>From: Anonymous Poster <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Gabriel >I don't understand, if the shelter owner needs money for the medical care >of Gabriel, how can they afford to go to Florida --- does this make sense? It is called LOVE!!!! It is also called SELF-SACRIFICE!!!! I will be happy to explain how Alicia, and how *I* will be able to go to Florida. First of all, we are NOT going to "Disney World" or for "fun" or for a "leisurely vacation". We are going to Florida to *WORK*. We have been invited to attend the HSUS Expo (Humane Society of the United States) there this week to help further the interests of ferrets, and hopefully have an impact "for ferrets" on the entire humane community, some of whom still believe ferrets are 'wild animals' and who strongly discourage them as pets. If you can't see the advantage in this, let me explain just one issue this could greatly impact, that is, legalization of ferrets in every state. If the HSUS took a more positive stance on the side of ferrets, those states holding out and refusing to legalize ferrets would feel much more pressure to legalize ferrets. It will also impact cities where ferrets are still illegal and I personally live near about 10 of those!! So this could even impact "my local adoptions". There are many, many more hidden impacts that our trip will likely have, but she and I do not wish to make all of our intentions public at this time, these things will come to light as time passes. Alicia and I have much, much larger goals than simply assisting and rescuing dozens of local ferrets, though that is very important to us, there are ways we can have an even far greater impact, to save thousands of ferret lives. Secondly, those who are closest to Alicia's shelter and to mine fully understand our financial situations and they appreciate the work we do. No, neither she nor I can afford this trip, but we feel it is important and are willing to sacrifice our time and energy to be there in the interests of ferrets everywhere in this country. It is *our supporters* who have decided that we will go on this trip, and who have had to twist our arms repeatedly to get us to *allow* them to help us go, because they feel our experience and our intimate connections with ferrets and the ferret community will make the impact so desperately needed. A handful of people, who know us personally, are paying for our trip, our hotel room, and our Expo passes **out of THEIR pockets**. I have had to scrape by (moreso than usual) for the last month to gather even enough money to pay for my taxi to and from the airport (no other alternative) and for my meals. This is all Alicia or I will be paying for, thanks to the LOVE of certain OTHERS for FERRETS. It is extremely hard for shelter mom's simply to *leave* their kids! Gabriel will be well taken care of at the hospital, but many others at Alicia's shelter and at mine will be on our minds constantly while we are gone. She happens to be married, so her husband and a couple others will be able to handle the shelter load while she is away. I, on the other hand, must enlist the support of local club members to take 39 ferrets into their homes to care for them, while I am away. Mork is terminally ill and it kills me to leave him! But it is for the good of all ferrets! Luckily, he has taken a drastic turn for the *better* over the last couple of days so I may be able to handle being away from him. He will need hand-feeding every few hours while I am gone, and believe me, if I did not have devoted ferret lovers like Michael Runyon and Larry Fewell to care for him while I am away, I simply would not be able to go! *They* are making sacrifices just like I am for this trip! So are several others!! They love these ferrets too, and they *support* what I do. If you think Alicia and I have money to blow, then you need to visit our shelters and take a look in our closets for example. We are both *borrowing* clothes for this trip. Look in my refrigerator! It is pretty bare, I can tell you, though there is plenty of Duck Soup in there. Look at my empty bank accounts, look at my outstanding vet bills, look at the other bills stacked on my desk. Ask me how many hours of sleep I get each night. We don't live fancy, but we take care of every single need these kids have and we hope to be able to help alot more ferrets by making the sacrifices necessary to go on this trip. You raised a legitimate question! I am actually glad you did, as others may be thinking the same thing you are. I don't mean to sound so angry in this message, you just struck a nerve with me. I wanted to set the record straight for all who may have the same valid question that you have raised. Stick around! Read the FML regularly and you will soon learn how much Alicia, Troy Lynn, myself, and dozens of other shelter mom's and dad's give to these ferrets. You'll learn of the personal sacrifices we gladly make, though you have to read between the lines to see these, we don't often let folks know of the things we personally need or do without, as they are too generous and it is difficult for us to accept their love and sharing without becoming teary-eyed, and without feelings that we don't deserve *this much* love from others, we are of a *giving* nature, not a *taking* one. These are the facts folks, you can flame me if you want, but it will be a waste of effort as I won't respond to them, and they will be immediately "deleted". It is too bad this poster who raised this question had to post "anonymously", I would have like to know who he/she is and direct them to people who have actually been to my home/shelter, and Alicia could do the same. That would definitely set the record *straight*. As for Gabriel, yes he needs everyone's support!! If you don't feel his cause is a worthy one, then by all means, please, *do not* contribute to his care. But if by chance you do want to help, then please do so! He is an innocent victim, deserving, and very appreciative of everyone's support. Trish Director, Ferrets First Rescue & Shelter [Posted in FML issue 1841]