Hope comes to you today asking for prayers and good thoughts not just for the ferrets affected by the recent hurricanes, but for all animals who have suffered - and those continuing to suffer. How sad it is to be in a small cage, in a strange place and not know where the family that loves you is. How sad is it to be afraid and alone? Hope asks that you please keep all these precious souls in your thoughts and prayers. But Hope wants to ask one more thing. The victims of Katrina and Rita are not the only precious souls that are afraid and alone. They are not the only ones in search of a family. There are ferrets in shelters all across the country - they need someone to hold them and love them and take them home, too. Because they do not hold the name 'Katrina Ferret' does this mean they are less deserving of love? Does this mean they do not deserve to be held? Or deserve to have a home? Shelters Moms and Dads are kind and loving, but they are not home! Is providing a warm and loving home for a 'Katrina Ferret' somehow better than providing a warm and loving home for a shelter ferret? Hope wonders....do the 'Katrina' ferrets even know they are 'Katrina' ferrets? Do the shelter ferrets know they are 'just' shelter ferrets? Does having a special name make a ferret special? Hope thinks all ferrets are special and she encourages you - if you have room in your heart and in your home for one more ferret....please, there are ferrets afraid and alone and looking for a family....in your local shelter. If you need help finding a shelter in your area - Hope can guide you. All you have to do is ask. Hope I am the Guardian of Hope. If you know a ferret in need and prayers or good wishes will help ease the pain, please let us know. Send us a note with the information and we will send our very best prayers or good thoughts in Hopes that the warm power of love will surround and comfort the precious little one - and the hoomans who loves them. [Posted in FML issue 5015]