>... I mean the conditions that this shelter runner thinks that she is >saving them from are in most cases better than the conditions they have >to live in at the shelter. The scenario this person paints is, unfortunately, way too common. I was a good samaritan also and found that my help only encouraged the shelter operator to breed and collect *more* ferrets (I'm talking dozens and dozens per year!) since they no longer had to take responsibility for their "shelter". BTW, my definition of a collector is someone who routinely keeps the most adoptable animals that come into the shelter as their own (I'm not talking about the hard to place animals that become part of the shelter owners heart and home). I find this offensive *only* when the person does not have time to give all the animals proper care - such as daily exercise and mental stimulation (outside a cage), daily human interaction and love, daily cleaning of the litter pans, food & water at all times, regular ear cleanings and checks for mites, grooming, etc. (those *basic* ferret needs). The whole idea about debating shelters is that there are many ways shelters can be improved. With a little help from the ferret community, most of the bad shelters can become good, the good shelters can become great, and the top notch shelters can take pride in their operation. Why can't this shelter debate focus on those issues and *quit* making personal attacks? Bob Church has seen hundreds of shelters. THERE ARE PROBLEMS! Let's find a way to fix these problems. Let's brainstorm! Does anyone have any suggestions about how can we fix the shelters that have problems but don't want to change, such as the one Pippy described? [FO] [Posted in FML issue 2523]