Well, actually, the USDA doesn't inspect petstores.  Petstores fall
under different agencies.
 
The USDA regulates very few things, but those things affect a lot of
ferrets.
 
It does NOT regulate private breeders (unless they happen to sell to
retail stores instead of to individuals, but almost none do that) and
it does not regulate petstores.
 
I don't know that it would help to mention common ferret medical problems
except for those which have known causes in farm conditions or breeding
choices, and that can not be said for sure for many of ferrets' ills.
 
The USDA regulates farms -- large establishments -- and those who sell to
the retail market.  It regulates their distributors and their transport.
It also regulates a few things that most folks here will have nothing to
do with like animals' conditions in traveling circuses/acts.
 
It really pays to stick to things which can be changed and can be
inspected: making sure that the kits are 8 weeks or over (easily
established just by checking teeth), making sure that the farm conditions
are safe ones which protect ferrets from temperature extremes, weather,
other species or their diseases, etc.  with enough room and stimulation
for reasonable exercise and mental health, making sure that kits in
transport are safe with enough water and food, dry bedding, and not
subjected to heat stroke, to crushing, to toxic chemical spills from
other containers, to being frozen by dry ice used for some shipments,
etc.
 
The USDA is far from all-powerful, but ferret specific standards at the
USDA/APHIS will apply powerful brakes to some of the most frustrating
problems our community encounters over and over again.
 
We just need enough feedback to APHIS.  That way several dreams we have
all shared for years will come true for the ferrets in our nation.  All
it takes is a letter for each person here who cares about ferrets.
 
See:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-15516.pdf
 
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your
comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 04-088-1,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71,
4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
Please state that your comment refers to Docket No.  04-088-1.
See also:
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
 
Be polite; these people can be our best allies in saving ferrets.
[Posted in FML issue 4972]