This is not a flame, it is a question and my feelings about something. I run a self-funded, small shelter. I have taken in only a few ferrets at a time, and been lucky with healthy ones.2 were taken from a filthy house they were starving in along with the 2 iguanas,3 dogs,3 cats,and 2 infants under the age of 2. I got the ferts.One is with me permanantly,and that's by beloved Fidget. The girl was given to a family who had children and couldn't afford the cage and ferret but could pey for vet bills and necessities.She is loved by that family and spoiled.She sleeps with the children and has free roam of the house.Another was in a pet store. Silver Panda Blaze and deaf as a stump. Couldn't leave him there to be misunderstood,he is VooDoo my friend has him.Another was a huge fellah named TJ but we called him Fat Butt.Yeah, he was way overweight.His owner let him have lots of cheerios and fruit loops.Fed him fruit and chips too.He went on a diest he hated and lis now a normal healthy guy.he was well loved but the owner had to move and couldn't keep him.He resides with a friend of a friend who adopted him for small $50 to cover the shots and vet bill.Then came Sebastian the biter.Looks a lot like Fidge but black not sable.Bastian was a biter and always into trouble.He was adopted by my friend who has VooDoo for the same $50 fee for shots. Sabrina is still here, she is a problem biter turned to a nipper.She is now adoptable and ready to go. Baby came to me from Kentucky a few months ago.She is healthy despite being left God knows how long in an apartment after the people moved and left her behind.She is very calm and sweet.She is with me permanently.She has suffered enough and Has a few hang-ups.I think she is an old girl.She is a medium shade of sable all over with cream undercoat, but has long white hairs peppered(or should I say salted?) on her legs.She does not play, or run or jump.She moves at a normal rate, neither slow nor quick. She puts the others in their place and ignores them unless they are in her way or pestering her. I kept calling her the poor baby and Baby just stuck. OK now, as I say I have been lucky.ALL of the ferrets coming thru my place have been Marshalls.Sebastian and Sabrina.Parents tired of taking care of teenagers pets.gave me ferrets,sold me the HUGE cage for $50 dollars(what a funny theme we have here) and they GAVE me four other cages.2 double sized multi-level cages, and 2 single story multi level cages.AND litter AND food AND toys AND sleepsacks.She was a wonderful mother and SO glad to let me take them off her hands <G> Even after I had the ferts for months she would drop things off for me now and then.I would come home and find a sack of hammocks or sleepsacks or toys,or food or litter. Wonderful people. I have offered many times to many local shelters who are overcrowded to take up to four or five ferts so they are slightly less overcrowded.I have only room enough for a few at a time I cannot allow myself to become overcrowded.I have only so much funds right now due to a costly move and am only able to take healthy animals who are just awaiting homes.I can take biters or deaf ones, I have experience with them. Just no adrenals or insulinomas until I can get my savings built up again.It took all I had for the move. We have gone from an apartment to a huge house where they can roam and play and dook all day.I am glad I moved, I can now rescue the dogs and ferrets again.Rather than be of no help at all, I have offered my limited service.I will do what I can as a single mother I am not putting my child or myself or ferrets or dogs in a position where I am overextended time wise and financially. Every offer I have made was turned down or ignored.Rather than put them somewhere they will get more time and space, individual attention as well as socialisation, I have been told by those who bothered to respond that they would rather not uproot them again.I understand that these shelters are doing their VERY BEST by the animals they care for, I am not flaming. I just don't understand why they post for ssistance due to overcrowding,and why feel that they are fine where they are when I, a smaller operation have a better situation for them,even if it is temporary. Some ferrets are best left in one place,I know that, which is why my 2 are with me for good, but some ferrets are more hardy, and do just fine when transferred more than once. I cannot be much help for donations, but am perfectly able to shelter a few healthy babies to help relieve the congestion a little in a larger shelter and provide a small, but worthwhile service. I have 3 empty cages.(baby prefers her own space) I can house up to 5 ferrets in them. If you have a shelter in or around Columbus, Ohio I can assist. Just nobody will let me. Kim Wolf Mystyx Samoyeds Samoyed Rescue and Ferret Rescue Galloway,Ohio [Posted in FML issue 2840]