Improvements to APHIS/USDA standards for ferrets:
 
HOW WILL SHELTERS BE AFFECTED?
If we can get a change so that kits arrive in pet stores at older ages
they will be better socialized, more tractable, and healthier so you
shelter moms and dads won't have sick kits turned over to you to save,
or as many for rehab.  Getting these standards could help reduce your
work load and expenses!  ( Otherwise, you are not affected.  Your states
regulate you.)  Anyone who cares about shelters can help those shelters
by helping ferrets with their letters to support better standards.
 
HOW WILL BREEDERS BE AFFECTED?
They WON'T be affected -- at least not the vast majority.  APHIS/USDA
only regulates large operations and those who sell to retail stores.
It does not oversee small operations or those who sell directly to the
ferrets' new families.  Other agencies regulate most of you breeders,
such as your state ones.  It would actually take a presidential shift in
organization of governmental agencies (and maybe more) to bring you under
the USDA, and you know that there is no way the USDA budget would be
increased to do that.  If you are not USDA regulated already, you won't
be when we get kits to not be sold under 8 weeks of age, or when we
finally get other considerations being looked at -- like having airlines
not pack kit crates under heavy items, and not allowing their airline
crews to leave kits on hot tarmac for hours at a time.
 
The only way that I can think of that you might be affected is that you
won't have to cry over all of those farm kits you hear about because they
will have better humane protection.  You know kits best of all so I
suspect it really rips your guts out whenever that suffering is posted.
Why not change that?
 
2 YEARS of hard work have so far gone into the current attempt to improve
the USDA/APHIS standards for ferrets.  They work step by step, and each
time they need a show of support and we all have to provide it to not
lose all the work we all have done so far.
 
This is the third attempt to get improvements because the standards which
have been in place since 1970 are resulting in too many tragedies.
 
The first two attempts were lost due to apathy in the ferret community,
not because of any problem elsewhere.  Don't let that happen again!
 
We badly need ferret people to stand up and be counted, because if you
don't then the next time you cry over sick 5 week old kits who might
not survive without damaged health in pet stores you will have to also
know that since you didn't let the USDA/APHIS know that these ferrets
need protection then you sadly share in the blame.  Horrible thought,
isn't it?
 
So far, 70 comments are on the docket site and one of those is opposed to
changes, saying that the 1970 regulations are sufficient.  Do you feel
that those actually protect ferrets enough each time you read month after
month after month too many sad, but avoidable stories FML of sick kits,
starving ones too immature to eat the food given them, prolapses, ferrets
dead of heat stroke during transport, etc?
 
LET'S BLANKET THEM WITH REQUESTS FOR SHIPPING AND SELLING KITS NO YOUNGER
THAN 8 WEEKS OLD, AND REQUESTS FOR STANDARDS DESIGNED BY FERRET VETS!
Nothing short of that will get us the changes that are so badly needed.
 
With just one letter you can help make sure that no ferrets younger than
8 weeks of age are sold in pet stores.  One letter.
 
You really don't need to say more than those 2 things, actually: that
you want standards designed by ferret vets, and that the farms should
not be selling or transporting the kits below 8 weeks of age.  All they
are asking at this time is if ferrets are currently suffering due to be
being shipped so young, and if you want ferret specific standards.
 
If you have your own stories to add, or if particular things that need
improvement sadden you then you also can mention those.  If your own
experience illustrates your points then feel free to tell them because
that helps, too.
 
These will help you help ferrets in lasting way all over the U.S.A.:
http://www.ferretcongress.org/USDA/sampleletters.html
and
http://www.ferret.org/news/2005-08-13-a.htm
and
http://www.ferretcongress.org/USDA/USDA.htm
 
Sukie (not a vet)
Ferret Health List co-moderator
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives fan and regular user
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
International Ferret Congress advisor
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 4981]