To anyone concerned with the Kansas bite case:
 
I guess everyone knows that it didn't go well in Kansas today.  Just to
reference you-- a workman for Kansas power and light was nipped by a
ferret in the arms of a 13year old girl in her own home.  The ferret,
waiting in the car, was stolen and the owner, Rita McDowell doesn't know
where it is.  The man who was nipped took the precaution of getting a
tetanus shot -whence all the trouble -the doctors, etc.  He refuses to
press charges and refuses to take the shots.
 
Rita and her husband who is a county sheriff deputy (and not the owner
of the animal) were given a court order to produce her ferret by 3pm
tomorrow, Dec.  22, for testing or go to jail.  If sent to jail, Mr.
McDowell will most surely lose his job.  Their lawyer is back pedaling
and refuses to file an appeal.  The State has not produced the victim,
or proof of the bite, or even his name.  The judge found that ferrets
were WILD ANIMALS and that even if they had been given IMRAB that by
Kansas law, it didn't count for wild animals.  The court refused to read
any of the vast amount of documentation, including scientific studies,
that had been sent by the CDFA, FURO, AFA, LIFE, & STAR, and a personal
statement sent by Dr.  James Gaines, an authority on the subject.
 
One of their big points was that no expert witness was present to
testify to the fact that ferrets were domestic, no professional was
there to stand up for ferrets in court.
 
Troy Lynn Eckart of Ferret Family Services  in Manhattan who is supporting
Rita on this, works for Kansas State University, you know, the
university that is undertaking the rabies study and has sent flyers
around to everyone.
 
No one at Kansas State would come to the hearing to testify that ferrets
were domestic animals, even though they were asked.  They didn't want to
be involved.  For want of one voice, today's battle was lost.  Thank
you, Kansas State.
 
PS... Dr. F.A. Hoffman has offered to fly out at her own expense to be that
witness. I hope they will give her a chance to speak. Way to go, Freddie Ann!
 
If anyone out there knows any good lawyers in Kansas, please call Troy
Lynn at 913-532-6315-day, or 494-8415-at home.  Troy Lynn is also
establishing a defense fund, contact her.  Any help in any way will be
greatly recieved.
 
Ann Davis, League Of Independent Ferret Enthusiasts
 
[Posted in FML issue 0676]