The ADV press release was written by myself and a non-ferret owning (read
between the lines--doesn't care about politics!) professional PR person.
I am not a breeder, never have been.  I run an equal opportunity shelter
(Fuzztek Central).  So there was no politics involved.  Just the fact that
I as the president of LIFE have worked closely with people from the AFA,
as well as a couple people who were affiliated with FURO, should show how
apolitical this entire situation is.
 
The release never said NZ ferrets were being imported and spreading ADV.
It simply said that some of the breeders that ADV has been linked back to
are breeding these types of ferrets.  It didn't say anything more, or
anything less.  Please stop trying to read between the lines.  Rumour
mongering is what this press release was tring to stop.  The idea is to
step in and HELP MAKE A CHANGE!
 
When something was stated without words like "reported", "strong evidence
suggests", or "potential", it meant just that.  There is no FACT or PROOF
to back it up.  Just that there is anecdotal evidence, substantial hearsay,
or a written report from another source to that extent.  The PR was very,
very clear when there was no fact or proof.  No less than 30 people read it
before it went out to check for facts, errors and ommissions.  Some were
AFA folks, some were LIFE folks, and a few are just not affiliated at all.
 
Sam and the Chessums and I have straightened this all out in private
e-mails.  No one was attacking any of them, or trying to hurt their cause.
I think anyone who knows me understands how strongly I feel about the
rights of the public to own domestic ferrets.
 
I am not involved in any lynch mob who is out to get anyone for "political
reasons".  Yes, there are some breeders I would like to be shut down, but
these breeders are supplying ferrets to pet stores and shoddy distributors,
and that is my reason for wanting them shut down, not because of any other
reason.  I don't breed, so it is not "sour grapes" as has been suggested,
nor is it that I want to run someone out of business so I can take over
their territory (which I thought was a pretty ridiculous statement).
 
Judy had concerns over the "quarantine".  What was meant is that steps
have been taken to set up facilities for ferrets to go to if they are ADV
positive.  Let me explain this a little more.  If a shelter gets in an ADV+
ferret, instead of keeping it and risking infection of the other ferrets in
the shelter, they can now turn the ferret over to one of the other shelters
who has set up a a permenant care facility.  This will help keep the risk
of spread much lower, and will greatly relieve many concerned shelter
owners, who were facing thoughts of having to destroy one to protect the
many.  No one is being "required", or even asked, to turn over an ADV+
ferret (Although I would HOPE that the owner would be responsible enough
to not take the ferret to shows or gatherings where other ferrets could be
infected!!)
 
Also, the definition of "hobby breeder" is a smaller breeder who basically
is not a "mill".  In other words, we are not talking about Marshalls or
Path.  Some hobby breeders might have one or two litters per year, while
others might have fifty.  But most hobby breeders do not make a living
breeding, and most do not sell commercially (to pet stores and
distributors).  However, a small hobby breeder might still sell to pet
stores, whereas a large almost mill type operation might only sell to
private individuals.  It is a pretty loose term.  In this case "hobby
breeder" refers to almost any type other than the truly big institutional
breeders such as Path and Marshalls.
 
As far as how the medical testing will be done, I am not the one to answer
that question.  Perhaps Pat Stauffer or Yvonne DeCarlo, who were two of the
vet techs who have worked on this issue can shed some light on that.
 
I hope this serves to clear up many of the misperceptions.  Should anyone
have any questions, please feel free to write me, either personally or on
the list, or call me.  I am happy to asnwer to the best of my ability, and
if I don't have the answer for you, such as with medical questions, I will
either find out and get back to you, or send you directly to someone with
more expertise.
 
Anne Ryan
[Posted in FML issue 2944]