You do have some valid points, the emotional drain and financial expense on a shelter are overwhelming. But turning to the HSUS and other instiutions who already overloaded with cats and dogs is not a solution to the problem. Ferrets, even though are loved by many, still have a very interesting reputation in the world of shelter/rescue. And since they honestly do need different interaction, medical (in some instances), and nutrition requirements, it wouldln't be reasonable to expect the larger dog or cat shelter to add to their already over popluated problem. Many of the ferrets here would be dead. After 12 years of banging my head against walls of foundations that issue grants to shelters and being told that this is a grass roots group (over 900 plus adoptions in the 12 years and $13,000 in vet bills last year) we are grass roots. I subscribe to several Human Magazines , one by the HSUS. I wrote and asked why they don't do more articles on ferret shelters, not every month mind you, but twic a year would be nice. Their response was we did one back in 2000. I appiled to PetSmart Charities for a grant of $500 to help with printing educational materials for people, and was told that is it the responsiblity of teachers to teach children about ferrets. Hmmm. hey what about the adults? Ferrets shelters are the red headed step child of the rescue world. There would be more ferrets put to sleep just because they play nip or mouth someone. Dogs can do that but ferrets can't, go figure. Blind ones, oldies, you name it. (And I have dealt with a large dog/cat shelter on that instance, blind, put to sleep, nip, put to sleep, old, put to sleep, They get no chance.) One of the things I would like to achieve with getting the building for the shelter is to show the General Shelter community that there is indeed a serious need for ferret shelters, whether they be in a home, or in a public building. Many people think that being 501 c 3 is something that opens doors, no, it doesn't, but it does save on sales tax. LOL! But perhaps if I can find a way to show foundations that even though a non profit is in a home, they still are a viable shelter that is deserving of consideration for a grant, whether it be $100 or $10,0000. Even though we all do our best at education to dispell the myths and bad press the ferrets have gotten over the years, there still is much left to do. One of the areas that education is needed is in the area of the foundations and HUSU. To change the way of thinking about ferret shelters. Whether in a home or in a public building a ferret shelter is deserving of the respect and funding as any other animal rescue. That is something that needs to be understood by the shelter industry itself. This shelter is going into a public building, even if I have to second mortgage the house to get the things we need, and I am bound and determined to find a way to drive the point home that home based ferret shelters are deserving of respect and grants. This whole thing may go up in flames, but I am going to try my best to get this done. You know, there would be more help if we all rescued elephants. Rissa, please do not think that I am flaming you or disrepecting your opinion, I am just trying to help folks understand some of the thinking behind us getting a building. Jean Caputo-Lee Director Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter 4116 Bucyrus Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44109 www.ferretsunlimited.org Non profit, no kill [Posted in FML issue 5139]