Yesterday, lightkeeper (Karen) said: >Would you allow yourself to run out of food and then go out and buy a >bunch of crappy stuff to eat just because it is cheap?? Ask yourself >this question and sincerely think before you answer. My response: Unfortunately, every day people do just this. In an attempt to keep themselves and their children from going to bed hungry, they buy fillers that will not be nutritionally sound, but that will keep the hunger pangs away. We talk about feeding our ferrets food that is often more nutritionally sound AND more expensive than what millions of children living in poverty have. The stories about the elderly people eating dog food - those aren't just tall tales. Go volunteer in the local food bank or for Meals on Wheels and see what a REAL food problem is. As a single mother I had days when I had no idea how I was going to do all the things for my child that her friends from two parent homes were doing. Feed her? Of course, I wanted what was best for her and got the best that I could afford. I read a lot of labels. I learned to cook. I learned to cut corners. And some days she would get a hot dog because it was the end of the month and expenses had been high and the hot dog was cheaper than ground beef or steak or chicken. But she never went to bed hungry. Bottom line - you do what you have to do. The ferrets will survive just fine on a bargain buffet. And, for those of you out there who want them to have a better food, why not send a big bag to the shelter of your choice. Several people have said that due to the tough economy they are not able to afford some of the better foods they used to serve. Why not read through the FMLs and find one and surprise them. Actions speak louder than words. -- Renee Downs "Eventually we will realize that if we destroy the ecosystem we destroy ourselves." Jonas Salk "The most effective way to do it, is to do it." Amelia Earhart It's amazing how much can be accomplished if nobody cares who gets the credit! Ferret Emergency Response, Rescue & Evacuation Team (F.E.R.R.E.T.) http://www.ferretemergency.org [Posted in FML 6927]