If the breeder/dealer is claiming to be a fur/food operation only in
order to skirt the USDA APHIS regs concerning breeding ferrets then
someone needs to document everyone who has purchased ferrets there as
pets to show he is deriving a larger portion of income selling ferrets
as pets as opposed to fur or food -( and really mink aside, what are
the markets for ferrets as food/fur?- anyone find that out?) ferrets
are considered exotic as far as the usda regs- ( i know - i have to pay
a certain amt for our license based upon how many exotics we have & the
17 ferrets count) so sales/breeding for pets is licensed - if they are
selling ferrets as pets then they have to be licensed - if they have
been operating without a license then they can be closed for that- it
would be like al capone going to jail for tax evasion rather than graft
the main crime- but whatever works ! sadly the minimum care required by
law even by aphis/usda is far below what any loving ferret owner would
consider humane-

so again- people need to have a coordinated effort ( sounds like MI is
trying to do that) - document the conditions- by photo ( camera phone
anyone? discretely take pics while posing as prospective buyer?) and
by signed statements of observations -

compile these & form a standard cover letter stating the concerns and
the desired outcomes- close the operation down? place the ferrets?
restitution for rescuers' costs? immediate confiscation of animals?
etc-

no-one wants to recieve a 'wah wah letter'- 'oh my whatever shall we
do' sort of thing- they dont know what to do either! you will get far
greater response from officials at every level if you outline what you
want from them-

then send these items in a nicely presented official looking packet(
signed by every organization you can get to agree, for clout refer as
to the national concern being expressed) : aphis, state, local and
national humane societies, aspcas, news organizations- papers, tv,
radio, cnn; state and local representatives & senators, other officials
such as mayor, county board members, governor, animal control
officials- state, county, municipal as well- and local veterinarians
along with the state veterinarian organization - someone will act
appropriately on the information at some level- then it will snowball-

it will happen if everyone stays focused and organized!!

beth
www.crittercamp.biz 

[Posted in FML 5527]