Shame on you Kim! Have you NEVER had a bad experience with anyone that had anything to do with your ferrets? Even maybe someone handling them when you didn't want them to? Then you must be the one in a million. Hubby and I have had furkids for over 15 years and there have been a few incidents that if one of us had been blessed with premonitions could have been avoided. And if you talk to other ferrants and shelters I'm sure each and every one would have some type of incident that they could tell you about. Maybe not like what happened with Sandi but one that would stop and make you think. Most of you don't know Sandi personally like I do. I've know her for about 10 years and have adopted from and fostered for her. And unlike most folks that adopt from shelters I don't just take the young healthy ones like most people want. Just about all of the babies I've taken from there have been older or have been special needs kids. But it seems like they pick me, not the other way around. Out of all of the kids I've adopted I can only remember two that were really young and perfectly healthy. And I don't take these kids because it's the ones that Sandi WANTS me to take but because it's the ones that have stolen my heart. Anyway, back to Sandi and the shelter. Now, I'm not saying that Sandi's a saint but she does go above and beyond when it comes to the ferrets already in her shelter and the ones that desperately need somewhere to go. I was there that day that the incident occurred. Sandi was stopping whatever errant behaviour was going on as soon as it happened. When I saw something going on I handled it the best I could then told Sandi about it immediately. Yes, it was a terrible situation that, knowing Sandi the way I do, I personally can guarantee you will never happen again! And about Sandi being a HOARDER?!?!?! Get a life! A lot of the ferrets that make their way to her come from other states where there either aren't any reputable shelters or come to her because some shelters don't want old or sick babies and only take in a select few that can be easily adopted out. A lot of her kids are in hospice care until their time comes to pass. She adopts out when a suitable forever home comes along but with the economy the way it is and potential new ferret owners not wanting to do any kid of research on ferret care and health they are few and far between these days. A lot of the potential adopters only want one from a bonded pair and Sandi will not break them up like that. Or they've have ferrets in the past that have died and the don't know why because they didn't get vet care for them. Or the ferret has somehow gotten "lost". Or they had to give it away for some ridiculous reason. Or they have several very young kids and/or a lot of dogs and cats that would "definitely get along with the ferrets" even though they'd never been around one. That can make for a disastrous outcome. Would you want a ferret of yours to go to someone like this? She gets in very few young ones so that leaves a lot of older or sick ferrets that are either not adoptable or are not wanted because they are already four or five years old. And fosters? I think myself and two other people actually foster for her. There is no one much around there that wants ferrets or she wouldn't have to take in so many. She is right by Fort Rucker and gets ferrets from there ... usually from soldiers that have known they were shipping out for weeks and then the day before they have to leave they remember that their ferret needs a home! So they call Sandi. And she does have several shelters in other states that she transports some of hers to when they aren't also overloaded with ferrets. And then there's the local animal control officer that occasionally calls her. And two summers ago when I was diagnosed with cancer who took care of my babies for me? Sandi of course! And so far a hoarders go the only ones I've ever heard of neglect the animals. All of Sandi's babies get homemade duck soup daily, cages cleaned daily, vet visits and meds that they need, hours of out time daily, toys, the best food and last but not least ... lots of love and TLC. When it's time for one to go to the Rainbow Bridge she nestles them in her arms and talks lovingly to them as they cross. And she cries for each and every little lost soul no matter how or why it crosses to the Bridge. Oh, and did I forget to tell you that she does all of this pretty much by herself and also works a full time job?? Doesn't leave much time for a social life now does it? Even when I go to visit her for several days most of our "social time" is spent scooping poop and cleaning cages ... or at the vet! And I don't mind it one bit. I'm not writing this to defend Sandi but to let you know what she actually does, especially concerning the ferrets. And as someone already said the next day we did go and pick up the ferrets that these people had adopted from her. Not out of spite or because she wanted to get back at them for behaving so badly but because she was genuinely concerned about the safety and welfare of these two babies. So don't go talking trash and flaming her or anyone else until you have all of the facts and you've walked a mile in their shoes ... even for one day!! So to Sandi and all of the other reputable shelters out there my hat is off to you for doing such a wonderful job caring for all of these loving babies!! [Posted in FML 6580]