In a post yesterday, one shelter ask how other shelters handled the influx of ferrets with adrenal tumors. For over 4 years we took in all ferrets and treated every medical problem before we adopted them out. Those with adrenal tumors were nearly always "fostered" - adopted out with no donation asked. Every year, of course, the donations didn't come even close to covering even our vet bills, let alone food, litter, etc., so we ended up paying out *thousands* of dollars from our own pocket. Last year, our vet bills ran over the $10,000 mark. This year they hit $10,000 well before the end of the third quarter of the year, and in spite of generous donations, our unpaid shelter vet bill stands at over $1400. So many of the ferrets that were being dropped off had obvious adrenal tumors that it became obvious we were becoming the ferret "welfare office." People who had ferrets and didn't want to pay for their vet care, were "disposing" of their responsibilities by transferring them to us. I guess it soothed their conscience. We decided that we had to take some sort of drastic action or close down the shelter completely. Beginning in September we started to refuse ferrets with apparent adrenal tumors, unless the people agreed in advance to pay for the surgery. Believe me it was a tough decision knowing that the ferret would unlikely get the necessary vet care at the hands of the uncaring owners. It was either that or close the shelter completely and be able to help none of the ferrets. With one of the major shelters in NH closing, the burden on the remaining two has been unbelievable. Closing ours would very likely force the remaining shelter to close its doors too; so it became the tough choice of either helping none, or only helping those whom we could help. We chose the latter. The shelter operator who posted won't get any flames from me, nor should they from anyone else who hasn't lived the situation. The solution, of course, would be for every pet owner to live up to the responsibilities that they took on when they brought their pet into their lives. Folks, believe me this is not a perfect world we live in. Until it is, we have to make unpleasant compromises. Dick B. [Posted in FML issue 2134]