On Ferret Neglect:
What a horrible existance for your friends ferrets.  I don't think there
is a cure or would attempt to cure your friend.  The poor ferrets need a
new loving home immediately and you're right in not wanting to separate
them.  One of the ferret shelters will take them - I will - and I have
16!  You would be surprised at what love and care can do for a neglected
ferret.  Aggression may not be aggression - may be frustration.  Those
babies don't belong in a cage in a garage.  Its time for a new home now.
Let me know what I can do to help.  Wherever you are our network can
definitely find a new home for the boys - if you don't want to try it.
Personally I would disown the "friend" as soon as the boys were in a
new home - but not all humans feel as I do (something the abused and
neglected ferrets we've rescued can't understand).  Again let me know
what I can do.  Troy Lynn Eckart, FFS, PO Box 186, Manhattan, KS  66502
(913) 494-8415 after 7 pm or (913) 532-5776 Mon-Fri 7:30-12:00 and
1:00-4:30.  We'll anxiously await your response.  Troy Lynn and family
(Prissy, Teddy Bear, Vixen, Whitney, Honey, Ferry, Abby, Sabie, Poto,
Zipper, Gizzie, Willow, Deno, Coco Puffs, Bud and Marley [ferrets] and
Sunny, Sheena and Monty [dogs]).
 
1994 Compendium Info
The 94 compendium does not say anywhere that ferrets should be killed!
The Compendium of Animal Rabies Control, 1994 Part III Section 6 -
Management of Animals That Bite Humans recommends "Management of animals
other than dogs and cats depends on THE SPECIES, THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE
BITE, AND THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF RABIES IN THE AREA   and   Section 5
Postexposure Management (c) Other Animals - ... SUCH ANIMALS CURRENTLY
VACCINATED WITH A VACCINE APPROVED BY USDA FOR THAT SPECIES MAY BE
REVACCINATED AND PLACED IN STRICT ISOLATION FOR AT LEAST 90 DAYS.
These recommendations are in the CURRENT Compendium.  Perhaps Michigan
is using an outdated version that did recommend ferrets be killed and
tested but that is no longer included.
Paul - Someone will need to see the compendium MDPH is using and send
them a current version.  This is exactly what happened in Kansas - KDHE
is using "1991" recommendations and has continued to do so.  If the State
Health Depts are using "CURRENT" version - we wouldn't have all these
ferret deaths.   Also for Kansas stats - Between 1983-1993 103 ferrets
were killed and tested, all proved negative!!!!  In the history of
Kansas records 161 ferrets were killed and tested and all but 1 tested
negative.  Between 1983-1993 40 cats and 15 dogs out of thousands tested
proved positive.  If you need the documents send me your address and I'll
mail them.  Let me know what I can do to help.  Ever read "The Natural
History of Rabies, 2nd Edition"?  Talk about a horror story - don't read
it right before bedtime!  I haven't finished yet (600+ pgs) but so far
there are no references to ferrets - if rabies was a problem in ferrets
(which we all know it isn't) it would be in the book.
Troy Lynn
 
[Posted in FML issue 0827]