As a shelter Mom, ferret Mom, human Mom, etc., I have a few words to share and a few thanks I would like to express before a New Year starts: First of all THANK YOU BIG for this list and READERS for wanting to know more about those pets you adore! To all the kind folks who have sent words of support, encouragement & even donations over the past year. 2002 was not a kind year at Ferret Wise - It helps more than you can know, just knowing there are folks who back the long hours of work which bring heartbreaking and heart warming work here at Ferret Wise shelter! Thank you to Lin MIller - and all the volunteers , contributors and folks who have helped to complete the first panel of the ADV Quilt Project , which we hope will bring more education and support for research against ADV. A VERY special thanks to Kat Parsons who ,as we speak, is creating the ADV Quilt pages for all to access ( I just seem to run out of time !). :) We look forward to building panel 2 & 3 and hope for completion prior to the 2003 International Ferret Symposium. More ADV fund raising projects are in the works- a wonderful Afghan the Maori Moonshine Memorial afghan crafted by Mom to Moonshine, Danee Devore will be announced soon- drawing is scheduled for the AFA Show in March - York PA- you will want to travel for the afghan I promise! Kat will have the pic and informations available soon ( as soon as I get it to her!) Thank you to all the foster grandparents of permanent shelter ferrets everywhere (especially here) for w/o the help of you the costs to provide ongoing health care & necessary care would be insurmountable. It is the kindness and generosity of the community at large which allows the ferret community to continue NO - Kill sheltering! Thanks to the folks at The Ferret Store for continuing to carry the "Ferret Wise Fun House" tent! I am busily shipping off more -- and the shelter ferrets will stay well fed & warm due to this venture ( even though I am sleeping quite a bit less :) )! Thanks to the kind publications which allow us to reach more folks and educate the community at large by submitting our articles - for here, I personally feel, the MOST good we can all do is through education! We look forward to assisting more in 2003 with education for the good of the domesticated companion ferret, with supplying information for better lawmaking for ferrets everywhere , and by providing the rehab care for our cruelty case residents which find their way to our door!! Without the community - there would certainly be less opportunities for us to share! Thanks for the organizations which share information for better education amongst humans & ferrets! Everyone has a unique talent which they can share - and by doing so and gathering numbers we make life better for the ferrets and those who adore them. May the Health, Happiness, Peace, Prosperity & Love of the New Year touch each & everyone of you! Alicia Drakiotes a friend of ferrets! [Posted in FML issue 4013]