Don't you just get FRUSTRATED by 5 week old kits in stores, some still
with stitches or incision infections?
 
Don't you cry over dead ferrets in airports?
 
Yes, I know you do, because you have HEART.
 
Now, we have our first chance to actually CHANGE those things over the
entire U.S.
 
WOULD YOU LIKE TO IMPROVE THOSE THINGS?
 
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAVE FERRETS?
 
IF YOU COULD SAVE FERRETS ALL OVER THE U.S. WITH JUST A LETTER WOULD
YOU WRITE THAT LETTER?
 
There have been two tries before which I know of to get USDA/APHIS
standards for ferrets improved.  Julianna Q. originated the first one.
The AFA originated the second.  Neither got enough public feedback to
APHIS/USDA to get to the point where a petition was even accepted.  The
organizers' hard work was wonderful but the ferret community did not do
its part.  Now, a multi-group effort has cleared the first hurtle but
needs your help to clear the second.
 
Let's face it; it's up to those who care to write in.  If they don't
then nothing improves.  If YOU don't write in then nothing improves.
Plus, the window we have been given is short -- too short to get notices
into magazines.  We need you to write and we also need you to spread the
word -- to save ferrets.  Let your vet know.  Let your vet techs know.
Let other ferret lovers know.
 
Last year, people finally realized that changing to ferret-specific
standards is a multi-step process given the rules of procedure that
have to be followed and YOU WROTE IN AND WERE COUNTED.
 
The result?  FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE STANDARDS
NATIONALLY GOT TO THE PETITION PHASE.
 
What now?  Well, after waiting to hear from the government since last
Spring they just got in touch last Sunday, as you know from reading the
FML.
 
WE HAVE ONLY A FEW WEEKS TO SHOW THE GOVERNMENT THAT IMPROVING STANDARD
FOR FERRETS HAS PUBLIC SUPPORT.
 
If you don't write in now (before October 8th), we will be back at square
one and nothing will change.
 
If you DO write in now then the USDA may begin implementing some
changes soon (in government terms), and will look into others.  So,
IF ENOUGH OF YOU WRITE IN SUPPORT several of the saddest and most
frustrating complaints we read over and over here can go away, and the
worst of the lot will be forced to change.
 
For those who do not know, the USDA/APHIS standards apply only to a few
things -- but those few things affect many ferrets.  They apply to farms
like Marshall Farms, Triple F, Path Valley, etc.  (but do NOT apply to
small breeders), they apply to places which sell animals directly to pet
stores (but do NOT apply to those who sell to individuals, nor do they
apply to petstores which are regulated by different agencies), they apply
to traveling circuses, they apply to the distributors and transportation
used by the farms they regulate.
 
We CAN get national changes to forbid these places from selling or
transporting ferrets at ages below 8 weeks (which will also help shelters
which can be stuck with failure-to-thrive kits).  We can stop entire
shipments of ferrets dying of heat stroke at airports.  We can make
sure that they are not crowded into tiny unmaintained cages, or exposed
to other animals who can injure them.  We can help them!
 
YOU CAN DO THIS WONDERFUL THING -- AND YOU ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN!
 
To learn more go to
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
and read the section marked
**Urgent Action Needed**
 
Then click open the underlined text to read details, then read the
sections in there.
 
At
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor/all.html
you will find
>Animal Welfare; Standards for Ferrets
>Docket No. 04-088-1
>Notice of petition and request for comments
>9 CFR Part 3
>Published August 5, 2005
>70 FR 45322-45323
>Text | PDF | EDOCKET
>Click on the options at the bottom
 
HERE ARE THE DIRECT ADDRESSES if you prefer that option:
 
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-15516.htm
 
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-15516.pdf
 
http://docket.epa.gov/edkfed/do/EDKStaffCollectionDetailView
?objectId=0b0007d4809252bb
 
If you use edocket (which it says can be anonymous so those in California
can use it) your comments will take 24 to 72 hours to appear.
 
If you use the snail mail option, remember to send 4 copies of your
letter.
 
This time I did not try their e-mail option so hopefully someone here
who has will talk about that.
 
PLEASE!  HELP END THE FRUSTRATION!  SAVE FERRETS!
 
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DO THIS!
 
If you don't write in then the ferret person next in line also might
not.  If enough of you don't write in then we will all lose, and ferrets
will lose the most.  Then each time you hear of a too young kit in a pet
store who is dying you will know exactly who will be to blame, but the
group will include everyone in the ferret community who didn't support
FERRET-SPECIFIC STANDARDS.
 
Be polite, and remember that the problem is NOT one farm, or one
distributor, or one transporter.  We need ferret-specific standards
for the entire group.
 
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN PLAY YOUR PART IN SAVING FERRETS.
 
Please, also consider sharing a copy of your comments with us here on
the FML.
 
-- Sukie (not a vet)
Ferret Health List
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
International Ferret Congress
http://www.ferretcongress.org
 
This letter may be shared, posted, or may be cross-posted to any list
where it is not off-topic if it remains unchanged.
[Posted in FML issue 4967]