I have seen this question repetitively of late and it seems that no one
is willing to give an honest answer.  "Why the National lack of ferret
knowledgeable Veterinarians?"
 
For the new FML members (and some of our more venerable members also).
A short history.
 
Because of a law suit and pressure from a noted lawyer and ferret owner
in California to legalize ferrets as pets and to remove them from the
misclassification of California's' list of wild animals; In 1988 the
California Department of Health Services commissioned DR. Denny
Constantine, DVM, MPH and Dr. Kenneth Kizer, MD, MPH to write an
anti-ferret paper to support the state's illegal ban on domestic ferrets.
Neither of these people knew what a ferret was and had to do extensive
research to even identify the physical appearance of these pets.
Collecting anecdotal third party data from the then present, back to
tales from 1820 England.  These two men concocted a myth of hyperbole that
pet ferrets aggressively attacked human infants, sucked out their blood and
devoured their flesh.  Ferrets were also reported, "Natural carriers of
rabies." This "report" was never peer reviewed or ever published in the
AVMA or AMA Journals.  The report WAS embraced and cited by both AVMA and
AMA bureaucratic hierarchies.  This "positional paper" was copied, conveyed
and transmitted to all State Health and State Veterinarian departments as a
"document."
 
A chain reaction ensued, and all state Medical and Veterinary schools
taught this gibberish to students who took it to their practices.  The
"official" word was out; The AVMA and AMA had said ferrets were not good
pets, that all ferrets were to be killed and tested for rabies if they bit
anyone, and all owners were warned of the dangers of pet ferrets.  Many
Veterinarians refused to treat pet ferrets because of the eminent dangers
presented to themselves, their staff and other clients.  Ferret medicine
was set back into the dark ages!  California Department of Health Services
had now saved the world, while preserving its' illegal ban on ferret
ownership!  Californians had been given a rare opportunity to see how their
state government wastes their tax dollars.  Of course, the taxpayers were
never told how much this report cost them, or of the agony it would cause
pet ferret owners in California.
 
Some Vets did actually read the original paper and the rebuttals by other
vets.  It became apparent to many open minded vets that this paper did
not meet the requirements of fact supported documentation, and was to be
accepted as nothing more than a positional government paper by these two
state employees.  These are our leading ferret vets of today.
 
In the mid-eighties and early nineties, pet ferret owners started forming
clubs and sharing information across the nation.  Many found themselves to
be in violation of either written or implied laws and bans on their pet
ferrets.  Ferret owners were looking for veterinarians to care for their
furkids.  Sadly, many found that they knew more about their pets than the
vet did.  This angered the ferret owners, and in some cases, actually
brought the veterinary field out of its' stupor.  Vets now had clients
cuddling and comforting a sick pet that they knew nothing about!  The
professional vets, who care for all animals, saw the need for equal and
quality care for these pet ferrets and made the decision to learn and
share.  They have came a long way, and they themselves, will tell you
that they still have a long way to go.
 
Experience is the best teacher.  Those veterinarians who have taken the
lead in ferret medicine and surgical procedures, who have learned by trial
and error, are now teaching those who will follow.  New ferret medical
Books and Instructional Video Tapes are becoming readily available to all
concerned professionals and nonprofessional ferret enthusiasts.  We now
have many unheralded "ferret" vets in the ferret owning community who are
striving to help our furkids.  Find a really good vet who is receptive to
shared information and support them.  Let other ferret owners know who and
where they are.
 
Many Professionals in the Medical and Veterinary fields have put the
success of their careers and positions on the line for our ferrets by open
opposition to the anti-ferret rhetoric espoused by their bureaucratic
entrenched superiors.  Many local, state and national government employees,
including military officers and senior enlisted persons, have had to choose
between their careers or their ferrets.  Why?  Ignorance, arrogance and
power in the hands of inaccessible bureaucrats who aren't accountable to
voters and who keep their jobs for life due to unconditional powers
enacted to protect them and their policies.
 
Most bans on ferret are local "policy" and are in fact not law.  Only those
elected to represent you can make laws to govern you.  Bureaucrats are not
elected and therefor cannot impose laws.  Ferrets are now considered legal
household pets in every state but California and Hawaii.  Many states that
once banned ferrets, are legal now because someone refused to be denied
their constitutional rights to amass private property.  While that term
might not set to well with some of us, we will do well to remember that
if we don't own it, we have no legal right to have it.
 
The longest part of any journey is taking the first step.  We will overcome
the ignorance and prejudices of speciesism; One step at a time.  California
and New York City will submit to the rights of the people to choose which
pet is right for them.
 
God bless and guide our wonderful ferret veterinarians and all ferret
freedom fighters.
 
John, Bobby, Martin; Our nation misses you.
 
I encourage private hate mail as opposed to flooding this list. Dooks,
 
Rick White
[Posted in FML issue 3299]