All breeders, and dealers for that matter including pet stores, of
ferrets in the US have to be licensed with the USDA and are covered
by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ and
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/index.shtml

They have to abide by the regulations covering standards of care -
if anyone anywhere ever sees ferrets being mistreated, housed
inappropriately etc by breeders ordealers or exhibitors they need to
contact their local governmental animal protection department ( whether
it is an animal control agency, the humane society, the aspca, etc.)
AND APHIS - an inspector will check out the potentially illegal
operation unannounced & will shut them down if they are not keeping
the animals in humane conditions-

Here is  the contact information:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/contact_us/ac.shtml
Mailing Address:
USDA/APHIS/AC
4700 River Road, Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234

E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Phone: (301) 734-7833
Fax: (301) 734-4978

Western Region 
Mailing Address:
USDA/APHIS/AC
2150 Centre Ave.
Building B, Mailstop 3W11
Fort Collins, CO 80526-8117

E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Phone: (970) 494-7478
Fax: (970) 494-7461

Eastern Region
Mailing Address:
USDA/APHIS/AC
920 Main Campus Drive
Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27606-5210

E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Phone: (919) 855-7100
Fax: (919) 855-7123
   
Contact the closest office and tell them what you see - they will
handle it- if it is not corrected- call them again & again & again-
this is the most effective way to shut down these places-or bring
them into compliance.

Take care,
Beth
www.crittercamp.biz

[Posted in FML 5524]