I thank you for your response Jean, but it really wasn't necessary. The issue I had was not with you or your shelter, but rather with the attitude of the poster whose message I was replying to. That post may have been well intended but I believe it did more harm, and not only to you but to all shelters/shelter operators, than it did good. And judging by the flurry of posts by shelters thanking their volunteers, it would seem I was not alone in my thinking. In any case, I understood that this poster was not necessarily representing you or your shelter. I'm not sure if everyone reading did though, so I suppose your response was warranted. That aside, I think your idea for a separate shelter building is wonderful, though it doesn't appear to be a very well thought out or very well planned idea. It would seem you've put many carts before your horse, so to speak. Perhaps I'm missing something or misunderstanding but it seems the entire idea is riding on the goodwill of others. Is it your intent to have the project financially funded entirely by donations? And if so, how do you plan to fund the "care or day to day needs of the shelter" aftrwards? Do you intend to do this all on donations as well? And what about the actual running of the place, are you counting on volunteers for this as well? If so, do you really think this is a feasible idea, especially considering that you're already having such great difficulty finding support (both financially and physically, in the form of volunteers) running the operation from your home? Again, I do sincerely think your idea is wonderful (at least in theory). However, I'm very confused as to how you plan to make it work. Karen McCabe http://www.cinnamonsprite.net [Posted in FML issue 5337]