I agree that it's fantastic whenever someone will adopt an elderly or sick ferret. But, it is in my opinion, the shelters' decision to determine if a ferret is "unadoptable". Shelters make huge sacrifices and efforts to help the ferrets that come into their care. Then after seeing the neglect and mistreatment that the first homes have given, they have to screen new owners best they can and send these ferrets back out into the world. I think it's understandable if, after what some ferrets have been through or in consideration of the large amount of care one might need, the shelter makes the decision continue to care for the ferret themselves, rather than sending the needy ferret back into the world with trusting hope. I also think the majority of "unadoptables" are probably due to the ferrets' needs rather than the potential owners. I don't think it is as often that the owners can't do it, but that the ferret can't. Some ferrets have been so stressed from change or neglect that it takes a lot for them to finally trust a situation and be happy. After working so hard to gain a mistrusting ferret's love I can see why a shelter wouldn't want to break that trust and send them to yet another home. For some ferrets this is too much to deal with and they couldn't make yet another transition. The shelter needs to evaluate their rescues and make the decision based on the individual ferret. If they feel a ferret is not a good candidate for adoption, that is understandable. A shelter is still a home. It is the only home a lot of ferrets will ever know. And it is a good one, if not always the most ideal for both shelter and ferret. If someone truly connects with an unadoptable I would imagine the shelter wou ld work to make it happen if it was in the best interest of the ferret. And until then, there are generally lots of "adoptables" needing forever homes. Risa [Posted in FML issue 4985]