Alicia, I am not sure where you got the feeling that I was undermining shelter ferrets. I will admit that one line of my post could have been taken that way, but it was not meant to demean shelters or the shelter operators, but rather to make the point of the burden some of these kids place on the resources of the shelter. I am sorry if I didn't state it clearly in my post, but hope this clarifies my intent. Alicia, you have known me long enough to know that I have the greatest respect for every shelter operator and that I am not someone who goes out of their way to hurt anyone's feelings. I am afraid that you missed the whole intent of the post by focusing on one small phrase. The shelter is the first line of defense for the ferret. Once the ferret has been processed into the shelter system, it then becomes the responsibility of the shelter operator to assess that ferret's chances for adoption. Many of the ferrets that go out to an "unlicensed, uninspected" home would have ended up ended up as permanent shelter residents and a continued financial burden on the shelter. In some cases, and you know this all too well, there are some ferrets that stand no chance for adoption other than by a person who has the heart to adopt (and I stress the word adopt) these unwanted kids. In a case of an individual dedicating their life to caring for these unwanted kids, they are going it alone. There is no Board or commitee or volunteers to help with the chores, the vet bills, the long-term medications. Why should anyone be condemned for finding a way to help with these expenses? Whatever the means might be. Anyone who is willing to take in those ferrets that are unwanted or unadoptable, make room in the shelter for a very adoptable ferret. It would seem to me that this would go far in helping the shelter to re-coup funds on having the room to take in an adoptable ferret. Rather than looking at this as being "competition", why can't we look at it as a means of helping ferrets who now have a "forever" home. Also, if I might add, there are direct donations going to a SHELTER that is in dire straights. Phyllis M. Spy Massachusetts Ferret Friends, Inc. ______________________________________________ A non-profit organization dedicated to education, outreach and shelter to benefit the domestic ferret [Posted in FML issue 4488]