Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman
 1400 Independence Ave SW Room 312-E
 Whitten Building
 Washington, DC 20250
 [log in to unmask]
 202-720-3631
 
 Bobby Acord, Administrator of the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service
 1400 Independence Ave SW Room 200-A
 Whitten Building
 Washington, DC 20250
 [log in to unmask]
 202-720-3668, Fax 202-720-3054
 
and it would also be good to write to your federal congressional
delegation.  Use the below websites if you are unsure who to contact.
 
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
 
The letters don't have to be long.  Just a statement of support for
ferret-specific regulations will work.  IT CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS: I WANT
TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM IN COMPLETE SUPPORT OF HAVING FERRET-SPECIFIC
REGULATIONS TO BETTER PROTECT FERRETS.  If you worry that they won't
know what you mean just print out a copy of what Dr. Sandra Kudrak
wrote, which can be found in the International Ferret Congress site:
http://www.ferretcongress.org .
 
Those who do write about horrors they have encountered or read about
which could have been stopped do so, please.  Iill and even dying
underage kits sold to stores, ferrets who have died of the heat on
airport tarmacs, etc., all count.  Yes, a polite letter mentioning such
things helps emphasis the need, but if you think that you might delay
till you forget then write the short note now and get it out.  You can
always send the longer one later, too.
 
Thanks for writing, for reminding folks, and for spreading the
information, Suzi!
 
We've been very glad to hear of so many writing, but remember NUMBERS
REALLY COUNT FOR THIS.  HUNDREDS OF LETTERS AND NAMES ARE GOOD BUT A
NUMBER IN THE THOUSANDS WOULD BE A LOT MORE EFFECTIVE -- AND IS
COMPLETELY DOABLE IF THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SENT NOTES, YET DO SO -- SO ,
PLEASE, SEND YOUR NOTES AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO JOIN YOU OR SIGN YOUR
LETTER AND PETITIONS.
[Posted in FML issue 4468]