Petition to the USDA to provide protection to ferrets
Five week old babies say
"We want our momma!"
Photo courtesy Mike Morrett. |
|
June 30, 2008
A few years ago we worked hard to convince the USDA to create ferret-
specific regulations governing their transport and care. The inside
word we have gotten is that the ferret industry is too small to
warrant the creation of such rules.
However, they have created a generic proposal that will set an 8-week
and weaned requirement for the transport of any warm-blooded animal.
The deadline for comment is JULY 8, 2008! WE MUST ACT NOW!!
Below is a brief description of the proposal and how to submit your
comments. A sample letter is also attached. Feel free to use it,
modify it or write your own.
The main point is that we agree that an 8-week minimum age for
transport is beneficial to ferrets, both domestic and black-footed.
A PDF version of this document is available here.
The American Council for Ferret Health, Welfare and Policy,
Washington, DC
DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: July 8, 2008
AGENCY: Federal -- USDA -- Animal & Plant Health Inspection Agency
REFERENCE: [Docket No. APHIS-2006-0024] RIN 0579-AC14
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 9 CFR Part 2 Proposed Rule
"Minimum Age Requirements for the Transport of Animals"
NOTICE: USDA has posted a Period for Public Comment on these
regulations.
IMPACT: Regulations for FERRETS would match those currently in place
for DOGS and CATS. FERRETS would be required to be weaned and at least
8 weeks of age prior to removal from their mothers and transport to a
Retail facility, exhibit, etc. For young animals used in research, the
research must be reviewed and approved by an Institutional Animal Care
and Use Committee (IACUC) along with provisions specified as to care of
animals during transport, if the animals do not meet the minimum age
requirements of 8 weeks.
WHY YOU SHOULD RESPOND: New regulations, while not specific to FERRETS,
would impose new requirements where no prior requirements have existed
for FERRETS.
SUMMARY: US Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to amend the
Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations by adding minimum age requirements
of 8 weeks for the transport in commerce of animals. Current
regulations require dogs and cats to be weaned and a minimum of 8 weeks
of age before they can be transported from the breeder location to a
retail store or other venue. No regulations currently exist for FERRETS
or other warm-blooded species. The Proposed Regulations would allow,
provided certain conditions are met, for animals to be transported
without their mothers for medical treatment and for scientific research
before reaching the minimum age and weaning requirement. Setting
MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENTS of 8 weeks for the transport in commerce of
animals and providing for the transport of animals that have not met
the minimum age requirements are necessary to help ensure the humane
treatment of these animals.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Submit your comments online or by mail: [SEE SAMPLE FORM LETTER below or download
an MS Word document]
1) ONLINE: Federal "eRulemaking" Portal: Go to
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2006-0024.
Click on "APHIS-2006-0024-0001" to view the proposal, and on the icon
in that row in the Comments column to add your own comment.
You may also view the comments submitted by others there.
2) OR MAIL 2 SIGNED COPIES OF YOUR LETTER TO:
USDA -- APHIS: Docket No. APHIS-2006-0024
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS
Station 3A-03.8
4700 River Road Unit 118
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Barbara Kohn
Senior Staff Veterinarian, Animal Care
APHIS
4700 River Road Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231
(301) 734-7833.
An MS Word version of this sample letter is available here.
Sample letter:
[YOUR LETTERHEAD]
[name/address]
[July -- , 2008]
RE: 9 CFR Part 2 [Docket No. APHIS-2006-0024] RIN 0579-AC14
PR: "Minimum Age Requirements for the Transport of Animals"
United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Regulatory Analysis and Development
PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8
4700 River Road Unit 118
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238
To Whom It May Concern:
We are writing in support of the above referenced PROPOSED RULE (PR)
to amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations by adding minimum age
requirements for the transport in commerce of animals. We are aware
that the current regulations address age limits for dogs and cats,
but that no corresponding regulations exist for ferrets.
