From:
sukie crandall
Date: 2005-05-09 17:14:53 UTC
Subject: Help a great food and snack trend continue in the direction of
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
healthier approaches!
Message-id: <DEB58A20-F72A-4ACB-BF25-CB2A21C8D6C1@optonline.net>
For those who have not yet heard, there is a project underway to get
stores to stop selling unhealthy ferret products as a way to change
things for the better for ferrets' health.
The aim at this point in time is to get stores to not re-order sugary
treats and foods, and to not re-order treats and foods with dried
chunks of fruit and veggies in them (also sugary and some ferrets
have gotten blockages from them).
This effort was begun independently by the International Ferret
Congress* when the veterinarian in change of animal health with
PetSmart asked the IFC which products are best, and by a vet who did
not realize that the IFC was also working on it (but who did not give
me permission to mention his name).
PetSmart has led the way in acting upon suggestions of knowledgeable
ferret people first, and Ferret Depot has already indicated an
interest in following suit.
Two stores, Petco and The Ferret Store (NEEPS), have asked to hear
from those with ferrets because knowing what the public wants will
help their business branches make choices that are more geared toward
health.
Please, consider sending a polite letter to the following two people
who can then use your kind notes to help convince all of those making
money decisions to not re-order sugary treats, and to not re-order
treats or food with chunks of dried fruit or vegetables in them once
their current stock is sold as an indication of their commitment
toward ferret health so that the manufacturers will shift to
producing healthier foods and treats.
Dr. Thomas Edling, Director, Veterinary Medicine for Petco, agrees
those foods and
treats are bad, and wants to hear from you to help educate his
company. He is on our side!
Please, send your polite letters to him at
<ThomasE@PETCO.com>.
Scott Sanfilippo, President of NEEPS, the parent company of The Ferret
Store, is also Interested in hearing from you. The Ferret Store has
a history of listening to ferret people and thinking seriously about
ferret needs so this is one way to help that company trend continue.
<scotts@neeps-inc.com>
Your letters can be as detailed as you desire, or they can be as
simple as the following sample, "I am greatly concerned about ferret
health so it troubles me when a company sells products which may
undermine health or pose other serious risks. It would greatly
please me if [Insert Company Name Here.] would not re-order any
treats or foods for ferrets which may cause pancreatic disease or
blockages due to high sugar content, or due to containing chunks of
dried fruits, vegetables, or seeds. Please, let your upper
management know that the ferret community has good cause to be
worried about these products for our ferrets who are obligate
carnivores vulnerable to insulinoma and blockages, and that other
stores are removing them from their purchasing lists as an indication
of their commitment to ferret health. Please, encourage companies
from which you buy to strongly consider ferret health before creating
products."
If you want to tell about a ferret of yours who has had such a
medical problem, go ahead and do so.
--Sukie
* http://www.ferretcongress.org
End of ferrethealth Digest
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