Danee Thanks for posting the info on the MUMS bill. Folks, this is an easy one! Just one letter to your Congressional representative. Find out who it is at http://www.house.gov/writerep/ Here's the letter I sent, slightly modified from one on the web to include ferrets. ----- I am writing to ask you to support the Minor Use Minor Species Animal Health Act of 2003 (MUMS), H.R. 2079. This bill has been developed with FDA's assistance and is similar the human Orphan Drug Act of 1983. MUMS was recently passed unanimously by the Senate. The MUMS legislation provides incentives that encourage pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs needed for the health and welfare of minor animal species (e.g. ferrets, rabbits, ornamental fish, pet lizards and birds, zoo animals, etc). It also provides incentives to develop drugs needed to treat infrequent diseases of dogs, cats, and horses. It is important to me because I don=92t have any, or a very limited number of drugs to treat some serious diseases affecting my beloved ferrets. This causes me significant financial loss and causes my ferrets unnecessary suffering or death. The fact is that for most animals that might benefit from the MUMS provisions, there are currently NO approved drugs to treat disease. Veterinarians, animal owners and zoos have limited options for treating these sick animals. In many cases, the choices are to leave sick animals untreated or to treat animals with unproven therapies. MUMS will: o Improve animal welfare o Decrease public health and environmental hazards o Stop the spread of diseases o Help improve the economic conditions of farmers The MUMS legislation requires that drugs meet the same stringent public health and environmental safety standards currently required by FDA, and it does provide incentives for drug development that would not otherwise occur. This is good for the public, the environment and the animals. Again, I ask you to support the Minor Use Minor Species Animal Health Act of 2003 and provide animals with the same safe treatment options as does the 1983 Orphan Drug Act for humans. Sincerely, Linda Iroff [Posted in FML issue 4468]