Just to add another concept to the shelter issue of fostering. Here at Ferret Wise our "special" kids who don't fit into the adoption catregory due to special needs-- long term care, medical conditions post surgery etc... are permanently placed under our HOSPICE Program. There is a special contract outlining the ferrets condition and what needs the shelter covers, etc. This is an adoption, but a **very special one** which we allow only to those folks whom we are certain can provide reasonable care for those residents for the rest of their lives. This is one way that the hands on care can be guided and the shelter count can be reduced while providing more quaslity time to the ferrets who deserve the best! Just adding another terminology into the placement pot! Alicia and the many faces of Ferret Wise http://www.dartmouth.edu/~crassi/index.html [Posted in FML issue 2743]