. To say they don't want to shelter anymore because they want a life seems uncompassionate, rude and selfish. Perhaps if they said "I'd rather do something else with my life" or "this really isn't what I want to do with my life" it wouldn't seem so harsh. I don't understand how some ferret shelters can put these precious beings in cages only to clean litter boxes, replenish food and water and leave them there. These little ones crave and need human interaction and out of cage time each and every day. How can one look into their eyes and not see the pain and suffering this treatment causes? How can you not feel it? How can you not take their feelings into consideration? Sheltering to me means providing a safe place with loving care that meets all the needs of the recipients. For ferrets this would mean daily out of cage time, fresh food and water, playtime with humans, cuddle time with humans, clean litter boxes, medical care as needed, clean cages, warm bedding, etc. Please be honest with yourself and others and do what is best for the ferrets. There is no fame or fortune in sheltering and there shouldn't be. Sheltering is a way to provide love, care, nutrition, socialization, exercise for those in need until they can find their forever homes. No matter how much you feel that you love ferrets, if you truly do, you will do what is in their best interest, not in yours. My perception of life is NOT about having fun, nice things, going places or being part of the in-crowd. But even though that isn't my perception, if I wanted to I could still do those things, even with what I do with the ferrets. But I want more from life than that. I want to make a difference in this world, even if it's only in a small part of it. The other day a cricket was under my desk at work. I'm not fond of crickets but I respect life. I gently placed a see through plastic cup over the cricket and slid a paper plate underneath and placed it outside in the bushes. I did make a difference to that cricket as another person might have killed it. I was blessed with the opportunity to help another creature of this earth. Ferrets ARE my life. They literally gave me life. And I'm so very blessed to be able to do what I do. hugs to all. tle Troy Lynn Eckart, F.B.S. Ferret Family Services http://www.ferretfamilyservices.org http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~sprite/ffs.html http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/5481/ Please sign up to support our efforts http://www.iGive.com/FFS [Posted in FML issue 3918]