Hello Fellow FMLers, I've copied a letter below to the FML from someone wishing to remain anonymous. We do need to acknowledge the extraordinary dedication of our fellow ferret lovers. Jackie TO: FML RE: **Northeast Florida Branch** / South Florida Ferret Club & Rescue Although it was good to read the recent post in which the Woodell/Drysdale family thanked the "local ferret rescue people" who provided critical hands-on care for "Meiko", the ferret with the carrot-induced problem; it is somewhat disheartening to have these knowledgeable and dedicated ferret rescuers continue to remain anonymous. Each shelter relies heavily on *community awareness* in order to be able to *recruit* volunteers, *educate* the public, *network* with new and prospective ferret families to find responsible, loving, long-term homes for the shelter kids and, just as importantly, *secure financial support* for the seemingly endless list of shelter needs. When we find *helpful* and *experienced* ferret people who generously give of themselves on behalf of the ferrets, they *deserve recognition*...not anonymity...from those who have benefited from their assistance. By naming these shelters and their volunteers, we further spread the word to others that there are people in their immediate area who they can turn to should a ferret crisis arise within their own family. This is a *good* thing....not something to be kept hidden from others! Thus, I believe it's vital that the "unnamed" ferret rescue people be publicly acknowledged for their good deeds (even though that's NOT the reason they do what they do). This was not some unknown "Jacksonville rescue group" but a well-respected branch of one of the largest and oldest rescues within the State of Florida--which was only temporarily residing in Jacksonville (with 70+ shelter and personal animals--ferrets, dogs, cats, birds, etc.), over 50 miles from home due to the fact they had to **evacuate** for over a week due to two raging wildfires fast approaching the shelter. In ending, many FMLers may not be familiar with this ferret shelter--as they are NOT on line. (FYI: Their main Miami facility does have an extensive and informative website at http://www.miamiferret.org. Those involved in this remarkable display of *dedication* and *teamwork* on behalf of "Meiko" and countless Florida ferrets are: Northeast Florida Branch/South Florida Ferret Club & Rescue Barbara Ludt, Branch Shelter Mom Plashette Cassarella, Volunteer Extraordinaire John Rossi, DVM (Jacksonville, FL) and Debbie Kemmerer, DVM (Gainesville, FL) Please remember to *support* and *thank* your local ferret shelter(s) whenever possible. They are there for you and your ferrets.... Anonymous -- D. Fender of Ferret Shelters [Posted in FML issue 2380]