[Was: USDA Draft letter--Please Read] You wrote: >Dear Mr Robert Acord, >I am writing to support the petition recently submitted to your office >concerning the welfare of one of the most popular pets in the United >States today--the pet ferret > >I would like to request a revision in the requirements for ferret >breeding farms to better reflect the intent of the Animal Welfare Act. >The ferrets are weaned, neutered & shipped too young for their little >immature bodies to endure resulting in compromised conditions creating >malnutrition & at times death.... What a wonderful letter, Mary Ann! It would be great if people sent that to the officials in charge whose addresses you gave. Yes, right now NUMBERS are absolutely essential. This is the single best chance we, people who love ferrets, have ever had for improving conditions for ferrets nationally, so as long as we keep going, keep getting those letters in, keep having the phone calls made we CAN do this. Folks, if you have friends or family who also love your ferrets give them copies to send, too, please! It seems like every week that we all read of the very conditions and deaths which such proposed changes could stop. This is the chance for all of us to prove our love of ferrets by getting in those letters and calls. [Posted in FML issue 4467]