I extend permission for people to use this in full without changes in
other ferret lists, except for the FML and FHL to which I have already
sent it, or the FOB for which the moderator has been sent a copy to post.
Such individuals certainly may append their own notes outside my text if
they very clearly separate what they wrote and what I wrote.
 
Alicia is working very hard to get legislation through in the state of
New Hampshire which would ban the transport/sale of ferrets below the age
of 8 weeks.  This is what USED to be done years ago till competitors
lowered the ages to compete with MF.  It is also one of those things which
needs to be tackled for change among ALL farms because no one farms can
afford to reduce the purchases from pet shops that an older age brings
when competitors are giving the shops 14 to 21 more days for sales.
 
VET statements are needed, as a statements from other experts who have
info on early-age hazards/cautions, vaccines, etc.  She has already heard
from one vet that due to maternal antibodies being present that there is
reason to suspect that giving the first CDV vax at lower than 8 weeks of
age is useless, and, indeed, the manufacturer's own documents appear to
call for the first to be at 8 weeks (and a copy is needed of that
document).  Such statements need to be sent promptly to:
[log in to unmask] .  MANY THANKS!
 
Letters from NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTS and NH property owners (vacation home
folks and NH business owning folks and relations -- heads- up!) are also
strongly needed; PLEASE, get in touch with your legislators and the
governor to support this change to the 8 weeks age.  If you do not have
contact info for your legislator and the governor you can get snail mail
addies, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail from your local reference
librarian (or general librarian) at your library, or from your town hall.
Do NOT send only an e-mail.  Many only rarely read e-mail.  Please, also
do not send only a snail mail due to current concerns about mail safety.
If you do either or both or those, please, ALSO call or send a fax.
 
It sure would not hurt if a few legislators were made to sit up and notice
by celebrity support if you are someone can arrange to send/get some --
hint, hint.
 
If the ferret community sees to it that this legislation goes through that
means that other ferret people can use it as a route toward change in
their own states.  Often being able to present existing legislation as a
sample of success helps get a change in place elsewhere.  We all need to
be rattling our brains to figure out ways to help; I, too, am out of state
and trying to think of ways to help.  This is Alicia's project.
 
This is a CONSTRUCTIVE, FAIR and LOGICAL approach which would help ferret
health by making sure that the kits are shipped at a sturdier age, and the
vaccines happen when they have the best chance of the first vaccine
actually being effective.  It is up to the ferret community to see that
gets passed by sending useful expert information to Alicia, while messages
of support for the legislation need to go directly to the politicians.
[Posted in FML issue 3645]