Posted with permission. --- I am greatly relieved to see the USDA considering possible amendments to the Animal Welfare Act to provide protection for ferrets. Currently, domestic ferrets are thought by many to be the 3rd most popular domestic house pet, behind the cat and the dog. Sadly, the protection afforded to them by the Animal Welfare Act does not take into account the specific biological, physiological, and social needs of this animal in a manner consistent with other household pets. As a result, ferrets are commonly being shipped to pet stores - already spayed/neutered, descented, and vaccinated - at an age younger than they would even naturally be weaned. I examined nearly 100 ferrets upon arrival over a several month period at several pet stores near Bangor, Maine. In the course of my physical exam, I found approximately 30% of the ferrets to be ill enough to be classified as "unfit for sale". I witnessed animals that were estimated to be as young as 5 weeks of age at the time of arrival for sale. The conditions that I noted included prolapsed rectums, unhealed and infected surgical incisions, congenital malformations, pneumonia, upper respiratory infections, severe diarrhea, and starvation/emaciation. In addition, the toll of behavior changes associated with inappropriately early weaning and shipping prior to the emergence of adult dentition include nipping, biting, and hyperactivity. This combination of health problems and behavior problems results in the relinquishment of animals to already overburdened shelters. Many of these problems could be corrected with an older age at weaning and shipping, and standardized requirements for basic care. One of my personal ferrets, now famous for his "testimony" before the State of Maine during the hearings for the "8-week Rule" adopted there, nearly died during shipment/re-sale. I was shopping at the local pet store for supplies, and a conscientious store clerk pulled me aside to let me know that a very sick ferret, slated to be "snake food" that evening, would be in the back seat of my car when I left - would I please take care of him and euthanize him if he was suffering. I went outside to find an unconscious, barely breathing tiny white ferret in my car. He was approximately 5 weeks old and only had baby teeth. I rushed him to my hospital, where my staff slowly warmed his body temperature and began to nourish him. Within 12 hours, he had regained consciousness - and within 2 weeks, was a normal kit again. Fortunately, someone cared enough about him to bring him through. How many ferrets need to suffer and die before standards are set for their protection? The Animal Welfare Act MUST be amended to protect not only the ferrets, but also the consumers. People buy these ferrets, assuming that they are getting a healthy, fully weaned animal. Instead, they are taking home kits that have baby teeth, need softened food, and are so biologically stressed from their early weaning and surgeries that they have often fallen prey to multiple illnesses. Pet stores, unfortunately, also suffer because they need to deal with these unhappy customers and these sick animals. Shelters wind up taking in the animals needing medical and behavioral care when the consumers are no longer willing or able to work with the ferrets. And, of course, the ferrets are the ultimate losers in this equation. What would I like to see done to protect these popular pets? -Allow no animal to be shipped from the breeder prior to 8 weeks of age, as evidenced by the emergence of adult dentition. -Set humane shipping standards, maintaining animals within a natural thermoneutral zone (air temperature, not cooled with gel packs as is currently the norm). Ensure that they are provided adequate non-spillable food, water, and bedding to last the duration of their trip plus allow for travel delays. -Require that a health certificate be issued for each and every animal to be shipped, not a litter certificate. -Require that surgical incisions be healed and that the animal be free of all apparent disease prior to transport. -Provide for minimal care standards for all animals maintained on a ferretry. These requests are minimal, basic requests which fall under the existing scope of the Animal Welfare Act. Not providing species- specific requirements covering ferrets is contrary to both the language and Congressional intent of the Animal Welfare Act. I would be happy to discuss this matter further. It is a petition that is too long in the coming. Every day that we delay, more animals die of neglect and ignorance. Protecting the ferrets provides a win- win situation - for the consumer, the pet stores, and of course, the ferrets. Sincerely, Sandra C. Kudrak, DVM, DABVP ----- For more information, go to http://www.ferretcongress.org [Posted in FML issue 4971]