Hello friends & Ferrets USA readers. Since the Jan/Feb issue of Ferrets came out we've received many e-mails inquiring about the status of FAS due to the news flash about the possible closure of FAS as published in Ferrets USA. While not much has changed, I wanted to put to rest a few fears. Even *IF* FAS closes, please rest assured that the closure of our shelter WILL NOT effect The IFC Ferret Aid 2006 Conference. This is a separate event to Ferret Aid Society and separate finances. Please understand we are doing everything in our power to make sure that FAS does not close. I've already lost one house, I;m fighting like mad not to lose another :) Mediation is going to take place at the end of March to hopefully reinstate my finances and until then, FAS is on very shaky ground. While we are uncertain of our future and we are proceeding with caution we are still operating as a full scale shelter until further notice. To put things into a little better perspective for you, I have to tell you the differences in veterinary prices we deal with here. Until recently, I had NO idea that there was such a difference between Toronto pricing vs other places. When we whine that we're broke and medical bills are killing us, we're not kidding :) A typical left adrenal surgery costs the average person about $1,700 (not including after care or blood work/x-rays). A plain 'ol check up is $75 (just to walk in the door of a vet office). Add blood work, x-rays and meds on top of that and you would be walking out with a $400 visit in one day (and that's WITH our 50% discount) Last year, our veterinary bills topped over $45,000.00 (not including the free care many veterinarians offered for the 4 large scale rescues we did) and that doesn't include our operating costs, shelter bills and other bills. Just ask the shelter's accountant how much I gasped when she handed me the shelter's tax return! After chatting with some other shelters in Canada and America, I was rather shocked to find out that in Toronto (and surrounding areas) veterinary costs are much higher than elsewhere. It's no wonder that people in this area just don't take proper care of their ferrets, they, like us, can't afford it :) In the end, The FAS is doing everything we can to keep our doors open to ferrets. Right now, it's all resting on my shoulders and the mediation in March. If I don't have an income, I don;t have a house and if I don't have a house, sadly, there is no shelter. No matter what happens in March, I will see many of you in June. Though there may not be a Ferret Aid Society in June, there will be an IFC Ferret Aid. It's going to be ONE ROCKING event and I have some VERY exciting news to share with you all next week. Please stay tuned for the official announcement of a new guest speaker and a very special, up close and personal guest!!!! Miss Randy Melanie Belair President The Ferret Aid Society www.ferretaid.org <http://www.ferretaid.org/> Join us for the IFC Ferret Aid 2006 Conference! Book early, almost sold out!! http://www.ferretaid.org/events/ferret_aid_2006.html [Posted in FML issue 5137]