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Midwest Show
2010 Dates TBA
Location of 2010 Midwest Show To Be Announced

MidWest Show Home | Last Year’s Show Results

Quarantine

For the protection of all kennels attending the show, the AGS has developed a strict quarantine requirement. This will help ensure that no viruses, bacterial infections, mites, or lice are introduced to the kennel from outside sources.

Each kennel bringing/sending animals and/or equipment must strictly quarantine their kennel for four weeks prior to attending the show, beginning no later than Friday, October 2, 2009. NO new gerbils, rodents, exotics, birds, or reptiles will be introduced to the kennel during this four-week period. If you have any unexplained deaths or illnesses during the quarantine period, NO animals from your kennel should be brought to the show.

Health Inspection

All animals entering the Midwest Show must first have a thorough health check. AGS Officials and trained volunteers will conduct health checks and tank inspections on .

If an animal shows signs of illness, they and their cagemates will be denied entry. If an animal or tank have mites or lice, or are thought to be contagious, the entire kennel will be denied entry to the show. (Mites, lice, respiratory infection, diarrhea, listlessness, or puffy or bedraggled fur are a few things that we are looking for.) Tanks will be inspected for cleanliness. Any tank that smells or appears dirty will NOT be permitted in the show.

Animals entering the show must be adequately housed and not overcrowded. The maximum number of animals allowed in a 10-gallon tank will be:

• four adults
• adult male and female with one or two litters
• 10 pups

The maximum number of animals in smaller or larger housing should be proportionate to the size of the housing. In addition, it is recommended that animals being introduced for show travel together and be in stable pairs/groupings for at least one week prior to the show. Animals that show bite marks or signs of fighting may be denied entry to the show and/or required by the health inspectors to be split up and housed separately.

Tanks should be labeled with the number, gender, age, and status (i.e., for sale/adoption, show, companion of show animal, etc.) For example:

Morning Glory Kennel (Jennifer Martin)
Breeding pair (not for sale)
RE Schimmel Male
Mottled Burmese Female
and 3 week old litter of 5 pups

The decision of the health inspectors with regard to what animals shall or shall be not be permitted entry shall be final.

Special Information about Mites

Anyone who sees mites on their animals during the quarantine period ( October 2nd, 2009 to October 31, 2009) must not bring ANY animals to the show AT ALL.

If you are treating your animals for mites with Ivermectin, the 30-day treatment should be completed on or about Friday, October 2, 2009. This will allow sufficient time for observation to make sure the treatment worked and your kennel is mite-free. A mite hatching cycle is 3-14 days, so you will need 2-3 weeks to be certain if your treatment was successful.

It is fine to apply mite preventative during the quarantine to gerbils that do not have mites.

We encourage anyone with current or recent mite problems to contact a Show Official with questions and further discussion about bringing animals to the show.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When two or more kennels are traveling together, or sharing a hotel room before the animals are inspected, their gerbils and equipment must be presented for Health Inspection together. If one kennel is denied entry to the show due to for illness and/or mites or lice; all involved kennels will also be prohibited from bringing their animals and equipment into the show. Please be sure that you know and trust those that you are traveling and sharing rooms with. Not only does your show experience depend on it, but also the health of your kennel.

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[PRINTABLE VERSION]

Please sign and bring this form with you to the Show. If you are sending animals, but are not attending yourself, this form must be received before your kennel can be inspected. It may either be mailed (address at bottom of page), or sent with the driver.

PLEASE NOTE: This signed form MUST be presented to the Health Inspector before your animals and equipment can be inspected. NO EXCEPTIONS.

• I will/have quarantined my kennel for four weeks prior to the Midwest Show. My kennel quarantine began on or before Friday, October 2, 2009. During this time NO new/returning rodents, exotics, birds or reptiles entered my kennel/residence.
• I understand and agree that the AGS Health Inspector(s) have the sole discretion to allow or bar my animals/equipment from the Midwest Show, and I will abide by their decision.
• I understand that the consequences of knowingly bringing ill or pest-infested animals/equipment to the Midwest Show would be my suspension from the AGS for a period of time.
• I understand when two or more kennels are traveling together, or sharing a hotel room before the animals are inspected, their animals and equipment must be presented for Health Inspection together. If one kennel is denied entry to the show, for illness and/or mites or lice, all involved kennels will also be prohibited from bringing their animals and equipment into the show.
• I understand that while the AGS has strict precautions to protect animals at sanctioned shows; the AGS cannot be held responsible for any illness or parasite that may be contracted at or enroute to a show.

Signature of Kennel Owner	Kennel Name	AGS #	Date

Mail to:
The American Gerbil Society
18893 Lawrence 2100
Mt Vernon, Mo 65712

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Photos from last year’s Midwest Gerbil Show

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