From:
Ann Barzda, Hillcrest Ferrets
Date: 2001-07-11 18:30:00 UTC
Subject: Testing for ADV
<ferrets@hillcrestferrets.com>
Hi folks, I'm sure this has been covered over and over but I am way behind on email.
I haven't gone to the group to vote in the poll yet, but I have tested my ferrets multiple times and will continue to test as often as I need to (before every show, when a ferret goes out or a new one comes in, or I have contact with other ferrets.) I will do this to protect my ferrets and to protect other ferrets.
I am a very small scale breeder - only one litter this year - and I tested the hob and jill before breeding them to be sure they were safe. I tested the hob and jill again for the Pittsburgh AFA show, which was close enough to the adoption dates for the kits to show that it was likely they were all negative as well. I required the future owners to test their existing ferrets and show me the results. I will do this again next year if/when I
do another litter. Why? It's important to me to stop the spread of this disease, as containment (and research) is the only solution right now. I will continue to support shows that require a certificate of recent test results, as the Pittsburgh AFA show required. I will avoid those shows that do not require certificates, unless, like the upcoming Ohio show, I know that the group involved is very active in testing, has tested all of their
ferrets, and is very encouraging about everyone testing.
I hope that everyone else does the same. We can't completely eradicate this disease, but we must, as responsible ferret owners and breeders, do everything we can to keep our ferrets and other ferrets safe.
Hope this lets some of you who have asked, know, that there are breeders trying to do the right thing.
Ann Barzda
Hillcrest Ferrets