Anonymous Poster <[log in to unmask]> wrote on 11/21/2004, 3:00 AM: >t has been observed by many, some of your thoughts about this on several >other message boards, along with others that have completely blown the >ADV/bedding issue out of proportion. It's a good thing that you have >finally brought your views here. WOW! I am not familiar with the other boards where this has been discussed, and so I may be missing something, but it seems the response to Millie is a little harsh. I personally always tell people when in doubt to err on the side of caution, and if concerned about someone's ADV status, to ask. The person asked has the right to refuse to answer, and so does the person who asked then have the right to take her business elsewhere. But, as someone who has been dealing with ADV for 5+ years, I also do get tired of some of the hysteria that sometimes comes up when ADV is mentioned. ADV is a serious illness, and testing is important to keep it from spreading. But, there are precautions that can be taken to ensure that it isn't spread. Because I am lazy and do not like to rewrite things over an over, I am going to cut and paste a post I recently made on the ADVList, in answer to someone's question about buying bedding on EBAY. *********************** It is a possibility, however, it is easy enough for people with ADV+ ferrets to take precautions so that it wouldn't be a problem. However, if you have any doubts, I would err on the side of caution. If you know for a fact that the person selling the bedding has ADV+ ferrets, I would write and ask what precautions are taken. That is a very reasonable thing to do, and the person shouldn't mind answering. If you don't know anything about the person, ask if they have any ADV+ ferrets, and if they do what precautions they take. I do know that the ADV+ shelter on the west coast sometimes sells bedding on EBAY to help pay the expenses of caring for the ferrets. This person keeps her sewing supplies in a separate room where the ferrets are not allowed. She only goes into the room when she has not handled any ferrets, wearing recently cleaned clothes. As an extra precaution, she soaks all pieces in parvocide and washes them before sending them out. With those precautions, it is very unlikely that the bedding would be contaminated. *********************** The bottom line is, I don't think it hurts to ask. Again, the person asked can decline to answer, and the person asking can go elsewhere. It doesn't have to be a big deal. But, even if there are ADV+ ferrets, there are precautions that can be taken to make the bedding safe. Common sense goes a long way. -- Danee International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator http://ferretcongress.org ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know! For more information visit: http://www.ferretadv.com You can help fight ADV! Visit: http://help4adv.terrabox.com/ [Posted in FML issue 4704]