[Moderator's note: What would Christmas be without a major disagreement? Following is the latest round featuring Barb Clay and her supporters from Rocky's Ferret Rescue and Shelter vs Kim Fox at at Somethin Up My Sleeve Rescue. After rejected posts on both sides I agreed to post this round so that each side can have their say. It's a shame -- it's clear to me that behind all this are people who care very much about ferrets. Kim's response follows this post. This is the last round on the subject that I'm accepting for a while. Let's cool off a bit. BIG] I'm sure that Barb would've responded to your slam to her, but she's been rather busy..the good folks at Rocky's were kind enough to play Santa at PetSmart. I heard that some crazed elves made off with Santa's beard, thankfully they didn't spoil it as another beard was found! Barb posted about the Zoo's sanctuary because she was concerned, not to cause the woman trouble. Barb puts her heart and soul into helping ferrets, she helps the ferrets find good loving forever homes and makes sure they have medical care. Has Tucker had his surgery yet? Seems to me if it was so urgent he get it, and you had the raffle to get the money that he should've gotten it. I don't know many vets that if you walked into their office with cash in hand would deny medical care. Have you adopted out very many ferrets this year? You admit that you don't adopt out very often, yet there are shelters who can manage to adopt out ferrets. Maybe you should ask Barb how she manages to find all these forever homes, I'm sure she'd help you! Barb has thankfully has taken in, rescued and helped find homes for many ferrets. For you to sit there and slam her in public for voicing a concern just makes me realize how bitter you are towards her. You say that the article isn't going to validate puppy mills,collectors and cat people? Let me explain something to you, these people do NOT think they are doing anything wrong. Do you think Jen Morrison thought what she was doing was wrong ? Obviously not because she went right back to doing it didn't she? This article makes Zoo look like a hero, and to some of the ferrets.. maybe she is. You don't think that someone with 40-50 cats in their one bedroom house isn't going to look at that article and think to themselves how great they are because they're helping these cats out? What concerns me the most, is what happens when a whole bunch of her ferrets need medical care at the same time.. can she afford it? What happens if for some re ason she can't take care of them.. is there going to have to be another rescue like the Utah rescue? ALL ferrets benefit from having a permanent home... a home that can provide them with lots of love and provide for them in their old age. I know how expensive an elderly and sick ferret can be. Most of all I know how expensive more than one can be at a time! I realize she loves her ferrets, nobody has said she doesn't. I also don't think that she should have 501(c) if she doesn't request donations. Obviously the people that were sending her donations were doing so out of the goodness of their hearts and not for a tax break. I am ALL for rescues and shelters, I support them 100%, lord knows I couldn't do what they do. I know that we all want to rescue and give forever homes to all the ferrets who need them. I think that when someone rescues a ferret they need to look at the big picture, can they afford to take care of this ferret for the rest of it's life? Medical care, food, toys, cage, etc.. it can add up to quite a bit. If they can't afford it in the long run than maybe they should do the right thing and try to find a forever home for the ferret, a home that can afford the care. I'm not againest shelters and rescues getting donations and help.. I only wish there were more people who would donate and help shelters and rescues. I'm not even againest people asking for help with their personal ferrets.. I think however to get 501(c) to help out your personal ferrets is wrong.. and they ARE her personal ferrets.. she isn't adopting them out she is keeping them forever..does she take them out to schools, shows, etc.. and educate people with them? It's frustrating to know there are shelters struggling to get 501 (c) yet someone can get them for their personal pets. Kim you said that other shelters and rescues should line up to get slammed.. I think maybe you should look in the mirror and realize that you are guilty of slamming people and shelters as well. You've slammed the people on Pooflingers on the FML when they didn't say anything about you here. You're slammed Barb Clay for voicing a concern. You slam Rocky's.You've slammed people who question your shelter, when all they've done is ask a question. I suppose I'll be the next on your list! For all the shelters and rescues, bless you for what you do! You make a difference in the world. [Posted in FML issue 4006]