Since Ed Crist posted part of the emails from Clarence and me, here is my reply to Clarence. Clarence & Shirley, >I take extreme offense at your attitude. You and other members of your >board have singled out my wife and have persecuted her for being honest >and trying to overcome a very difficult situation. I am sorry you were offended. I don't understand how or why you think AFA is singling you out. This policy is for all attendees who have or have had a ferret test positive for ADV in their care. It is known that you did have ferrets test positive for ADV in your care. One even died from ADV. >She is not like those who have kept this thing a secret for over a two >years. AFA has not kept this a secret. If I had not personally raised a concern over ADV after visiting the White's in San Antonio in the fall of 98, there could be many more ferrets infected with this dreadful disease. Because I raised such concern, many ferrets have been tested and the ferret population, as a whole, is now safer for that testing. >Your lack of compassion and defense was obvious at the show in New Jersey >where you stated that she had to move her stand because "there were people >who didn't want to be near her." I had many other exhibitors and vendors express a wish to not be located next to you. I get this all the time from exhibitors as well as vendors not wanting to be located next to someone. You should remember, though, I did not make you move, and relocated the other individuals instead. I think Shirley came up to thanked me for this. >You have known my wife for years and know that her prime goal has always >been to try to please everyone and make them feel better about themselves. AFA's primary goal is for the safety and protection of all ferrets. >You also know that she loves ferrets and would NEVER put them at risk. >You should have defended her if nothing else. Now you have added insult >to injury by again singling her out, I noticed that WarmFuzzy was the sole >recipient of this directive and all of the carbon copies went to board >members. At this time, there are only two ferret households attending the event that have had known ADV positive ferrets, yours and Danee DeVores. Danee will be in attendance at the show, without ferrets. I am really glad you are going to be at the expo and I hope it is successful for you and your shelter. >Do you honestly expect people to pay for retesting every eight weeks when >the results are constantly negative? If you expect this response at all of >your shows, either your organization will have to pay for this testing or >require testing of all ferrets coming into your show. This is not like distemper and rabies, where vaccines are readily available. As long as the vaccines are within approved dates the ferret is protected. We do not have a vaccine for ADV. The test is only as good as when the sample is drawn, and if folks test too early, the test is not reliable then. Most shelters and breeders have done at least random testing. This policy will evolve as more research is done for this disease. >Consider that the message you have presented throughout this whole scarry >situation is to "keep your mouth shut". If anyone has a ferret that tests >ADV positive they will definitely not tell you or anyone else for fear of >the same treatment that you have given my wife. Like I said before, we are not singling you and Shirley out. We are more than happy to have you come vend at any AFA event. You have made statements to many that you would never do another AFA event because the AFA is trying to put you out of business. This could not be further from the truth. This kind of talk and innuendo does more harm than good to the ferret community. If you would like to be more involved in developing procedures and guidelines to ensure the safety of all ferrets at events, AFA would be happy to have your help. It is our hope that by getting as much information out to ferret owners everywhere, we could possibly contain and/or eradicate ADV from the domestic ferret population. Vickie McKimmey Just a Business of Ferrets A multitude of ferrets is known as a 'business of ferrets'. American, Australian, English and Swedish bloodlines available. http://www.mindspring.com/~jbferret 703-777-2112 fax: 703-777-3247 American Ferret Association ~ www.ferret.org [Posted in FML issue 3061]