Kathy Jordan, owner of Carolina Ferret Farm, a mid sized farm, wrote: >3. Companies that routinely euthanize ferrets that are 7-8 weeks or >older when there are no pet store buyers, and we are talking about a >lot of dead ferrets every week--will they change their policies and >practices or just kill more ferrets, particularly males that may >appear larger? Well, I have been in the ferret world for a long time -- around a quarter century and I have NEVER heard of this happening, so I kind of have to wonder just where this statement came from and what you have to back it up. To me, without some foundation being given for this -- and several other things said in your note -- it seems to be an unfounded distraction from what is really going on here: bringing issues to readers who are busy deciding when and how they will let the USDA know that improving the existing standards will save ferrets' lives. I am sure there are some people who love ferrets and dearly care about them who would appreciate this so here are two highly reputable places where you can learn more: http://www.ferretcongress.org/ (Just scroll and click on the various links that interest you.) and http://www.ferret.org/news/2005-08-28-a.htm (Ditto.) This is the ferret community's chance to improve some of the most frustrating long term problems that endanger ferrets -- all with just a letter. [Posted in FML issue 5025]