We agree and strongly support your proposal to amend the current
regulations to restrict the transport of ferrets that are less than
8 weeks of age, unless certain conditions have been met, as outlined
in the PR.
For both the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) and the wild
black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), establishing federal minimum
age requirements for the transport in commerce of ferrets, and
providing for the transport of animals that have not met the minimum
age of 8 weeks of age, are necessary to help ensure the humane
treatment of these animals.
[ADDITIONAL: YOU MAY ADD EXAMPLES OF PROBLEMS THAT OCCURRED IN THE
PAST, OR YOUR REASONS FOR SUPPORTING THIS PROPOSED RULE]
Sincerely,
[SIGNED - YOUR NAME]
UPDATE: February 4, 2006
Mike Morrett has written an article for the American
Ferret Report on the
ferret community's efforts. It is posted with permission.
UPDATE: November 21, 2005
The deadline for public comments has passed. To view submitted comments:
- Go to http://www.regulations.gov/
- Click on Advanced Search and select Docket
Search.
- In the Keyword box, enter ferret.
- Click Submit.
- This will bring up a list with Docket APHIS-2005-0063.
Click on the Docket ID in the first column to see the current list of comments.
We're pleased to announce we have reached a major milestone in the effort
to get the USDA and APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) to adopt
ferret specific regulations under the Animal Welfare Act.
In March of 2004, several ferret organizations sent a petition
to the USDA requesting a revision in the requirements for housing and
transport for breeding farms, dealers and research institutions already under
USDA control. The proposed
changes would not apply to small breeders who sell privately; rather they would
apply only to farms who breed ferrets for wholesale, their distributors, and
the transport they use.
The USDA has accepted this petition, and has now requested public input. They
ask 3 main questions (condensed here):
- Should specific standards be implemented for the welfare of domestic ferrets?
If yes, please explain what standards you believe are needed.
- What specific problems have dealers, exhibitors, or research facilities
had with the current handling, care, treatment, and transportation standards
and how would ferret-specific standards eliminate them?
- Should there be
minimum age requirements for the transportation of domestic ferrets, and,
if so, what factors should be considered in determining those
requirements?
The deadline for responding is has been extended to November 18, 2005.
It is urgent that the USDA get a strong response from the ferret community
to
move
forward
with
the development
of new regulations!
To submit comments by mail, send 4 copies
of your letter to:
Docket No. 04-088-1
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71
4700 River Road Unit 118
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238
You must include the Docket No. 04-088-1 on your letter!
To view and submit comments online:
- Go to http://www.regulations.gov/
- Under the Agency popup menu, select Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service.
- In the Keyword box, enter ferret.
- Click Submit.
- This will bring up a list including the original Docket APHIS-2005-0063.
Click on the Docket ID in the first column to see the current list of
comments. The last column contains an Add Comments button, which will
bring up the
comment
submission
form.
You may also submit documents in
MS
Word,
Word Perfect or other formats.
Comments submitted by mail provide greater impact,
but any type of comment is better than none!
Important Information and Documents
Petition to USDA for Rulemaking,
March 10, 2004, the original request to the USDA for action.
Letter from Dr. Sandra Kudrak primary
author of petition, March 12, 2004, which accompanied the request.
USDA response, May 11, 2004
"USDA Regulations for Ferrets", transcript of Dr. Sandra Kudrak's presentation
at the 2005 International Ferret Symposium in St. Louis, MO April 30, 2005.
USDA Notice of Petition and
Request for Comments, PDF file, August 5, 2005, the USDA official
call for comments.
Sample letters and points to make,
updated August 18, 2005.
Sample letter to give your vet to urge her/him to write to the USDA, October
4, 2005.
Sample
letter
written by the AFA that you can just print (4 copies needed!), sign
and
mail.
Flyer to distribute at meetings, shows and other events. Written by the AFA.
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Ferret Congress
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Last updated February 4, 2006