With regard to two failed USDA inspections, and letters sent to the USDA from the Alexander County Animal Control, there are some other "facts" to consider. Firstly, I do not require and have not applied for a USDA license, therefore, I do not require an inspection. The failed "inspection" that occurred on Dec. 17, 2007 was interesting in that no one was at the building, and it was locked, and I knew nothing about it until after the fact. So how did that happen??? Secondly, The Friday, Dec. 21, 2007 inspection was one that I was there getting ready for Christmas and working hard, and was interrupted by Animal Control and the USDA insisting that I needed to be inspected since I sold to pet stores. I told them that I did not fall into that category, but they stayed four hours and endangered my ferrets poking at them, even after being told to leave. The county vet for Animal Control that orchestrated this and sent letters to the USDA was called into the county manager's office, then seemed to have disappeared with no forwarding address in January of '08, and left the state. At the time I called the county manager's office to complain, the receptionist said "Let me guess, you are going to complain about animal control, too." I will have to admit that surprised me, but should not have. The county manager heard my complaint, talked to the County Attorney about the mess with me and others, then the County Attorney put a gag order on Animal Control not to talk to me or contact me. This was in 2007, and the gag order is still in effect. I figured that was the end of it, so I did not pursue it further. Alexander County Animal Control and the USDA have not contacted me since Dec. 21, 2007, except that USDA sent me a letter saying that I did not require a licensing, and the vet at Animal Control sent a nasty and threatening letter to me and a copy to the USDA saying she was going to follow up with me in March on a certain date. No one from Animal Control ever showed up, but "wait-- everyone read that letter!" Were my rights violated? The USDA had no reason to file the paperwork because I did not need an inspection. The USDA inspector (not a vet) was new at her job. Her only previous contact with a ferret, from what she hesitantly said when I asked her, was "I have seen one in a pet store." For the record, my vet got in his car and drove two hours to the farm on Saturday, Dec. 22nd when he was really busy at his hospital, he dropped everything and did a thorough inspection of the farm and every ferret, and found nothing of concern. I had a photographer go in on the 22nd and take photos of every ferret and every cage to confirm that everything was sanitary and the ferrets were comfortable and cared for. Nothing was moved or changed before they got there. Last week I left multiple phone messages for the USDA inspector who came out in Dec. of '07, and she has not returned my calls. I contacted her supervisor and left multiple messages, and she has not returned my calls. I suspect I can get this cleared up eventually, but I also suspect that I will see it online for all eternity because it is just one of those "facts" that motivated minds love to refer to and direct others to. These are issues that really should not have been dredged up, but some people love to point the finger and say "Aha!" "Look at this!" Everyone who raises ferrets has occasional run-ins with Animal Control, Zoning, USDA, neighbors, the Health Department, and others, and if they haven't, their day is coming. Certain people, in my opinion, would do well to move to Iran where they can have the pleasure of participating in public stonings, or at least stirring people up so that they will pick up the rocks. Not afraid to sign my name-- Kathy Jordan Qualified Mental Health Professional Alumni, NC State University, 1978 Manager, Carolina Ferrets [Posted in FML 6805]