[forwarded at the request of Perry Gosnell, Editor, AMERICAN FERRET REPORT. Reply-to address at the end] I was asked to address some statements made by Ann Davis on this service (the first week of February) about the American Ferret Association (AFA) and the American Ferret Report (AFR). Therefore, let me start by saying that the AFA is a non-profit organization recognized by the IRS under 501 (c)(3) status. It is also AFA policy to be able to substantiate any claims made by the AFA. Therefore, speaking as a representative for the AFA and AFR editor, the follow statements are true and verifiable. Some of the statements made by Ms. Davis may lead readers to believe the AFA receives funding from United Vaccines. United Vaccines pays the AFA for ad space. However, I would not consider this "funding" anymore than I would a member's membership dues as funding. In 1993 United Vaccines' AFR ad space accounted for less than 5% of the total cost to produce the newsletter. Ms. Davis also stated the AFA "is scarcely an objective source about the suitability of FERVAC-D." This was apparently in reference to a press release received from United Vaccines and printed in AFR. However, AFR printed a disclaimer before the article stating that United Vaccines was "solely responsible for the facts and opinions expressed therein." The AFA and AFR made no comments about the suitability of FERVAC-D in that issue. Lastly, Ms. Davis stated the "AFA relies heavily for funding on the proceeds of product endorsements." Understandably, Ms. Davis probably did not mean "product endorsement" in the legal sense. The AFA does not "endorse" any product. However, Ms. Davis most likely meant product approval or recommendation, which the AFA does. However, neither the AFA or the AFR receive any payment for approving or recommending any product. The AFA recommends certain products after testing if we feel they are quality products. The AFA sells some of these products for the same reason. What products we do sell represent only a small source of our total income. For example; as a distributer of Totally Ferret ferret food (the newsletter was a misprint when stating the AFA was exclusive distributor), AFA's profit is so minimal it will barely cover the cost of distribution. However, we are not selling Totally Ferret to make a large profit. We both recommend and sell the food because of the one to two years we have spent helping to research and develop the much needed food and we feel it is a quality product. If any readers of this forum have any further questions about the AFA, AFR or AFA recommended products, please write to us at P.O. Box 3986, Frederick, MD 21705-3986. Thank you. -Perry A. Gosnell AFR Editor-In-Chief [end of forwarded message] [Posted in FML issue 0758]