We regret to announce the closing of Ferrets at Heart in Franklin, NC. After attempting a restructure and altering our focus to a foster network, we have still been unable to bring in enough funds to assure the wellbeing of future ferrets in our care. As of May 19, 2014, our website will be taken down, and we ask that you remove our entry from any shelter list of which you are aware. After more than five years of operation in Ohio and North Carolina, we have so many people we are thankful for. You made life easier for shelter workers, our vets, and our ferret family. May God bless you all. A special thanks to: Sukie Crandall Sharon Bearden & SOS Laurie & Jane Schubert Anna, Adam, & Alex Smith Kathie Hicks Toni Tilly Deb Benson Douds Veterinary Hospital, Oberlin, OH Susan Baker Debi Sadowski Angela Showalter Jim & Linda Morgan Linda Proulx Katie Karr Melissa Bell Leslie Hill Florence Love Wolfy Nancy Busso Alexandra in MA Angela Nieswenter Heather Pittman Marsha Stanek Janice Mansfield Karen Bunnell Rose German Sue Pyron Jasmine Becket-Griffith Lenzo Animal Hospital, Franklin, NC Ken Parker Brittany Mills Nancy Parks Pat Shaskin Cathy Mallette Ann Church Renee at Golden Stone Graphics Hyper-Fur Ferrets with Soul FurpeopleWeyr Kindness Matters My FML family The Rainbow Bridge greeters Our volunteers All who sent supplies or offered advice during our battle with ECE in 2012 All our santas (2010-2013) Raffle ticket purchasers or prize donors Every adopt-a-ferret forever-home person Shelter donors (financially or supplies) Shoppers at our online store Anyone I missed (because I'm only human, and my old computer ate many of my contacts/records) During the next two weeks, one more link will be posted in a few ferret Facebook groups mentioning donations. This will be our usual monthly percentage kickback from Amazon. If USA customers place an order at Amazon through one of those links, Ferrets at Heart will receive 4% to 10% of the total value of the items you pay for at checkout. Alternatively, you can use this link "anytime," because they never expire, and I will continue to feed/house/vet our remaining ferrets partially through marketing freelance work (i.e., these links) even after there isn't a Ferrets at Heart. <http://www.amazon.com/gp/site-directory/?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393193&linkCode=shr&tag=ferrathear-20> Freelance jobs are not easy to come by, but neither is a 9-to-5. I've been building a local and national clientele of indie authors and small publishers for my marketing/PR services -- book blogs, guestblogs, book reviews, giveaways, marketing evaluations, social network campaigns, etc. When I'm not doing that, I'm writing for industry blogs or creating jewelry for art galleries. It may seem like a lot, but the time it takes to find a brief freelance job is most often a long and drawn-out process. And, to be honest, the only outside support I was able to get for the kids in addition to my employment in the last eighteen months amounted to a bit less than three-hundred dollars, which includes donated melatonin implants last month (Thank you santas, friends, and SOS.). So, I'm back to just being a ferret owner now (if it counts that I've sort of got kids in fosterage). I cry, because I don't have whiskers on my toes each morning and inquisitive noses helping me get dressed. I feel like I've lost another chunk of my heart -- first Mom; then, my husband; next, my grandfather; now, my calling. But, I can't call our loose-knit group a "rescue," when we don't now have -- and can't see that we will have - money, room, or time to devote to any new babies. Please use the links in my signature to contact me from now on. The ferretsatheart.com email addresses will become inactive soon. With respect, Lori Parker Ferrets at Heart -- Closing May 19, 2014 -- 5 yr., 2 mo. Missing: More babies than I can count Freelance marketing, blog tours, social network campaigns, guestblogs, & Braille tutoring Honest book reviews with respectful criticism 53 Green Vale Lane Franklin, NC 28734 828-332-2013 [log in to unmask] Where I brag on books & write other nifty things: Amazon (Top Reviewer Rank of 4,796/20mil as of 5/12/14): <http://www.amazon.com/gp/site-directory/?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393193&linkCode=shr&tag=ferrathear-20> Word of the Nerd Online (Staff Writer in SF&F): http://www.wordofthenerdonline.com/author/lorip/ Let's keep in touch: Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookwormPOV FB: https://www.facebook.com/lori.parker.3538 G+: http://google.com/+LoriParkerBookwormPOV [Posted in FML 8104]