Have you ever worked for a pet store and had to put ferret kits in the
back room until they were old enough to sell?  Has your store needed
to have a vet treat sick kits with unhealed incisions or respiratory
problems or other ills based on how and when they were shipped?  Have
kits died or been returned by customers for those reasons?
 
If so, PLEASE write to the USDA describing in detail what you saw, how
often, how many, what costs or anything else you can provide.  You do
not need to identify the store though it would be nice to say what city
or state you are in, and whether it is a large chain or small store.
 
Do you run a shelter and have you taken in or purchased sick kits from
pet stores, whose ills can be ascribed to how and when they were shipped?
Did caring for these kits incur vet bills for you?
 
If so, PLEASE write to the USDA describing in detail how often this has
occurred and how much it cost to care for the ferrets.  Note if you are
501c3, and perhaps what your annual vet bills run.
 
Have you ever purchased a kit from a pet store and found it was too
young to eat kibble on its own?  Have you had vet bills or behavior
problems associated with it being too young?
 
If so, PLEASE write to the USDA describing what happened, and how much
it cost financially and emotionally.
 
Are you a vet or do you work in a vets office?  Have you treated kits
either direct from stores or from clients whose ills can be attributed
to when and how they were shipped?
 
If so, PLEASE write to the USDA describing in medical terms what you
found.
 
The big ferret farms will complain that ferret specific regulations
will cost them money.  The LACK of regulations is COSTING MONEY NOW
and we need to make sure the USDA understands that!  We need to give
them DATA!
 
Go to our web site for information on how to submit your letters.
 
Thank you from the ferrets!
 
Permission to crosspost!
 
Linda Iroff
International Ferret Congress
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 4973]