How many times have you wished that there was a "How to" course on caring
for your beloved ferrets?  A course designed for you, the ferret owner,
rather than for veterinarians and their staff.  A course that deals with
issues the ferret owner faces everyday.
 
Massachusetts Ferret Friends, Inc. presents
Ferret Owner Education Series
Ferret Aleutians Disease Virus (ADV) Seminar
July 13th, 2002 Time 1pm-3pm
All Newton Music School
321 Chestnut Street
West Newton, MA
 
Think of this as ADV 101 - a seminar where you will have an opportunity
to learn where the disease originated, how does it affect our ferrets,
how is it transmitted and how can we protect our ferrets from the risk of
exposure, just to name a few topics to be covered.
 
We are pleased to have as our guest speaker, Alicia Drakiotes, director of
Ferret Wise Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Marlborough, NH.  Alicia,
a strong advocate of greater awareness of ADV, has been in close contact
with the University of Georgia, where extensive research is being
conducted with the hopes of finding out more about ADV and how to control
its spread in the ferret community.  Since 1999, she has been
administering ADV tests on all ferrets coming into Ferret Wise and has
encouraged all shelters to adopt a similar testing standard.
 
In addition to Alicia's presentation, there will be a "question and
answer" period, plenty of literature to take home and study and
suggestions on how to speak about ADV with other ferret owners.
 
Admission fee is $5.00 per person, MaFF members $3.00 with membership
card.  The funds raised from this event will help to continue our
education programs, community outreach and shelter support.
 
We will have the Avecon Quikchek ADV Test kits available for sale for
$12.00 each.  This test is designed for veterinary, shelter and home use.
It involves collecting a saliva sample for testing, blood collection is
not required.
 
To date, we have been fortunate in Massachusetts in that we have not had
an ADV positive ferret (to the best of our knowledge), but the Board of
Directors feels very strongly that MaFF has a responsibility to provide
our members, our ferret-knowledgeable vets, and our friends who own
ferrets the necessary tools for making sound and reasonable decisions
concerning the protection all ferrets from exposure to ADV.
 
We ask that you set aside this day on your calendar and join us for this
very important seminar.  Light refreshments will be served after the
seminar, as well as raffle tickets available for a Martin's Carrier
filled with lots of ferret goodies, and a merchandise table where you can
pick up a new toy, treat, hammock or other necessity for your ferret!
 
This seminar is for humans only.  No ferrets, please.  Directions are
below, at http://www.maferrets.org, or visit www.mapquest.com for door
to door directions.  There will be ample parking.
 
**Rescue groups, clubs and other organizations please pass on this
invitation to your members, and contact us for group admission
discounts.** Please forward this to any ferret owners you may know,
education is the key to help prevent the spread of this disease.
 
We look forward to seeing you at this event.
Massachusetts Ferret Friends Board of Directors
 
Directions to the All Newton Music School ,
321 Chestnut Street, west Newton, MA 02465
 
The Music School building is an old mansion, there is a blue sign at the
entrance to the driveway.  Parking is available in the front and rear of
the building.
 
From the NORTH --
- Route 128 South to Exit 20A (Route 9 East, Boston/Brookline) at the end
  of the ramp, merge onto Route 9 East
- Take the Chestnut Street/Upper Falls/Waban Exit -- 3/10 mile on Route 9
- Go straight through first Stop sign  [Stop first!  BIG]
- At second Stop sign, take a LEFT onto Chestnut Street
- Go straight through two sets of lights
- Go straight through third set of lights (Commonwealth Avenue) (1.5
  miles from Route 9)
- The All Newton Music School is the THIRD driveway on your LEFT.
 
From the SOUTH --
- Route 128 North to Exit 20A (Route 9 East, Boston/Brookline)
  at the end of the ramp, stay to the right and take the Chestnut
  Street/Upper Falls/Waban
- Exit -- DO NOT merge onto Route 9
- Go straight through first Stop sign
- At second Stop sign, take a LEFT onto Chestnut Street
- Go straight through two sets of lights
- Go straight through third set of lights (Commonwealth Avenue) (1.5 miles
  from Route 9)
- The All Newton Music School is the THIRD driveway on your LEFT.
 
From the MASS PIKE --
Take the Route 128 Exit ????
[Posted in FML issue 3842]