In countering the negativity against ferrets as biters, let's suggest
people consider the statistics on animal bites and parental supervision
of pets and children. I'll use dog bites statistics for an example as
they come up more often than others, but a web search can reveal other
types of companion animal bites.

Anyone is welcome to use the following as they deem fit.

http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html
A CDC survey reported 4.7 million dog bites in the US each year.

<http://blog.dogsbite.org/2011/01/2010-us-dog-bite-fatality-statistics.html>
In 2010 there were 33 fatal dog bites with 61% being children 11 years
and younger.

http://www.dogsbite.org/bite-statistics-fatalities.htm
In 2009, 32 fatal dog bites, 20 being children. In 2008, 23 fatal dog
bites, 16 being children.

http://www.dogbiteclaim.com/statistics.shtml
A CDC study of fatal dog bites found 80% in 1995 and 1996 were children
under 12, including 3 infants under 30 days, all killed in their sleep
by the family dog.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5226a1.htm
In 2001, an estimated 368,245 people were treated for dog bites,
highest rate for children aged 5-9 yrs with 45.3% of injuries occuring
to the arm and hand.

There are many families with ferrets and children that do not have
biting issues, just as there are with dogs and other companion animals.
It is not typical for this type of situation to occur with ferrets.

If the ferret was starving and the baby had formula or food on it's
hands and when the baby started crying and flailing that may have
caused the ferret to react in a non-typical manner. This incident
leaves many unanswered questions. Where were the parents that it took
so long to intervene and why was the ferret out of it's cage in the
first place when the baby was on the floor and the parents were said
to be sleeping?

It seems to be a heartbreaking case of parental neglect to both the
child and the ferret, combined with ignorance and whatever else caused
the delay in time to intervene.

tle
www.ferretfamilyservices.org

[Posted in FML 6943]