Here is another easily customizable letter that you can send to your Congressional reps and the USDA. See http://www.ferretcongress.org for addresses and contact info. Remember that snail mail to Congress is held up for testing, so email, fax or call too. There have been 3 letters on the FML in the last two days about too young kits in pet stores. This is just the type of issue we are trying to address, so PLEASE take a few minutes to write. HUGE thank you's to those who have written and provided other sample letters. May your ferrets bless you with sweet kisses and good litterbox habits! :-) ---- [1st paragraph for letter to send your senators and representative: I am writing to ask you to contact the USDA about the urgent need to provide better protection for the domestic ferret under the Animal Welfare Act. A petition for rulemaking on this issue has recently been submitted to the USDA.] [Alternate 1st paragraph for letter to USDA: I am writing to support the petition for rulemaking to address the issue of protection for ferrets under the Animal Welfare Act.] I have been a ferret owner for X years, and currently own Y ferrets. I am a member of FFF club and have volunteered for/operated a ferret shelter for Z years. I am concerned about what I have seen happening to ferret kits in the pet stores, and the resulting burden on ferret owners and shelter operators. Ferrets are an increasingly popular pet, but their special needs are often ignored by many breeders and distributors who provide ferret kits to the retail pet stores. Kits are typically removed from their mothers as early as 4-5 weeks old, sexually altered, and shipped to pet stores as young as 5 1/2 to 6 weeks old. At this time, they have not been socialized by their mothers, learned how to use litter boxes and do not have their adult teeth. As a result, kits in pet stores are young and cute, but unable to thrive. Their surgical incisions are not always healed, they are unable to eat solid food, suffer from prolapsed rectums, diarrhea, and emaciation as well as behavioral problems. [You can add any personal experience with too young kits you have had or witnessed. Enclose adorable pictures of your ferrets.] Ferrets are delightful, loving pets. They deserve a good start in life and proper care throughout in return for all the joy they bring to their owners. Sincerely ---- Linda Iroff Co-director International Ferret Congress http://www.ferretcongress.org [Posted in FML issue 4469]