To Debbie Riccio (of whom I am a staunch supporter and a friend): (For those of you who don't know, Debbie's problems with ECE have been some of the most tragic and heartbreaking that I have come across, but that's another story) >I think - and this is my own opinion - not shared by many - that shelters >who have had ECE should not take in any more ferrets. This is not to say >that shelters should go out of business or give up what they are doing, >but switch to a new building/house. Debbie - while this is a good idea, in many places it just isn't feasible. In many places, there is only one person that runs a shelter. I would rather see an unwanted ferret with ECE for a few days than a ferret get turned in to the pound or neglected by an uncaring owner, or abused in some other way. I know many shelters that are operating with ECE, and although they have had to change their way of doing business, they still provide a safe haven for unwanted ferrets. Also, when you switch houses/buildings, it's more than that (which I hope everyone understands. You don't bring any of the ferrets from the old shelter into the new one. Chances are everyone is infected and are possible shedders. >Many new outbreaks often occur on the show circuit. I believe this is >how it is spreading so rapidly. Apparently once confined to the east >coast, ECE has now spread across country as people travel to shows and >then bring it back home with them. Yes, and also from people that import ferrets from the East coast for breeding. >I know of a couple of clubs who stopped taking ferrets into their existing >shelters and opened new shelters. I think this is the responsible thing >to do. I also think it is irresponsible not to tell people who drop >ferrets off at shelters that you have had ECE. Yes. And if you have ECE in your shelter, don't board any ferrets. Sounds obvious, but I heard from several families who've left their ferrets and shelters for boarding, and came back to sick ferrets.... >It's also been 2 years now since they were infected - Dr. Williams, do >you think my ferrets are safe yet or is it still possible for them to >pass this on to unexposed ferrets? Honestly, Debbie, I don't know. 2 years seems like an awfully long time, but so does 4 months. I wish I could tell you. Bruce H. Williams, DVM Dept. of Veterinary Pathology Chief Pathologist, AccuPath Armed Forces Institute of Pathology [log in to unmask] Washington, D.C. 20306-6000 [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1242]