Dear FML family, I am asking every one of you to copy the letter below, edit it to your liking if you wish, sign it, and spend .32 cents and an envelope for the freedom of choice and the betterment of ferret health everywhere. Whether you or your vet uses FERVAC or GALAXY or another vaccine to fight canine distemper, it would be to the benefit of ferrets in general to have more than one option and USDA recognition. If you are associated with a club, please ask that this be run in the next newsletter - if Solvay receives 200 letters, things just might happen. To add a person touch, tell them how many ferrets you own. Thank you, Pam Grant / STAR* Ferrets ============================= Solvay Animal Health, Inc. 1201 Northland Drive Mendota Heights, MN 55120-1149 1-800-524-1645 Dear Solvay, I am a ferret owner. Despite the label "For use in dogs only", your product, GALAXY-D, has been my choice for vaccinating my ferrets against canine distemper. It has provided safe, comfortable, and affordable protection vital for the health of my pets. I want to continue to have my ferret inoculated with it. Some veterinarians and vaccine distribution companies will not carry your product because it is hardly ever used on dogs. That since the product is not labeled for ferrets, it should not be used on ferrets. In this same vein, some ferret clubs and organizations are asking that all ferrets be vaccinated with only USDA vaccines approved for use in ferrets in order to enter show halls, fun matches and club meetings. In other words, if ferrets are not vaccinated with United Vaccines FERVAC - D, the only licensed distemper vaccine for ferrets at this time, GALAXY-D ferrets will not be allowed. This poses several problems: 1. Many veterinarians experienced with ferrets would prefer to continue to use a product they have had no problems with in the past than switch to a new product. Since FERVAC - D is only designed for ferrets, many veterinarians are not interested in such a specialized item taking up space on their clinic's shelves. 2. FERVAC - D has caused several reaction in ferrets, from stinging and vomiting all the way to anaphalatic shock and death. I am on the Internet in touch with almost 2000 ferret owners, and time and time again I see where FERVAC-D has caused problems, and no mention of reactions exist with GALAXY-D. There are over six million ferrets in the United States, and Solvay can make the difference by getting the necessary testing for USDA approval for use in ferrets. After all, with all the combination shots available and being given to dogs, who but ferret people would BUY a straight and simple canine distemper vaccine? Would Solvay please have GALAXY-D USDA licensed for use in ferrets as well as dogs? Ferret owners are very much interested in staying with your product which has worked in our favor for many years without making our pets uncomfortable. Sincerely, [Posted in FML issue 1504]