Here is a copy of an email I sent Gail concerning extremely young baby
ferrets.  If you have anything to add to this subject please email Gail.
 
 Subj:   Baby Ferrets
 Date:   7/3/2002
 To:     [log in to unmask]
 
Gail
I'm sure you have heard all the horror stories about the very, very young
ferrets that are being shipped all over the country.  Here is my personal
story and it needs to be passed on to those that make up the rules and
regulations at the USDA.
 
I have a friend who owns a pet store in the Detroit area and he routinly
sells ferrets.  These ferrets all come from the same breeder.  On numerous
occasions he has received baby ferrets that are incapable of eating
solid food.  Since he has a number of pet ferrets himself, he is very
knoledgable of them.  When he receives these little ones, he hand feeds
then a sort of gruel made up of soaked ferret food.  He goes through this
proceedure until the baby ferrets are eating solid food on their own.
He will not sell them or even display them until they are able to eat on
their own.
 
I applaud him for the care he gives these extremely young ferrets.  I
know they are less than 6 or 7 weeks old since the have the baby canines
as well as the adult canine teeth.
 
The USDA needs to enact such rules, that are necessary, to prevent ferret
breeders for dumping these poor under age, little ones into conditions
that adult animals find hard to cope with.  Very heavy fines have to be
assesed those that act in a manner that endangers the young ferret life.
 
Win and the 8 rescues and 1 store purchased fettet that call me their
care-giver.
 
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[Posted in FML issue 3840]