US Ferrets!! USDA Ferret Protection Act in DANGER! Need action now!!

From: International Ferret Congress ferretcongress@FERRETCONGRESS.ORG
Subject: URGENT: action needed on USDA regs

Dear Ferret Friends:

We are writing you today with an update on the progress of ferret specific regulations within the USDA. Last year we asked the ferret community to write the USDA during the comment period with their thoughts and ideas about requiring ferret specific regulations -- such as requiring a minimum of 8 weeks of age be obtained prior to shipping as evidenced by the presence of adult canine teeth; requiring that ferrets be maintained at a comfortable temperature; and allowing for the special needs of ferrets for social bonds, contact, and mental stimulation.

Your voices were heard loud and clear -- with thousands of letters pouring into the USDA, almost all voicing support for ferret specific regulations.

But now we have a problem, and we need your support again.

The USDA is trying to bypass the clear mandate that you, the citizens of the United States, provided them! They are putting the ferret specific regulations on the back burner in favor of something else -- lumping the ferrets into a regulation providing for ALL WARM BLOODED MAMMALS not to be shipped prior to 8 weeks. That means that yes, ferrets won't be shipped until 8 weeks of age, but how will that be verified without dental eruption requirements? We've all seen ferret health certificates with the wrong age marked. There will be no provision for keeping these ferret babies comfortably cool. Or trying to keep family groups housed together. Or even standardizing the types of cages and feeding schedules maintained by the ferret farms! Worse yet -- why would they think the needs of ferrets would be similar to guinea pigs (who are able to breed by 3 weeks of age?) or elephants, or tigers, or lions? This is a shortcut that simply won't work. A more acceptable compromise to ferret specific regulations would be to "lump" the ferrets in with the very specific regulations already in place for dogs and cats. At least this keeps some similar species together. However, the current line of reasoning of the USDA is simply unacceptable and unreasonable.

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! A MEETING IS SCHEDULED MID-AUGUST TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS PROPOSAL!

The contact information listed below is the direct line to the supervisor of this project. He alone will not be making the decision, but will be able to provide influence and insight at the meeting. Please call, email, and let him know that ferrets need specific regulations, and lumping them into a general "8 week rule" is simply not acceptable to the ferret community.

Please also remember that this is a government office -- and they are dealing with many issues beyond ferrets. BE PERSISTENT, BUT POLITE! Leave detailed messages and send detailed emails. If they hear from enough of us in person -- it has to make a difference. We pay their salaries, they need to listen to our opinions -- and we won't be ignored!

TODAY -- PLEASE CALL!
Dr. Chester Gipson
301-734-4980 AND EMAIL! chester.a.gipson@aphis.usda.gov

Thanks for your time -- for all the fuzzies in your life, the past, and the future.

NOTE: Please feel free to forward this message to other lists, blogs, websites, club meetings, or anywhere else ferret lovers may see it. It is essential to act quickly and politely!