Ok, I'm gonna bite, I've been in a feisty mood anyway so let the flames begin. Bob C. does have an good idea on let's get the problems out and discuss them. Maybe some solutions can be suggested. But so much depends on location of the shelter. I've got a few ideas below that everyone on the list can help with. I'm also more than happy to hear suggestions from you all. Brief history on Ferrets R #1 - I thought a good long year before starting up. I worked in the past fostering ferrets, dealt with death and disease and volunteered here and there for my local ferret shelter. I had read, subscribed and surfed the net for ferrets for years. I've been an owner for over 12 years and participated some in the local ferret community. I knew what I was in store for. I bought the start-up package from STAR* (and yes, as Bob recommended, it is an excellent place to start to give you some points to ponder and many helpful hints). We had been sorely lacking for a shelter in the area for over a year and nobody else in the community was doing anything. I kept getting ferrets in, even without being a shelter, so I decided to do it. Last December I put together everything I needed and started up January 1st of this year. Unfortunately, a shelter is also a business. There is no getting around it. Not a profitable one, but you have to market the shelter and treat potential adopters as customers. You need to let you volunteers and fosters know how much you appreciate their help. Ferrets are still the number one reason you it though. They always get their needs met before anything else, but sometimes time runs out in the day. I can probably count on both hands how many times I've cleaned my house this past year. Am I a collector? Lord NO! All I try to do is save lives. I'm always looking to improve the system too. Bob C. wrote a great article a few months back on stimulating play time. I hadn't really thought of it before then. But since I read it, each week I reorganize the play area for stimulation. Do my charges get out each day. No. I wish they did and that is one of the most heartbreaking things for me. But there just isn't enough time in a day. I do have volunteers, but most are scared to get out too many at once. So many look similar. So there is many different play groups. My own have suffered too, because they don't get any more special treatment that the shelter ferrets. Like I said above, I knew what kind of population our old shelter in the area had. But I am very surprised that in my first year (still working on the year too) I've taken in 102 ferrets. Turn over for singles is four weeks (mainly due to having get all their shots), pairs take a couple months. I don't think that's too bad. But there is always those, that for some reason people just don't want. I average between 25-30 (including my own). I've never had a ferret come in and start to bite after he/she came in. So hopefully I'm not creating neurotic ferrets. One good thing, the ferrets live with me and my family, they are right there in the thick of things, so they do get much love. What can be done? What can the general ferret owner do to help the situation? Here is some of my ideas. First off, ferret owners get attention. So know your animal. Educate yourself for the most frequently asked questions. Find your nearest shelter and give them a call. Ask for some of their business cards. When people ask about your ferret and seem interested - hand them a card. There are so many advantages of getting a shelter ferret, steer the people to the shelter. Second, write the chain petstores that sell ferrets! If they weren't selling them so quickly, then they wouldn't be coming into the shelter so fast. This is especially important in more affluent areas. That is my biggest problem. People in Washington DC metro area have money, and have no problem buying a ferret or two today, and deciding they stink a week from now. There is nothing harder than being hit with four or five ferrets, that people keep buying and not thinking about before hand. You can't place four or five ferrets in one home. Shelters working together is also an excellent idea. I set this up myself at the very beginning. Many shelters have helped me out and I have returned the favor. But at least in our area, all seem to get swarmed at the same time, so it isn't always feasible. I get out and promote the shelter often. I've tried hard to become a respected shelter in the community. I've got a good list of volunteers and always need more. I have a son that helps. But there are improvements that need to be done. You deal with it the best you can with what you have to work with. I didn't expect to have had 102 ferrets in my first year. I expected half that. But I have worked hard and have no guilt over what I've done. I hope others will open their homes and hearts too. But it's too much for most. Just the dollar figure can scare most people off. So what do you do? No they are not better off in my shelter than a loving home. I know that. But it is better than death. Faith Ferrets R #1 Shelter & Rescue No. Va. [Posted in FML issue 2516]