Oooh, I used a big word.
 
>From:    alphachi <[log in to unmask]>
>I understand HSUS is considering expanding their puppy mill campaign to
>the ferret kingdom.  Let's show our support to find the truth and
 
What's your source on that?  This might be a good thing except I don't know
if the HSUS attacks mills or tries to work with them on improving things.
Do you know what their position is going to be?  Who's the contact there?
 
>From:    zen and the art of ferrets - bill and diane
>ferreting out the truth about urban legends (I did what I could to make
>this related to ferrets).
 
Isn't that BIG's (aka Da Enforcer) business?
ho, ho, ho. Too much coffee again this morning, I think.
 
>But very it is important that if we start doing this we should also send
>the "good"  along with the "bad" so they can see that we are trying to
>be fair to them.
 
Yes, you're definitely right.  When I get the final draft of my letter to MF
I will post it somewhere (here or my web page) for review; but I think it's
very civil and friendly and positive.
 
>You have a valid point about wanting to talk to MF.  Why not write to
>the AFA and see what they do?  [...] Assisting or even relieving whoever
>is in that position I'm positive would be appreciated.
 
I'm ahead of you on this one:
>From: Sally Heber <[log in to unmask]>
>Good afternoon Melissa -
>AFA has had some contact with Marshall Farms over the years.  When Dr.
>Bell worked as the head veterinarian there, she would be the contact of
>choice.  However, she left Marshall Farms over a year ago.
>It is difficult to guess if Marshall Farms would consider doing such a
>study or not.  Several years ago there was mention of doing some
>research concerning some of the prevalent diseases.  We never did get
>any confirmation that this research took place.
>You mentioned in your posting about writing to MF.  That sounds like a
>good idea.  If you don't get a response in a reasonable amount of time,
>try calling them.
 
>From: Sally Heber <[log in to unmask]>
>Hi Melissa -
>You could direct your correspondence to Pete Reid.
>Good Luck and please keep us posted!
 
But if you're suggesting that I join the AFA and volunteer to head up this
particular task - okay, you are suggesting that - I'm going to have to work
up to that.  :)
 
>Okay.  If you can come up with an idea that would not cost Marshall more
>than they make on livestock, suggest the method.  Even volunteering to
>HELP [...] burdensome will NOT get done.  Its a major issue in designing
>software and other systems.  The larger the scope the more paperwork and
>the more cost. [...] Proposing Marshall do all of this work and sticking
>the pet stores with all of this work is very nice but naive.
 
Okay, there's a clear place to start.  First, express interest to MF that we
as purchasers of their ferrets care about the long-term health of their
product.  Why?  Because we like MF ferrets.  I know I like my MF ferret.  I
know FMLers like their MF ferrets.  I know my vet likes MF ferrets.  They're
friendly, happy, hardly ever mean, easy for the vets to work with, and they
come from a verified source that has a predictable reputation.  Ie, you know
what to expect when you buy a MF ferret.  Disclaimer: I'm not a supporter or
a protester of MF.  Fact is, pet stores buy from them because they know the
source.  People buy ferrets from pet stores because they know the source.
Simple enough.  A known quantity is better than an unknown.
 
So, we could write to MF: We enjoy MF ferrets as pets and would like to know
if MF is doing any studies on long-term health problems in MF ferrets,
because we *think* we've noticed a trend.  If MF isn't doing studies, would
MF be interested in working with someone to start one, assuming we're
willing to work with MF to come up with an efficient way to do it?
 
I think altering the tattoo might not be a bad idea.  It certainly doesn't
involve buying more equipment.  I made an assumption that MF is already
maintaining some sort of database - I could be utterly wrong.  But assuming
they're keeping track of shipments out, mortality, profits, etc, there may
be a way to expand.  I work with computers, and bill's right - it IS
expensive to write and maintain software.  So, if it's NOT possible to
convince them to keep track of this information themselves, we should come
up with a better, cheaper, reliable way (that MF will authorize) to do it.
Suggestions?  This tracker-keeper will need to be able to process volumes of
snail mail, enter snail mail *correctly* into a database, and churn out
stats based on breeder historys.  So how do we do that?
 
>Early spay/alter is supported by the AKC for dogs.  There is no scientific
>evidence that it causes problem in ferrets.  Only conjecture.  Will you pay
>for studies?
 
Morris Animal Foundation? MF donates ferrets for the rabies studies...
 
I'm jumping way ahead of myself here, at any rate - first, I will get in
touch with the contact Sally gave me, and see what response I get from him.
However, it certainly would not hurt to have a parcel of reasonable ideas in
wait should he be interested in discussing this with us.  If it's a question
of trust and familiarity, I will see if being w/the AFA might be of benefit.
It does sound like they have had friendly contact with MF.
 
Melissa
 
 ___ Melissa Litwicki __ [log in to unmask] ___
 By the whole newsgroup devoted tennis showing
     it after scarfing fork and laughters
[Posted in FML issue 1984]