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Membership
There are no laws in Maryland that protect ferrets as companion animals. Ferrets are commonly shipped into Maryland for sale at pet stores at very young ages, sometimes as young as four weeks old. These young ferrets have usually been sexually altered and have had their scent glands removed before shipping. Sometimes these ferrets are so young that their eyes must be slit open in order to prepare them for sale earlier.
Ferrets are also often housed in inhumane conditions in pet stores, which is not only horrible for them while they are awaiting sale, but also perpetuates this inhumane treatment in their new home because unknowing new owners will follow the example of the pet store. One of the biggest problems is when ferrets are housed in fish tanks and other glass enclosures in pet stores. With no cross-ventilation, the ferrets are often breathing in the gaseous by-products of their urine and feces. It is also difficult to regulate temperatures inside a glass enclosure with no ventilation, the temperature could easily rise above healthy levels to ferrets and result in heatstroke or permanent neurological damage.
MD Ferret PAWS is dedicated to producing change in Maryland, through legislation, education and outreach. We are currently working to pass legislation to stop the sale of underage kits. We are educating pet stores of healthy and humane housing and husbandry practices. And we are working in local communities to teach people about the domestic ferret and the need for their support and understanding in helping us to make Maryland a safer place for ferrets. (see our legislation , education , and outreach sections for more information)
Please help us make a difference in Maryland!
We invite you to apply for membership into
Maryland Ferret Protection and Welfare Society, Inc. (a
non-profit corporation in the State of Maryland). Fill out
the application form and return it to
Maryland Ferret PAWS, Inc., c/o Ingrid Rhinehart, P.O. Box
44179, Baltimore, MD 21236. If you have any further questions,
please feel free to contact Ingrid, our secretary, at ingrid@mdferretpaws.org.
What you get
Voting Rights
As a MD Ferret PAWS member, you are given the opportunity and responsibility to help us achieve our goals. As an important part of that responsibility, we encourage you to attend our bi-annual membership meetings and vote on issues of importance to MD Ferret PAWS.
Newsletters
MD Ferret PAWS members receive our quarterly newsletter Weasel Words from MD Ferret PAWS (one per household). Past issues of Weasel Words can be viewed here .
Membership Card
Each new or renewal membership will receive a membership card that displays your commitment to helping make changes in Maryland. This membership card is also the key to receiving some of the discounts mentioned below.
Pens
NEW members will receive a special MD Ferret PAWS MEMBER pen. This is a very nice laser engraved ballpoint pen that anyone would be proud to use. (One pen for single membership, two pens for family membership)
Ferretstore Discount
All members are entitled to a very generous 10%
discount from theferretstore.com
!!!
Woodstove Pellets
All members are entitled to a discount on wood
pellets from Little
Lancaster.
New Member Packet
All NEW members will receive a new member packet with lots of ferret-related information and promotional materials from corporations who have provided us with donations.
Food Samples
As available, members are provided with food samples from corporations who have made product donations. In the past we have received donations from The Ferret Store (Superior Choice Original and Superior Choice Natural), ZuPreem, Totally Ferret (Active and Older), Path Valley Farms, and Mazuri.
Discounts that we Negotiate in the Future
As we continue to negotiate discounts with other corporations, we will make all members aware of them through the newsletter (and via email if you have included your email address).
T-shirts
We have t-shirts available to members with a beautiful embroidered ferret available in many colors and sizes.
There are also t-shirts available on our Cafepress store for anyone to buy
http://www.cafeshops.com/mdferretpaws
Questions - Email Ingrid
If you have any questions regarding membership,
discounts, PAWS merchandise, or other information, please
feel free to contact Ingrid Rhinehart at ingrid@mdferretpaws.org.
Newsletters
These are old issues of our quarterly newsletter Weasel Words from MD Ferret PAWS .
-May 2003 Newsletter
