>Barb posted about the Zoo's sanctuary because she was concerned, not to >cause the woman trouble. For the second time I ask, what she is basing this opinion on?. Has she even been to zoo's shelter? >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? I've already answered this. See the archives. You don't know all vets and for the record, Tucker's surgery will be coming up in the next couple of weeks thanks to the donations I have recently received. I have not adopted out many ferrets this year. Any that have however have gone to GOOD, LOVING, FOREVER homes. >You admit that you don'tadopt 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! You are sure of this huh? What makes you so sure? I'm sorry, but you are definitely mistaken here. Barb will never help me and furthermore I do not need or desire her help. I am perfectly comfortable with my adoption procedures and the support I receive from fellow rescuers. >For you to sit there and slam her in public for voicing a concern just >makes m e realize how bitter you are towards her. It's not a matter of being bitter. Yes, we have a history because she has publicly bashed me on a message board that I am locked out of. Is that fair? I am harassed by email and my computer is hacked into. Is that fair? FOR ANY REASON? Funny that the same thing is happening to Cathy Strobachy isn't it? Maybe just coincidence? I see the world in either two categories. Good and evil. I don't support evil. The matter is Barb publicly bashing a shelter that she has never been to. Second time for this question too. WHY? When will Barb herself ever answer this question? Somehow she found the time to write that slanderous post but now she can't answer one simple question, WHY? Funny how when that question is posed it is never responded to. You obviously do not know everything there is to know about Barb and I suggest you use caution in your dealings with 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. This article makes Zoo look like a >hero, ... People like Jen Morrison have a mental illness. There is a big difference betwee n that and rescuing, a BIG difference. >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? This has already been discussed. Please pull the archives on this one also. I think if you read her website you will see that she has afforded many ferrets medical care. It is obvious to me that she has the resources to do so. >What happens if for some reason she can't take care of them.. is there >going to have to be another rescue like the Utah rescue? I realize she >loves her ferrets, nobody has said she doesn't. I also don't think that >she should hav e 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. These questions are all typical when another shelter is being bashed by Barb. By calling her a collector and a hoarder it IS accusing her of not loving the ferrets. Who said her supporters were just in it for a tax break? This is what I'm talking about. Everything get's twisted up to make Cathy Strobachy look bad. WHY? >I am ALL for rescues and shelters, I support them 100% Except for the shelters that Barbara bashes, correct? >I'm not againest shelters and rescues getting donations and help.. 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. Look at the ferrets she takes in. Abused, neglected and sick constitutes about 85% of them. You can't have it both ways without sounding hypocritical. You can't say that you support shelters and then say that certain shelters don't deserve 501c3 status. They are not her personal ferrets and it does not make her a hoarder. When ferrets are ill or elderly they are deemed "unadoptable". I hate that word personally because I am willing to take them in but can understand why some one else wouldn't. Most people don't want to buy into a financial burden. Nobody wants to get emotionally attached to an animal that is going to pass on soon. (As if a ferret's life isn't already short enough). Cold and hard but an unfortunate fact. The community needs more people like Cathy Strobachy. She cares for the ill and elderly. She bears the financial AND emotional burden. Do YOU know what it's like to have several ferrets pass on in less than a year? An animal that you have rescued from abuse and neglect. To love it and care for it knowing that someone has previously mistreated it or knowing their time is limited? Put yourself in the animal's shoes. You are in a cage....most of the time. No play, no run time. The human you wait for all day long approaches you and your heart leaps at the thought of being given the attention and love you deserve. You are unceremoniously plucked from your cage and tormented by someone not of their right mind....Gee, you notice, his breath sure smells funny. (Alcohol) When you bite to defend yourself you are thrown into a wall as punishment and injured. You lay hurting, physically and emotionally wondering what you did wrong. Now, because you are a BAD ferret with a "biting problem", you must go. Without a second's notice, you are separated from the only companion you know and love (your cage mate), stuck in a crate and shipped down the road not knowing what will befall you next. Can you even begin to imagine the trauma of a situation like this? Forget Cathy Strobachy. Put yourself in the ANIMAL'S SHOES! The next thing you know , you are in a stranger's arms. A strange person, strange surroundings but the treatment is a little better. You settle down taking comfort in the fact that you are no longer being subject to abuse....A few weeks later it's back to the carrier for another long ride to destinations unknown and the process repeats itself until you finally reach your final destination. Another stranger, a strange carrier, and another long ride. Do you think that this animal is just a little confused, bewildered and scared? Just a little bit????? Somehow though he knows that this human is different. He greets her with kisses. The human comments that there is no way this animal has been abused. There must be some mistake but you happily go to a place where the abuse will end and he will get everything he deserves. He arrives confused and scared at first but settles in. In a few days he is dooking and dancing...a few weeks later there is a surprise for him....his former cage mate. They are reunited...this time for life. They are together, safe and happy and for life. Both overcome their biting problem...to an extent. The big boy will never accept the touch of a man again. When held by a man he bites viciously, drawing blood, all the while trembling with fear at what will be done to him for biting the human. Do you think for one minute that I am going to subject this animal to another upheaval? Think again. He and his deaf companion are here...to stay. Since there seems to be a hang up on politically correct terminology regarding the status of these ferrets let's decide now what they should be called. Is it A) personal ferret B) rescue C) permanent resident of a rescue. Let's decide now because this is the actually story of two of my ferrets. Silver Vanilla Flopsy Furzilla and Princess . They are here to stay and I am proud to say so. Do you know what it's like to be up all hours of the night hand feeding and medicating these animals? You can not even begin to imagine this unless you have done rescue yo urself. It is only then that you can say you understand what rescues go through. >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. I do look in the mirror...every day and am quite comfortable with myself thank you. I've "slammed" the Pooflingers here? I DEFENDED myself here because I am being bashed behind my back on a site that I have been banned from. That, in my book is cowardly...and they have said things about me here AND in private emails. I deserve the right to defend myself and not sit here like a witch at the stake. I also feel a responsibility to the members and rescues of the FML and do not want them to go through what I have. >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! Who have I slammed for asking a question? I have not "slammed" Barb for "voicing a concern". You call that a mere voicing of a concern? It's more of a hit and run IMO. It is totally irresponsible to publicly make such accusations without a reason to back it up. Where are the reasons??? What prompted this post, Barb? I don't want to here from any more of her "supporters". I want to hear from Barb herself. Take some responsibility for what you write. I personally wanted to put this matter on the back burner until after the holidays. I responded to this because I was requested to do so and have the utmost respect for BIG who keeps this list open to EVERYONE and sacrifices a huge amount of his time to make this forum happen. I also feel a responsibility to all the readers of this list. For that reason, I hope I have answered adequately. Anything else on this topic will not be answered to until after the New Year. Keeping it Merry, Kim and the kids at SUMS [Posted in FML issue 4006]