I know that many of you on the FML might not have that extra dollar to contribute to your local ferret shelter. So I have a suggestion as to a gift that will cost you only a phone call and a little time. At our shelter we have these marvelous play tubes which cost us nothing but a little time. Here it is: Call up your local Carpet Store. They have these great - heavy duty cardboard tubes that the carpet is wrapped around. Usually these tubes are 10 to 12 feet long (tubes have been approved as SAFE by our FFIRCI vet Dr. Ernest). You will have to use a saw to cut the tubes into sections of two to 4 feet long. They make great exploring tubes and all the ferrets at the FFIRC shelter simply love them. So for Christmas why not get one of these tubes, cut it up, and give it to your local shelter. Added note. Last Easter I went to the "Dollar Store" and bought 100 of those plastic easter eggs (Cost $5.00) also I got a tube of Super Glue. I glued the eggs closed with the super glue and let them sit for 24 hours. The kids just love them -especially since they can play a game called the EGG CANON. I take those carpet tubes I cut and put the eggs in them - The kids love to push the eggs back and forth in the tubes. Many of you have ask for our snail mail address so I will give it to you. You can write to the Ferret Friends at this address: Ferret Friends of Indian River County International %Chere McCoy 8775 20th Street, Lot 614 Vero Beach, FL 32966 We do put out a newsletter (which I pay for personally). Unfortunately we won't be able to put out another one till around January. It is absolutely FREE to be a Ferret Friend all you have to do is love animals (It helps if you are owned by a ferret) Our shelter is a NO-KILL, not for profit shelter - where every ferret is truly loved. Chere McCoy Ferret Friends of Indian River County International Ferret Friends of Indian River County Shelter Ferret Friends Disaster Response International [Posted in FML issue 1385]