To Marianne and other (Canadian) ferret owners: The other day I posted a letter (snail mail) to Hagen about their starter kits with cedar, and Dr. Bauck's views on the subject. The letter is long and I won't force BIG to delete it but a gist follows. I have read some of the correspondence to/from others so I did not try to convince them on scientific grounds. I pointed out that studies that show harm in rodent is cause for concern with ferrets. Since ferrets really don't need absorbent bedding like gerbils etc., using wood shavings does not provide any benefit, and not benefit is not worth any risk. I suggested that most customers that buy their starter kits would eventually come to learn what we already know. I asked them to consider the effect such knowledge might have on future buying habits. Now to the link with Marianne and the awful pet store. Dr. Bauck came into possession of a flyer published by the Ottawa Ferret Association which states in part that pet stores are frustrating because of the kind of things Marianne reported. She wrote to the OFA complaining about it. It seems that PIJAC (Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council) also received a copy because they wrote to the OFA complaining. Dr. Bauck invited the OFA to inform Hagen of pet stores that are mistre* ferrets so that Dr. Bauck could contact them. We may not be able to convince Dr. Bauck that cedar is bad, but if she is willing and able to improve the conditions of ferrets in pet stores, then we should take her offer. It can't hurt to inform PIJAC as well. Addresses phone and fax below, but if you don't have the time or resources to contact them directly you can send me a short email. If you do please include enough facts for Dr. Bauck or PIJAC to act on, and let me know if you want to remain anonymous. I will forward anything I get to both Dr. Bauck and PIJAC by fax. Dr. Louise Bauck BSc, DVM, MVSc. Louis McCann, B.Sc. Director of Veterinary Services Executive Director Rolf C. Hagen Inc. PIJAC Canada 3225 Sartelon Street 7400 boul. Taschereau, Montreal, Que. bureau 105, H4R 1E8 Brossard, Quebec J4W 1M9 (514) 332 0914 (514) 923 3235 (514) 335 0165 (fax) (514) 923 2446 (fax) Now what to we do about HSUS? (Heavy Sigh). -- Richard, Margaret, Smokey, Pixie, Boots and Ping (never seen a pet store) Sassy (of unknown origin, former Garbage Dump Gang member, now working on her unplugged album with Ping "dook dook CHIRP! Dook Dook") [Posted in FML issue 1233]