Many fml'ers will remember Bob Rudich, Rudy the Ferlosopher, who died unexpectedly in July 1997. A beautiful handmade teddy bear tribute to Bob is being auctioned off as a fundraiser for Mass Ferret Friends on Sept. 8. This is the last call for raffle tix. Rudy Bear is handmade by Janet O'Brien and can be seen at the Mass Ferret Friends website at <http://maferrets.org/> ("MaFF Rudy Bear Raffle" gives ticket info and a tribute to Bob as well.) Rudy Bear is made of dark tipped German Mohair. He has ultrasuede paw pads, German glass eyes and is fiber filled. He wears a MaFF t-shirt and has his own pet ferret on a leash (the ferret is a Douglas Cuddle Toy 'TM'). He is number 1 of a limited edition of 25. His retail value is $225.00. Unveiled at MaFF's Spring Frolic May 31, he will be raffled on Sept. 8, 1998 at MaFF's September Board of Directors meeting. Raffle tickets are $1.00 a piece or six for $5.00. All proceeds will go to MaFF's general fund which will be distributed in entirety to benefit the ferrets of Massachusetts. Donations are tax deductible. In the event Rudy is won by someone out of area Janet will cover shipping costs. You may contact Janet via email at: <[log in to unmask]> Also, a reminder about the beautiful ferrets available for adoption at MaFF shelters (15 ferrets who suddenly lost their home were given to MaFF shelters last week). You can find out more about these ferrets at the Gimme Shelter website <http://maferrets.org/shelter/gimmee.shtml> Some may be deaf, a few need some extra special TLC. They are all beautiful DEWs and blazes. Phone # for Gimme Shelter is: 508-291-1850 Wareham, Mass. (just before the Cape) Another group is at The Educated Ferret in South Hadley (western Mass.), 413-538-7108. One female may also be at The Luv of Ferrets in Tewksbury (northeastern Mass.) 978-851-7781. And please don't forget about all the other wonderful ferrets at Massachusetts' first shelter, Frisky Ferret Shelter in North Reading, 978-664-5006 (not that far north of Boston). -- Ronnie DiComo [Posted in FML issue 2420]