I do the fundraising at home now in between caring for our 4 human children, running the shelter, soon to be home schooling my one son and my busy life with our other animals. By doing the Ebay thing, I can do that here at home, in between other things, or at night after everything has settled down. The bakesales I found, even though they averaged $300, when you come down to it, it is would have been better to just put the money out of our pockets. Until you paid for ingredients, I bought the Icey tea or sodas, we paid out of shelter money for the hot dogs, rolls, napkins, plates, strawberries (chocolate covered ones), I paid for the chocolate, well..........then you have to drive to the store, which alot of times was in Philadelphia, we were just basically breaking even. So bakesales unless you have alot of volunteers who bake, were not a good fundraiser for us. Those items above are things that people don't take into consideration. But they all must be counted especially if the shelter is fronting all the money for the ingredients, which is what happened at the last couple of bake sales. The shows are also a fundraiser for me. They happen 5-6 times/year. They help because they can yes, sometimes generate some decent money.I made the initial investment of the items for the table. That money, since I feel the need to explain to everyone, came from my dog breeding money. The table money profits also have to pay for the show tables, the donated items to the AFA, club or shelter who is running the show. The rest of the money for the table paid for ferret food, litter, earlier shows, it helped to pay for cages for the shelter, the gas to and from the shelter, vet bills (which ran way over the money we had in our account), ADV testing, Shots, etc. When the money was not in the Shelter Account, I used and still use my home account. I also had flyers printed for Ferret education which cost money. The group was formed in September 2003 and lasted until March 2003. In that time we only did 5 bake sales. The total which was given by Carol was say $300/sale. That was only $1500.00 in 6 months. That means $300/month earned. Now from that $1500.00 we paid for Isabelle surgery which was $400.00, Irwin and Anna were at the vet numerous times $250+, we have Irwin's surgery $350.00+, Adrienne's surgery $200.00, Lupron for 2 of the three ferrets each month (Queen, Possum, Sunshine) at $35.00/ferret/month x 6 months Grand total for them $420.00, 2 cases of AD food for Queen, Possum and Sunshine each month at $25.00/case. Grand total of that $300.00. ADV testing and shots, lets just use the 9 ferrets currently, we have had more who have been adopted out...... (ADV Tests $8.00 each, Shots $25.00 each) $297.00. Just that above totals $2217.00. That is not the litter, food, treats, ferretone, ferretvite, ferret lax, fluids, ped. pred, etc. Which means somewhere the extra $717.00 had to come from somewhere. Guess where.....my show table profits. Who pays for water, gas to the vets (including several trips to Phila.), cage maintenance, bedding, food, water, litter, treats, electric and everything else. Me, and my show table. Let me tell you, we are far from RAKING IT IN.....like being Lisa Thomas is trying to let you believe. Oh and lets not forget, Lupron shots for Iggy, and Isabelle before she had her surgery, Numerous smaller trips to the vet for different issues, and the many ferrets that we adopted out. They needed shots and ADV testing. Rescuing is not a money making venture. You do it because you love animals. If I were out for the money, I would dump the rescue ferrets, because personally they cost me more money then I make. But plain and simple, I do it for them, not for everyone's approval, for them. When they are happy, healthy, at peace, are sleeping in clean cages, with fluffy towels, comfortable bedding, full water bottles and food dishes, then I am happy. When I see that I have turned around a pair of ferrets from ones who have bitten and were so scared that they just would shake when you would hold them, to a pair who are dooking, playing and acting like crazy ferrets, my job is complete. Unfortunately, I need money to run my shelter, if I were independent wealthy, anyone who knows me personally knows, I would not be asking for money. But I choose to keep my shelter smaller because I feel that ferrets who are in rescue need love and attention beyond a ferret who has not been bounced around. I don't want my ferrets to be a number, I want the rescue ferrets to be held, loved, hugged, worked with and treated like family members while they are in my care. I am only one person, I have sole responsibility for the ferrets in my rescue and I only will take in ones that I have the time to devote to. I could have 100's here, I have the room, but I would not do that. That is my thinking only, it is not to put down larger shelters. This is a policy I set for myself when I decided to take on rescue ferrets. Because I also have a family to help support, I can not give my extra money at the end of the month to the rescue. We need it to live. That is why I do the auctions and post them on the forums. Plain and simple. Rescue is not a GET Rich venture, despite what others think. Alot of time goes into shelters for the people who have them. The smaller and more private shelter are hit the hardest because we don't get corporate donations etc. And lets face it......For every good "Adoptable" ferret who comes in, you get 5-6 who are being dumped due to health issues. And there are not many people out there who want to adopt a ferret with health issues. Hence the need for foster homes. And adoption fees for the ferrets just do not cover all the medical expenses from the sicker ferrets. Marguerite from TinyPrints TinyPrints Shih Tzu and Rescue http://www.tinyprints-shihtzu.com TinyPrints Ferret Rescue http://www.tinyprintsferrets.com TinyPrints Ferret Rescue Ebay and Half.com Stores http://www.stores.ebay.com/tinyprintsferretrescuestore http://half.ebay.com/shops/shops.jsp?seller_id=1093064 [Posted in FML issue 4527]