I have a NO KILL shelter. I am known for nine counties around as the place to go with any ferret in any condition at any time and under any circumstances. Last year I bought out a skinny old arthritic backed adrenal ferret and brought him home. I give him meds for the arthritis and treat that with physical therapy. I have him on an adrenal diet that must be made up every other day just for him. and I feed him by syringe every two hours for 16 hours each day. I take no vacations, have little furniture, live a no frills life, and wear serviceable if old clothes every day. I hire no one to do anything and do without extras like jam on my bread as a normal part of life. My idea of a feast is all the bologna sandwiches I can eat out of fresh [not day old] bread. I have the insane and the crippled and the old and the infirm. and never a day or even an hour off the job. And I do it all for the most selfish of reasons. I like what I do.. I feel good when a tired old fuzzy grins up at me and snuggles down for a nap in my arms. I get a huge charge out of seeing a previously quite insane ferret [yup, abuse them enough they go nuts] stop screaming and biting at phantom attackers and finally lay calm and relaxed in a friends arms and give him kisses, her very first. I laugh with the crippled ones when they climb up onto my floor level mattress and box springs and then propped on front paws look so pleased and proud of their accomplishment. And I shed little tears of quiet joy when these same fuzzies dook and dance a bit each day. With some I am blessed for a year or two. With some it's days. and with others it's hours or minutes. But not once has it ever been a second longer than I have ached and prayed for. and yes, over the years there have been the ones so torn or ill they were in pain and there was no getting better..not ever.. no matter how hard we worked or prayed..[take it from me three 22 bullets breaks a lot of bones and shatters a lot of tissue beyond mending and a huge dog can tear and rend a ferret beyond recognition] and those I have gotten freedom from pain and a time to cuddle and love and calm as the little one inhales a bit too much anesthetic and drifts from sleep to beyond the veil. But whether I am blessed with them seconds or years their passing costs. And money is the least of the bill paid. It hurts to lose them .. it ALWAYS hurts. If the day ever comes I do not weep for a ferret crossed over to the Bridge that is the day I will stop sheltering ferrets forever. The other side of the coin of loving is the grieving. The one measures the other in many ways. If a shelter cannot afford to treat the ferrets entrusted to them then it is their responsibility to get those ferrets to a shelter that can and will do their best for them. Death is not an alternative to responsibility!!! I hope you all enjoy Gods Blessing and the light of hope and love this Holiday Season.. dayna and the woozles October 30, 1998 The Day The Music Died. I love you Allegro... and will miss you all of my days. [Posted in FML issue 2518]