Times are hard and unfortunately, they might get even worse before things improve. Money is becoming tighter. It is the shelters that suffer the most at these time. People are thinking about their own survival and less is donated; less is spent on raffles and auctions to support shelters. More often than not, it is the shelter owners who spend their money on ferret vet bills, food and bedding. As the times get harder, the ferrets still have to eat and see vets. So many ferret shelter owners have been going without many of the basics they need in their personal life, the things we take for granted. These are not one-time sacrifices, but long-term ones. There are shelter owners that have cut the quality of their lives to the barest of basic levels. All for the love of a tiny, furry, lovable animal that someone else possibly discarded with no thought to its well-being. Thank God that someone took up the responsibility for the survival of this pet. Running a shelter is hard work. Their is the daily cleaning of cages and play areas, all the feedings and checking the ferrets and their poops for illness. Staying up all night with sick or dying ferrets, all the desperate runs to the vet emergency. No time for vacations, no time for so many things. The shelter owners private life is put on hold for years. These precious people will someday have a fur-line path to the Rainbow Bridge as all the ferrets they have helped and saved will be their greeters and their ticket into the Ferretone covered gates of the Rainbow Bridge. Would it be so difficult for the rest of us to help them a little? Just a little from a lot of people equals a LOT. Please support a shelter (s). Even if it is small, it is so appreciated and so helpful. I promise I will even do better myself. Please join me. Deva [Posted in FML 7451]