To all:
 
The search for a vaccine against ECE is discussed in interviews with Dr.
Bruce Williams and Marshall Farms' Dr. Judi Bell in an article in the latest
issue of the Independent Voice.  The text of the article has now been loaded
up on the Ferret News Kiosk on WWW, URL
http://www.csc.peachnet.edu/~rpoore/HDavis/news.html. Marshall Farms is
providing the ferrets for the research.  FMLers may also obtain a copy of
the article by requesting same via email to me.
 
While MF's gesture of support for the research is wholly commendable, Dr.
Bell also explains in the interview that the ferrets used for the research
are retired Marshall breeders who in the ordinary course of events would
have been euthanized.
 
Everyone of course must make his or her own decision about buying MF ferrets
at pet stores.  But people who elect to do so should be aware that by the
time their new kit reaches the age of 4 its mother will have been euthanized
because it is no longer "productive" enough to justify the economic
investment in its upkeep.
[Posted in FML issue 1300]