On behalf of shelters everywhere, and more particularly, disadvantaged ferrets, I would like to say a few words about the Giving Tree. Last year was the first year I was able to help my local shelter put our 'needy' ferrets up on the site. It took a fair amount of work just organizing the photos, writing the stories and descriptions, and then sending it off. Kris got them up and the generosity of Santa's across our continent was simply unbelievable. Fortunately, our shelter was not in the position financially that we truly 'needed' the gifts of Secret Santa to enable our ferrets to have a special Christmas. Every foster family looking after them would have done whatever it took to make sure Christmas was special.....but by placing our disadvantaged ferrets on the Tree, we gave Santa's elsewhere an opportunity to perform an act of kindness. That seems to me the 'truth' of the Giving Tree. Lets face it. The ferrets don't know it's Christmas. No one will deny they have had hard lives, horrible things done to them, etc. We are all here for the ferrets. But what I want to bring out is this. Each year Kris has gone to incredible lengths making it possible for us humans to get a good feeling out of Christmas. We feel good sending gifts, we feel good getting gifts, we feel we are doing the right thing for the ferrets. The side benefit is that the ferrets actually do get gifts....but I know like most of you do, that no shelter is going to let a ferret go without, regardless of what season it is. When I see people complaining about the length of time it has taken Kris to get ferrets up on the tree, when I see complaints about this and that, it blows my mind that we can't realize none of this would happen, would have happened or will happen in the future without the labor of love Kris puts into it. He does this in his spare time. He gets no payment from it. It takes long hours and a lot of work. Do you not think he has other interests, or demands on his time? If he was sick, if he experienced the loss of a loved one, what allowances would you make for him? When something this good, taking this much effort, is offered to you for FREE, it behooves you to offer your THANKS, offer your help in any way, and encourage, not gripe and whine. Kris, last year your efforts brought joy to our shelters ferrets, but more importantly, you made me realize that strangers from countries away would spend their hard earned money on animals they would never see or touch. You showed me the true Spirit of Christmas exists in people I've never met. From our shelter, and our hearts, we offer the biggest thanks we can. You won't hear us whine or gripe. If there is any way you can think of that would reduce your workload, that we, the thankful ones could do, then by all means share it with us. We'll do whatever we can to keep your spirits up and 'in the game'. Trust us, we completely appreciate your efforts on our behalf. On behalf of grateful shelter volunteers and ferrets everywhere. [RY] [Posted in FML 5818]