The option we have taken with our shelter is to foster each ferret that is surrendered or rescued by our organization. This means that a ferret goes to a home who has been through a screening to ready their home for ferrets. Foster homes are varied in their experiences in terms of medical care, physiotherapy, or new to ferrets altogether. They are homes that at times have dogs, or cats, or both, have other animals as well, or are just waiting for a ferret to cuddle. But the one thing they do all have in common is their love and dedication to help these little guys through their transition to a new home. Volunteers are the foundation of our organization and are more valuable than gold. Their value is priceless, as they tirelessly bottle feed the sick, get covered in medications by an un-cooperative ferret, are thrown up on, pooped on and more. They see pain, and dying, and at times feel the helplessness of not being able to do more than just make life comfortable for our fuzzy friends. They pay out of their own pockets for supplemental foods when we tell them they don't have to, and stay up to odd hours of the night, even when they have full time jobs. The foster moms and dads are beyond what words can truly express... Their rewards come in forms of seeing ferrets walking better on a daily basis, watching lumps reduce in size, observing new hair growth, and more. Just being able to see them take in a piece of kibble on their own when they have been eating nothing than duck soup can make the day of a volunteer. A WOO HOO can be heard from time to time as a normal poop arrives after weeks of diarrhea, or other forms of green, yellow, brown or even clear stuff is the only thing seen. The ultimate reward comes when these little guys are fully recovered, and then find a new permanent home. Without the vigil of our foster homes, foster ferrets would not have a chance. I love our foster parents as much as I love the fuzzies in their care... Thank you, thank you, thank you! If I could pay them a salary, I would have no idea of what to give them for I know it would never be enough. How can one put a figure on the value of love and compassion, not to mention worry, hope, fear and determination? I don't think that there is enough money in the world to do it... This is just my way of saying thank you to our foster parents. Your dedication to make life better for these little guys is truly monumental. This world is without a doubt a better place with you in it. Betty Janner Manager of Calgary Operations Alberta Ferret Society www.albertaferretsociety.com 1-877-FERRET-0 [Posted in FML issue 3945]