I have been following the debate on manatory testing for shows and as a person who shows ferrets at shows I had to add my 2 cents to it. I disagree with the mandatory testing of ferrets for the shows. To do this is going to be the death of shows. A lot of individuals make a lot of money to support their shelters and rescues off of the shows and that revenue would not be there. The majority of people are not going to come. Why? Not because they have anything to hide but because of the expense of it. Most people cnat' afford to show ferrets when it cost 25 dollars per ferret to show (15 for enry and 12 for testing 30 days prior). It doesn't sound like much if you say it fast but it almost doubles the entry fee. Another function as brought up by others is eduacation. But if testing is required at the door and walkins have a ferret with and came to the show for info they are going to have to pay for testing and entry in one lump sum which could be considerable. They are not going to come in because of the expense. How can you educate someone if you can't get them in the door. They have learned something though about ferret shows though. They are to expensive to come to, so they go uneducated. Some people myself included hate to be told they have to do something or that something is mandatory. I went though 20 years of military life being told I have to do this and I have to do that and that is a considerable amount of resentment for mandatory things. I will not come just because it is mandatory. Testing before a show does not mean that the ferret that was tested is the one at the show. You are leaving that up to the indivdual and trusting them which is the way it should be. But is everyone in this world honest and can be trusted to do the right thing. Or do they stretch the truth a little to suit themselves and others. For instance the individual yesterday who said they have ADV in their home as a result of occurances at the Warm Fuzzy show. That individual is plainly listed in the show program as showing a ferret in Siamese named Maori Moonshine whose Sire was White Russian. Now as everyone knows White Russian is ADV Postive and has been for some time. The caregiver for that ferret has not hidden that fact and is one of the leading advocates for ADV Research. So did they get this at Warm Fuzzy Show or just say they did because their friends are pointing fingers there. Who do you trust and how much. And did they know it was ADV positve before the show and bring it anyway therefore endangering other ferrets. Now I believe the people for the show at Monroeville are trying to do the right thing as they see it and I also agree that something has to be done to halt the spread of this terrible disease but in my opinion I am not sure this is it although I have to admit I don't have a better solution either. Either way I would not go. Just my humble opinion Dennis The MacWeesel Clan [Posted in FML issue 3425]