To: FML <[log in to unmask]>
cc: "Jennifer B" <[log in to unmask]>
Jennifer B <[log in to unmask]> wrote on 4/7/2006, 2:30 AM:
>Can anyone help me process this? I'm not saying the woman is wrong; I'm
>merely saying I don't know enough about the statement she made to know
>whether or not there is validity in it and cause for concern when
>exposing my furkid(s) to Petco ferrets (which is about once a year).
Several years ago, there was a known problem in the mid Atlantic region
with non Marshall Farms kits coming to pet stores ADV+. In all cases,
they were kits that were handled by an animal distributor called Animals
Etc. This distributor has a long history of problems, and MF will not
do business with them. The majority of the ADV+ kits were being sold by
Petcos, but there were also some non-chain pet stores that were buying
kits through Animals Etc.
So, it was the opposite that was true - kits that were not MF kits were
the ones with ADV. And, as far as I know, it was only the mid Atlantic
area that had a problem. Additionally, this was several years ago, and
as far as I know, it has not been a problem recently. In fact, most
Petcos in my area stopped buying from Animals Etc. and went back to
carrying MF ferrets.
I do not have any personal knowledge of the incidents of ADV+ kits,
but several East Coast shelters did have direct experience with this.
However, I do not know whether or not they still have any documentation
on this. I am hoping that some of them saw your post and will respond.
In the meantime, you might want to join the ADVList, and look through
the archived messages. There was a lot of discussion of the problem on
that list, and you could also find who to contact for more information.
Doing a search on that list on Animals Etc. would likely turn up the
relevant messages.
I do not feel comfortable offering names and email addresses here,
but on the ADVList it is a matter of record for list members. Here
is information for anyone interested in joining the list:
Post message: [log in to unmask]
Subscribe: [log in to unmask]
Unsubscribe: [log in to unmask]
List owner: [log in to unmask]
Now, I am not saying the Shelter person is wrong. There may be something
new happening that I have not heard about. Or, it may be that stories
about the past events I mentioned above have gotten garbled.
That said, it is always a good idea to quarantine any new ferret brought
into your house for 2 weeks or more, regardless of where they are coming
from.
And, while speaking about ADV, there is an article about ADV in the
May/June issue of Ferrets Magazine. I don't think this issue is on the
newsstands yet, but as a subscriber, I received my issue last week. A
lot of what is in the article is review information, but there is also
some new information, so I would recommend giving it a read, even if you
are familiar with the disease.
--
Danee DeVore
International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator
http://www.ferretcongress.org
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
For more information visit: http://www.ferretadv.com
You can help fight ADV!
Visit: http://help4adv.terrabox.com/
[Posted in FML issue 5206]
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