Re: What have you spent last year for medical teatment and where are you located? Where you are; State/Province Lima, Ohio Figures are for 2002 (2003 would give skewed results due to large December intake (32) resulting in 2004 surgeries, and large November medication expenditure ($1,500) that would be utilized/reimbursed in 2004.) 88 surrendered 12 losses How many ferrets needed surgery: Vet care to include bloodwork, fecals, exams, exploratory(1), radiology, spay(1), neuters(2), adrenal/insulinoma (27), minor surgery (3), eye(2), gastric(1), and miscellaneous charges. What you had to spend last year: rough estimate feel free to use < or > $4038 Plus: Prescription medications: $1477.19 Rabies vaccinations: $750 CDV vaccinations: $299.56 ADV testing: $1154 Add on the costs of office supplies, cleaning supplies, OTC meds, and the other items not above. Food and supplements not included. Total expendatures for year: $13,484.55 Income: $6,369.54 (Income includes adoption fees, used cage sales, donations, and boarding fees) Equipment like scale to weigh, bg meter, thermometer, or cages and cage supplies not included. Heat, lights, and water not included (3-5 loads of laundry per day). Gas nor mileage included. Sheltering definitely is a labor of love. In 2003 I began to focus on direct placements, and only had 8 surrendered in the first 11 months that actually entered the shelter. Julie [Posted in FML issue 4452]