The State of Illinois has done it again!  Dr. David R.Bromwell, Chief
Veterinarian of the Bureau of Animal Welfare under the Illinois Department
of Agriculture passed Mr. Rick Robbins' premises inspection on Monday,
August 25, 1997.
 
Dr. Bromwell passed the inspection even though, as he stated to Howard
Davis, LIFE's humane affairs coordinator, in their phone conversation today,
that the conditions the ferrets are kept in, "aren't up to the standards for
cats and dogs." I'm sorry, people, this makes me very, very angry!  The
state of Illinois is looking upon ferrets as second-class citizens again.
It's time we educate them!
 
The following are the main points from the conversation between Dr. Bromwell
and Howard Davis: (items in quote marks are DIRECT quotes made by Dr.
Bromwell)
 
 *******
Dr. Bromwell said that one of his field inspectors went out to the Robbins
premises last Thursday (Aug.  21) to investigate a complaint.  He said that
his inspector told him "it's a damn dump - there's crap all over the place."
He said that the inspector opted to give him a notice of violation even
though he did not actually see any animals sick.  Because the notice of
violation alleged improper care of the animals, Robbins was required to
produce a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian that the animals
were receiving proper care.
 
Robbins was given until Monday Aug.  25 to clean up and be reinspected.
Bromwell said that he has it in his authority to shut the breeder down and
impound all the animals.  (Bromwell says he has done this in the past to
breeders - once impounding 50 horses.)
 
When the inspector returned on Monday, he found, according to Bromwell, that
Robbins had "got rid of some of the fecal matter."  Bromwell noted "there's
nothing in the statute that says how much fecal matter is allowed."
 
The inspector also found Robbins' veterinarian there at the same time.  The
veterinarian's name is Dr. Michael H. Firsching of Edwardsville.  Dr.
Firsching's phone number of 618-656-9525, according to Bromwell.  Dr.
Firsching signed a certificate saying the animals were all receiving proper
care, according to Bromwell.  Bromwell said he saw no conflict of interest
or impropriety in having the breeder's own veterinarian attest to the proper
care of the animals, since as a veterinarian he's responsible to the
veterinary licensing board for what he says.
 
Dr. Bromwell said only "78 or 79 ferrets" were counted, and fewer than 50
pot-bellied pigs..  He said he does not know what happened to the others, but
"there was no evidence" any animals had died (whatever that means).
 
Bromwell said: "Let's be honest, the cages were rusty, they weren't like we
would expect for dogs and cats - but these are ferrets."
 
Bromwell said that according to his inspector the cages for the ferrets were
"18 inches to 2 feet", and that "no more than 2 ferrets were in any cage."
 
According to Bromwell, a similar complaint was filed against Robbins a year
ago, and the conditions of the pot-bellied pigs were so bad at that time
that Robbins was required to have all of his pigs tested for several
diseases to which swine are susceptible.
 
Bromwell said his field inspector would be submitting a written report on
the results of his inspection.  I asked him directly if he would let me see
the report.  He said, "No, you'll have to get that through the Freedom of
Information Act."
 
Bromwell said the Illinois licensing procedure for commercial breeders is
handled only by Department of Natural Resources and is strictly a "tax
measure - you pay your $20, you get your license.  There's no insection."
His bureau's only jurisdiction is "enforcement of animal welfare."
 
************
I beg all people owned by these wonderful creatures to get busy faxing,
phoning, writing Governor Jim Edgar and Becky Doyle, Director of the
Department of Agriculture letting them know that the eyes of the ferret
community across the nation are on them and that we want fair and equal
treatment for these ferrets.  Request that Dr. Bromwell reopen the case
against Mr. Rick Robbins.  And also that Mr. Robbins should have to account
for the missing ferrets.  If they are deceased, what did they die of?  I
believe it's time for the State of Illinois to hone up to this travesty.
 
Well, what are you waiting for -- get those fingers going, push that button
and send those faxes!
 
The Director of the Department of Agriculture Becky Doyle 217-785-4505 (Fax).
Governor Jim Edgar 217-782-0244 (Voice), 217-524-4049 (Fax),
[log in to unmask] (Email), & http://www.state.il.us/ (Website)
 
Ferret hugs,
 
Kathy Fritz
Director, The Ferret Nook
[Posted in FML issue 2047]