>Moderator's note: The same sad and pitiful people who donated and >volunteered, perhaps? You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but >insulting the readers on the FML is not productive, nor accurate. WHAT? Ok, if you read alot of the "good" posts, people are really tired of the slamming. As soon as one lynching is done, we get about a week in between where there are informative and funny posts, and then low and behold, the lynching starts again with someone else. Lori has taken on a HUGE burden created by one man in the ferret community. To get in 10 ferrets at a shot is overwhelming for a shelter, she took in 500 ferrets (or somewhere in that neighborhood). To ask her to be accountable, to post numbers, to send out thank you cards or letters of receipt for donations at this time is asking WAY to much. She probably can bearly keep her head above the litter pans at this time. She has to go through applications, get transports set up etc, feed, water, get shots, go to vet appointments etc. When you give a donation, it is a donation. People seem to expect ALOT when they give. You give because you want to give and it makes you feel good in your heart. You hope that the donation is used correctly. That is why you check out a rescue or any place you are donating to first. You don't give to get recognition. Now I am sure in time, when the storm settles, Lori will thank everyone. She is a good person. There is only 24 hours in a day, and I am sure all her waking hours are spent dealing with this mess. Bottom line is, that it is FACT she took in all these ferrets...right? Ferrets cost money...right? So the money has to come from some place to fund this HUGE undertaking. Sometimes, a little common sense and thinking things out has to come into play. When I was talking about the sad and pitiful people, BIG, I was NOT talking about the people who volunteer. Those are the people who REALIZE what goes into a rescue of this magnitude and realizes that it takes a HUGE amount of money, supplies and time to do something like that. While donations are good initially, they do tail off, leaving the shelter still way in the hole. I was speaking to the people on the FML who are so quick to judge, want accountability for everything, and time and time again, think that rescue organizations are in business, making money. A rescue is not a money making adventure. Much of the rescue person's own personal money is used to fund the shelter, because when the bills need to get paid, and there are no shelter funds, the person on the bill, must pay. But that seems to be an expected thing from alot of people and that is wrong. There needs to be more fundraising in the ferret community, more research into the issues which plague ferrets and more of an united front. And a lot less fighting and slamming. >MW, I don't recall a mention of you being at Lori's, now that I think >about it. (I can add that to the SLAM calendar.) BIG] And while I did not go to Ohio to help with this rescue (as for I have a rescue here at home to tend to), I have helped 100's of ferrets find new homes and continue to do so. So YES, BIG, I do MY part in the ferret community. 1000's of dollars out of my pocket has gone into society's dumped ferrets. And I will be happy to be in the SLAM calendar.........because I do a wonderful job at rescue! Sign me up! I want August! (MW) [Posted in FML 5814]