Permission to crosspost this post to other lists is granted and even
encouraged.
 
Currently, there is a bill being considered by the Congress that could
potentially benefit ferrets.  It is the Minor Use and Minor Species
Animal Health Act, and is designed to promote development of drug
treatments for rare animals and rare diseases.  And, while we know that
ferrets are not rare animals, they are defined in the bill by exclusion
as a minor species.
 
This bill, if passed, will benefit many animals by providing incentives
for drug companies to work on treatments and vaccines for animal diseases
that would not be profitable enough to the drug companies to merit a
company's investment in traditional development.  The legislation would
establish new options for lawfully marketing these new animal drugs and
would make available incentives, such as grants, for certain drugs for
minor species and uses.
 
The US Senate has already passed the bill by a unanimous vote, and it has
gone to the House of Representatives for consideration.  It is important
that people let their Congresspeople know that this bill needs to be
passed.
 
As many know, I have a personal interest in seeing ADV research done,
with the hope that a vaccine that would protect ferrets from the disease
will be developed.  One of the big things standing in the way of this
happening is cost.  The amount needed to develop the vaccine may not be
justified by the profits that could be made from it.  So, passage of
this bill might provide help on that front.
 
But, it will help other with research into other ferrets diseases and
diseases of other animals as well.  Therefore, it is beneficial to all
ferret owners and lovers that this bill get passed.
 
For anyone who wants to read the bill, here is a link to a page with the
text:
http://www.theorator.com/bills108/hr2079.html
 
Here are 3 other links that provide some commentary and information
about the bill, and how it can be used to benefit all animals, as well
as a sample letter that can be used to send to your Congressperson:
    http://www.avma.org/scienact/mums/default.asp
    http://www.avma.org/scienact/mums/whitepaper.asp
    http://www.avma.org/scienact/mums/you.asp
 
To find the address of your Representative, check:
    http://www.house.gov/writerep/
 
Remember, the Senate has already passed this bill, so you only need to
write to your Representative.
--
Danee
International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator
http://ferretcongress.org
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
For more information visit: http://www.ferretadv.com
[Posted in FML issue 4467]