Ok folks, here is my contribution to the the APHIS Docket. It took me all of a half hour to type, scan the pictures, (which obviously aren't included here but if anyone wants to see, email me) then proof read/spell check. Can't everyone on this list take a half hour out of their day for something so important?? It need not be as long, it need not contain pictures, but shouldn't the government at least have the real facts before deciding this oh so important issue? If WE as a whole don't stand up to speak for those who can't, what good are we doing on this earth? We made the FML 5000 a reality, let's make this come true too! I am willing to help anyone who asks to compose a letter. I will type it, proof it, print out the required four copies and mail them to you with a addressed and stamped envelope for you to mail to the USDA. C'mon, whatta deal! How can you refuse? Leslie To Whom It May Concern, I am the owner of ten ferrets, all but one were purchased at the same pet store, the other was a dog pound rescue, but ALL are from the same large breeder, <redacted>. I can not attest to the neglect at the farm(s) or in the transport, I can only attest to my own personal experience with my own pets. Of the ferrets I've purchased, the majority of them were under weight, under nourished, had not had their adult canines erupt as of yet, and had a protruding rectum. The dental situation appears only in kits younger than eight weeks of age, at which time the adult conical (canine teeth) have erupted. One ferret in particular, an albino female we named 'Little One' still bore the black & blue bruise from her recent spaying when I purchased her. She had no adult teeth whatsoever and was literally starving to death as she could not eat the dry kibble that was given to her. Her rib cage was evident, her hip bones prominent and she had no energy to even move herself into a sleeping enclosure. Because of her appearance, no one had purchased her, she was alone in the enclosure. I bought her, brought her home and instantly began supportive care with the correct moistened food and force feedings via a syringe. Had I not intervened, this baby most certainly would have died. I have enclosed two pictures; the first is of the dry kibble most pet stores feed the kits, alongside the actual right baby canine tooth of this particular ferret. That tooth is no thicker than a standard wire paperclip. The second picture is of the kit taken November 21, 2004, the day I brought her home. The toy keys I am holding were approximately 3 inches away from her. Many people are familiar with this children's toy, this ferret weighed about as much as that plastic toy. Her paperwork from <redacted> states she was born between September 12 and 18th, 2004, neutered, descented, vaccinated for distemper once and shipped November 8, 2004. Best case scenario she was eight weeks at shipping, worse case scenario she was seven weeks. Either of these time frames, (although certified by <redacted>) is outrageously incorrect! The scientific fact is that kits do not erupt their adult canine teeth until they are eight weeks of age. This ferret had no adult teeth whatsoever, it wasn't until two weeks later that her canines erupted, forcing the tooth I have sent you a picture of out. In reality this kit was no more than six weeks of age at shipping time, which means she was removed from her mother, force weaned, anesthetized, spayed, descented and vaccinated by the time she was five weeks old. Then put in a crate with countless others in the same condition in late fall when the temperatures are near freezing, shipped onto an airplane, flown to Greene Airport where she sat more likely than not without adequate food or water until someone from <redacted> picked up their shipment. We wouldn't treat a dog this way. continuing.... Kits that are shipped prior to eight weeks do not have the ability to take in, nor get any value from the hard dry kibble that is provided to them. When and if they can eat some of this, their immature digestive systems cause them to strain to defecate causing the protruding or prolapsed rectum. In the stores they are rarely socialized but left to play with each other where the biggest and strongest survive. They are subjected 24 hours a day, seven days a week to lighting which is believed, in conjunction with the early spay/neuter to be a leading contributor to Adrenal Disease. These ferrets are sold to the unknowing public who can't resist 'because they're so cute' and are eventually dumped on the animal shelters with no hair from progressive Adrenal Disease, described as a 'bad biter' simply because they were never socialized or the owners didn't understand the needs of this high maintenance pet who suddenly costs more than a months worth of groceries because of it's medical needs. Of my other nine ferrets; one is displaying signs of Adrenal Disease-she has a pear shape and loss of hair on the base of her tail, she's only three years old. Another, for want of a better term, is mentally retarded. He runs at nothing, can not defend himself, is basically pretty spacey and needs to play by himself alot because the others avoid him. Two are deaf because of the farms' consistently breeding to produce 'fancies', they have perpetuated the gene that causes this abnormality. These ferreets will most likely need extensive medical care by their 5th year of age and will die a year or two earlier than their non deaf counterparts. Two others are recovering biters affectionally named Nibbles and Taz the She Devil. With ferrets rapidly becoming as popular as our cats and dogs as household pets, I implore you, I beg you to enact legislation that will mandate a minimum shipping age of eight weeks. Leave these babies with their mothers to mature and finish nursing. Please put an end to this vicious cycle that does nothing but enrich the farms and burden the shelters. Thank you for your consideration. [Posted in FML issue 5030]