Wolfy wrote:
>...I'd like to say that one of the single, largest reasons this is
>happening to so many people by the way, is all because of DELTA animal
>therapy services. They are the grandfather of most U.S. AAT groups and
>are the main model for those who are not affiliated with them. Other
>countries even look to them for their own standards. The problem? Not
>only does Delta not accept ferrets as AAT pets, but they use them as
>one of their prime examples of a "wild exotic animal" that is not
>allowed. I've been in contact with Delta a few times over the years
>ever since 1999 or 2000 (can't remember which). They will not budge
>on this subject. In fact, they've been very terse and abrupt with me
>no matter how I approach them. This last time I tried to plead with
>them to at least cease in disseminating false information about
>ferrets in that they are not wild but domestic. I politely asked them
>to take them off the wild animal list on their site....

Wolfy pointed out some problems currently facing those using Service
Ferrets but the problem gets WORSE than that. There are revisions to
the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) which would help people who
have disabilities in some ways but would greatly restrict the LEGAL
definition of service animal, even forbidding a number of animals which
CURRENTLY perform services (trained ones like monkeys like those who
help people who can't use their arms, or ones who just naturally begin
helping like the various ferrets who alert their people in time to take
meds and lie down to avoid seizures or be safe in case the meds don't
work).

The information we share can not only be used by lawyers tackling cases
to help people with needs, but if that info is shared and people send
it to their Senators and their Representatives in the House then we
might be be able to avoid a worse problem. If people also send it to
the insurers and places which help with service animals it might also
prevent a problem down the line.

Remember: ANYONE (you, your child, your spouse) may be in a car
accident, or be a pedestrian injured by a hit and run driver (the
situation for one person who uses seizure alert ferrets), be injured
in war, or contract Lyme, or have any number of things happen which
may place you in the position of needing this sort of animal help.

The allergy info and some other info has already been sent to the FML
moderator, Mr. Bill Gruber to be included in the FML OR made available
at a website, or both, and that info will be able to be shared to help
others.

There are very persistent behind the scenes people who are working to
undermine efforts to help people with disabilities in more than one
country right now. Some of them have a lot of money themselves so
figure they will be fine come what may and don't care about others'
basic needs -- just about their own convenience, in some cases even
these hateful people even have a Puritanical tendency to figure that
those with injuries must be getting divine retribution for something,
some of those jerks have a strong tendency to view people who have
disabilities as less human than themselves. (If there is a hell then
I hope there is a terrible level for such inconsiderate bigots.)

Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html

[Posted in FML 6057]