Laura, I ran a shelter for about eight years. I took in in the neighborhood of 400 ferrets during that time. Most of them were placed into wonderful adoptive and/or foster homes. A few ended up becoming "mine". Let me hand you a clue. I wasn't a 501(c)3. My husband and I paid for everything out of pocket. Our adoption fees were handed over to the vet to help cover the vet bills, which we supplemented as well. Sure, SOS, Metroferret, and other private individuals would help us out with some food or litter every now and then, and I didn't turn that help away. (And I'm still forever grateful to the ferret community at large for the overwhelming generosity they showed during the Christmas Rescue.) But on the whole it was my income that ran the shelter. Your insinuation that I was not a good shelter because I never saw any reason to get a 501(c)3 is a slap in the face. How DARE you? My strong advice is that until you take the initiative to actually run a shelter--as far as I can tell, you don't even volunteer at one--you stop criticizing. And for the record, I don't know Marguaritte (I don't even think I spelled her name correctly). I'm now pretty much retired from the ferret community. I live a quiet life in Florida with my two furry girlies. I help out where I can, FAA, donating to SOS and IFC, etc. I got sick and tired of ignorant people spewing crap out the sides of their mouths, and decided I'd had enough. No one said you have to send a donation. If you don't like the way Marguaritte is doing things, then either give her CONSTRUCTIVE advice, or shut up. Anne (Proud FML Member since August, 1995!) [Posted in FML issue 5004]