My response: >I mean no offense, and I'm not looking to start a war, but, $83,000 >was recently donated to Ferrets Unlimited, with an additional $150,000 >pledged, to purchase property on which the shelter building is to be >located. How can you possibly say Jean is "getting practically *no* >support"? Any money pledged to the shelter to this date has been for *specific purposes only*, having to do w/ the purchase of a property & towards the construction of a building only. It has no bearing on the every day operation of the shelter. In regards to the actual operation of the shelter on a day-to-day basis, no, she *isn't* getting much help. In a part of the country where there is supposed to be such a strong ferret community, I think that's sad & inexplicable. >Shelters/shelter operators need to know their limits, and people should >not be guilted into lending a hand when they don't. Honestly, pulling >out the cancer card here is in very poor taste (to say the least). I'm simply recalling the history of Jean's/the shelter's situation. It happens to be fact. The truth isn't always tasteful. >Forced? Sheltering is a choice. And a choice she has steadfastly dedicated herself to for the past 12 yrs. How many shelters do you know of that have been out there doing this work for that long? >I'm not against supporting Jean/Ferrets Unlimited, or any other shelter. >Shelters need support, and those who choose to support them should be >commended just as much as the shelter operators themselves are. >However, reading this post would not have me jumping to help anyone. >In fact, it's left me with a rather dirty feeling that I'd really like >to go wash off now. The idea of washing off - turning one's back on - stark reality, is why so many shelters are in the situations they are in - not just Ferrets Unlimited. If it aint pretty, don't look at it. Maybe I'm not in the thick of things because I'm not a member of all these prestegious organizations, but that's how it looks to me. And the last I checked, everyone's entitled to speak their minds. Even those of us who don't attach our names to everything in the book, who aren't looking for recognition or pats on the back. Jean's probably mad at me for even talking about any of this, of posting in the first place. I didn't do it at her behest - I did it because there is a *dire need* that is not being addressed, & the conspicuous lack of support from a supposedly strong local ferret community has been something that I simply *do not fathom*. I don't know what to do to help her. I feel that I *need* to help her. And, quite frankly, I don't *know* how to help her. As a ferret owner, & as one who has adopted from her, I feel the *responsibility* to do so. But in Ohio, it appears the concept of "responsibility" has fallen sadly by the wayside. It makes me feel completely helpless. One would think there'd be *someone* out there who could pitch in to help figure things out. I guess not, though. Apathy reigns supreme in northern Ohio. And meanwhile, it's the ferrets who suffer the consequences. And not just in northern Ohio, but *everywhere*. I'm really beginning to lose faith & interest in the ferret community in general. It makes *me* feel dirty. Lin, Ariel, Oberon, Max, Puck, & Ivan [Posted in FML issue 5335]