Imagine a ferret, too young to eat solid food, sick from being transported in extreme temperatures, and too young to be away from it's mother and littermates. You don't need to be a very creative person to imagine this, because this is a common practice in the ferret trade. Though it does not have to be this way.

There is currently a petition that is hanging in the balance that, with your help, could change all of this. This petition, sponsored by the IFC, is intended to create a rule, within and enforced by the USDA, that would adopt ferret specific rules to the Animal Welfare Act. This rule would focus on the individual needs of ferrets in respect to their care and handling within commercial breeding facilities as well as the distribution channels they employ.

Before this can go into effect they need to hear from you! This petition, which closes on Oct 4^th, 2005, is to show the USDA that there is public support for such a rule, as well as specific areas you think should be addressed in this rule.

Things you should keep in mind when writing your letter of support is to, above all, be polite and professional, because if you come across as threatening or irrational you will not be a benefit to our cause. Do not badmouth breeders, stores, or distributors because this is an effort to regulate them, not an opportunity to attack them. Tell them how the lack of regulation affects you, personally, and try to make them see that this is needed for the people as well as the ferrets we care for.

Some major points you may want to cover in your letter would be what regulations you think should be passed. Mention that kits under the age of 8 weeks do not have the adult teeth that they need to eat solid foods like the ones fed by pet stores and most new owners, and this can lead to prolapsed rectum, malnutrition, and even death. Possibly explain their lack of tolerance to temperatures over 80°F, and how this can lead to dehydration, illness, brain damage, seizure, and eventually death. Tell them about a ferret's fast digestion, and how this causes them to need food and water frequently. You can talk about how intelligent and social ferrets are, and how this makes them need play time, as well as plenty of contact with people, their littermates, and their mother, to properly develop socially and emotionally.

Please, do your part and make your voice be heard for our loved ones that have no voice of their own.

Useful Links and Referances
Details on the original Petition for Rule making, the USDA's request for input, and how the whole process works at the IFC's web page. They have sample letters, in depth information, and the transcript from a speech that was given on this topic.	The USDA page that can use to read and reply to the petition. It is listed as "Animal Welfare; Standards for Ferrets"

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