This is the last posting I will have on the FML. I AM A LEGITIMATE SHELTER. Apparently, some of us were upset at my last posting about shelters IN GENERAL. I stated that I had witnessed "hosing down" of cages to be cleaned. I have previously heard from other shelters of this practice, and also from owners, and had witnessed it at the home of a FOSTER FERRET HOME. I DID NOT, NOR INTENDED TO, PUT THE 'OTHER SHELTER' IN A BAD LIGHT. But apparently, now I am in that bad light. Yes, I had problems a few months back. I had incurred a large bill and in order to repay it was being pressured to sell my home. I have since decided that my shelter and the ferrets that occupy it were more important. Yes, I had surrendered a few ferrets to another local shelter. I thought that I had someone who cared in my corner, to help me out. I also had the support of the local club, and currently have a wonderful vet who is at this moment caring for three ferrets that were recently surrendered and who needed medical care. I have just taken in six ferrets in the past week. They all need medical attention. As for the ferrets I currently have, THEY ARE NOT MY OWN PERSONAL FERRETS. They are ferrets that were surrendered or abandoned that I have kept as permanent residents for different reasons, one of them being that they need constant medical care, like the one I just had put to sleep. MY PERSONAL FERRETS PASSED AWAY IN 1997. It is because of them that I run a shelter. I run a shop to raise funds for that shelter, which seemed like the perfect setup, a shelter that paid for itself. As for the "other" shelter, I was very pleased to hear that there was help for me and for Vegas. I was told that the shelter operator was "intimidated", so I did not contact her. I did so shortly thereafter, on the suggestion of the local club. I was just involved with the club, and if I recall I had helped that shelter out, with a cage donation, and items such as hammocks, and numerous referrals. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR ENDEAVOR. You now have the support of the local shelter and it's members. I remember having that once. Please don't take that post in the wrong way. I am in contact with many shelters around the country, and have ferret "moms" in town who care for ferrets much like a shelter. To them, I am grateful. As for the post in response to that, thank you for the vote of confidence, and for putting me in a bad light on the internet. I HAVE SUPPORTERS THAT I HAVE MET ON THE INTERNET WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW ME. Now I fear that they feel they have been "fooled". Believe me, you have not. I pride myself on being an honest, clean, and friendly environment both for the ferret and the ferret owner. I too have the support of many local vets, and the entertainment community for which I was a part of for many years previous. I'm not sure about the local club anymore. Oh, and I hosed down a few cages in my backyard last night. My reputation as a shelter and a business owner was ruined long before this. For that, I thank you. The ferrets thank you, too. Angel Ferret Shelter and RESIDENTS: Cosmo, Casper, Googie, Fei-Fu, Buddy, Mystie, Oliver and AVAILABLES: Lucy, Sissy, Avatar, Sonya, and UNDECIDED: Yukon, B.J. and Hawkeye. HATE MAIL WELCOME [Posted in FML issue 2544]