Hello, all,
 
I know I've mentioned this before, but it is something which can't be taken
lightly.  Until the shedding time studies are done we can't count on the
fact that there is an approved and effective rabies vaccine (IMRAB) carrying
the same weight for ferrets as it does for dogs and cats.  Shedding time is
part of the rabies puzzle for any mammal species and can't be ignored.
There are now SEVERAL proposals before the Morris Animal Foundation ready to
address this but the foundation does not have as much in its ferret shedding
period coffers as it needs for even one study since donors to the ferret
funds have preferred putting the cash into cancer, pregnancy, and other
non-shedding period studies and the foundation is VERY careful to follow
donors' wishes.  Donations to change this should be marked for use
specifically on ferret shedding period studies and sent to: Morris Animal
Foundation, 45 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, CO 80112-5480.  The
proposals are carefully reviewed by other researchers so that any given
fund's money tends to go wherever it will be most effective.  Our only
connection to them is that we are regular donors.  Once this is done it
should make the picture complete for states and communities which are being
so hard on ferrets because they will have that, the reality of IMRAB, and
the hard data from reliable sources on bite stats vs.  those of cats and
dogs.  Bigoted jerks won't listen (an example is the grouping in California
which should have a state taxpayers' suit brought against them and well
publicized for misuse of state funds in the mis-leading propaganda they send
out of state -- it would at least reduce the scope of their damage and would
make them more questioned within the state) but most people in the world
aren't jerks.
 
Pam, in general we are so impressed with your new owner FAQ that if you give
the okay and if Chris or others do not know of any legal reason not to do so
we would like to give copies to local pet shops and vets for ferret owners.
I'd like to make one addition to it which we DO consider important, though.
In over 11 years of ferret ownership we have regularly been praised as
having the best behaved ones any vet has seen and we believe this is because
we use praise and strong positive reinforcement of good behaviors combined
with distraction from bad behaviors (and sometimes caging and ignoring the
miscreant) much more than we use discipline.  Ferrets can get stubborn --
and you know that study which showed the average U.S.  parent criticizes a
child 10 times for each time praised -- should those numbers hold for
ferrets then they may be asking for bad behavior.  (This, BTW, has not led
to our ferrets disliking their cage; they see it much as a kid sees his or
her room.  In fact, recently we played a CD with wolf sounds and Meltdown
immediately sheparded the others into the most private reaches of their cage
and then stood guard at the door.  They also go back in themselves most of
the time when they are tired from playing.)
 
The Newark Humane Society deserves a special word about its good work.  They
recently got in some 2 year old females for adoption.  We felt that we just
can't handle 6, 7, or 8 and give them the attention they need, to some
extent because our retarded and handicapped one doesn't get along with the
others and has special health needs, so we sent a contribution to help with
the care of the lassies.  There are several applicants and each application
is being carefully studied and the home and care reviewed to make sure that
the furries have safe and happy homes.  Meanwhile, they have been fostered
with an animal care worker who is treating them wonderfully.
 
BTW, did you know that Longtail, the Kansan ferret, is three legged?  The
McDowells not only took in two ferrets needing love, but they took in two
amputees (Shortail is missing its tail).  Kansas came down very far in my
estimation as a state -- I HAD highly respected it -- with the government's
treatment of that family and their critters.  Do you also realize that the
family offered to pay for extended sheltering and testing (shy of death unless
rabies showed up in saliva, glands, or other tissues/liquids beforehand).  As a
cop Mike McDowell has devoted himself to the welfare of others and he had no
intention of not doing so in this case -- he just wanted to find a
scientifically logical compromise which would save the ferret should it not
be ill.  Like anyone else he knows that if one of their animals did ever get
rabies then putting it down would not only be best for others but also for
the critter itself.  I hope the PBA can help him out in reference to his job
since all evidence that I have heard implies that state laws are being
seriously violated.  If a rabies shedding period study had already been done
already the state would have no leg to stand on if it tried to refuse the
isolation and testing option.
 
I have heard many rumors of a European study, but know no specifics as to who
did it or where it was published.  Our "wildlife" folks in N.J. have been very
good about ferrets over the last 11+ years and if such a study has been done
they want a copy to further help the case of ferrets whenever jerks get on their
case and try to impose further restrictions.
 
Laura, Efa-Z can help with dry skin as can a bit of saturated fat.   Ask your
vet if it is appropriate in this case.
 
Anon, In N.Y. state a number of years ago I lived in an area where a vet went
crazy, picked up a small dog he had been examining, and dashed it into the wall
killing it in front of its owner.  She called the local ASPCA or Humane Society,
both of which keep funds for bringing animal abuse charges against such
individuals.  He was splashed all over the papers and lost his practise.  As I
recall he also met with a hefty fine but I don't remember if he had to also
serve jail time.
 
John,  As readers know our ferrets enjoy massages with their little vibrator.
Spot likes his stomach done but if he shifts and it touches his penis he
immediately pees ( of course, he's also a bit loose in the bladder whenever he's
overjoyed, is our Spot).  Many power supplies are warm, hum, and vibrate.
Perhaps that got to Cassidy.
 
Here are two Spotty stories:  you know by now that Spot loves his
"ferret-mousie", a toy Black Footed Ferret, and will drag it into the bedroom
and dock it in the garbage can there.  Well, now that we have cold weather it no
longer goes into the can.  Instead he carefully tucks it in the covers which
hang from our bed.  The other day he'd had his quotient of raisins so out he
brought the f-m, and carefully leading it before me (with many glances back to
be sure I was following) he took it to the doorway of the kitchen and carefully
arranged it until it was pointing toward the cabinet with the raisins.   (When
you were tiny did any of you say, "I'm all full, Mommy, but Teddy Bear wants
some cookies."?
 
     Our best to all, Sukie, Steve, Meltdown  (Path Valley), Ruffle (possibly
PV), 'Chopper the ferret helicopter (breeder unknown), Spot (Marshall) and
Meeteetse (Marshall)  -- The last two of whom are extremely robust and want to
know why some people get upset if kits hold their deciduous canines a while
during the time when the adult teeth come out since that's perfectly normal for
any mammal and a number of the humans here probably also did the same.
 
[Posted in FML issue 0700]