to:    Chris VonSeggern <>
Subject: Public Health Vets' Statistics
 
>>However, I have to ask if anyone is writing to the Nat'l Association of
Public Health Veterinarians, which is where the article author apparently got
their statistics.  I'd be very curious to find out where this group is
getting their numbers.  Does anybody know where one can find out?<<
 
Chris,
 
Remember the old game, "telephone"?  Where one person whispered something to
another,and it was passed all around the room and we all laughed at what the
message had finally be rearranged to?  Well......
 
The Nat. Assoc. of State Public Health Vets (NASPHV) put out a "Statement on
Ferrets" on April 22, 1994.  This was a well written, three page letter with
references which, in short, asked for four things:
1) Develop public information on ferrets
2) widely publicize the risk that ferrets pose for inflicting injurious bites
to infants and small children,
3) conduct epidemiologic studies on ferret bites
4) establish the period of rabies shedding.
 
What has happened since then is local health offices, etc. are putting out
statements that ferrets are dangerous as pets to address item number two.
 Unfortunately, the first source the NASPHV listed, and got their
"statictics" from, is Dr. Constantine & Kizer's infamous 1988 California
report.
 
The major ferret clubs and associations have written rebuttal letters to the
NASPHV and state/local public health officials regarding the distortion of
singling out ferrets as the greatest health threat since the plague.  As
people read poor ferret articles int he papers, they should write to the
paper, but also ASK for the name/address of the persons the paper got their
information from since they were probably the public health people in their
town/state.  Then write those people about how wonderful ferrets are and that
if they have never experienced meeting a ferret in person, they should do
some research before reprinting/publishing a statement on ferrets from other
people who have no personal experiance with ferrets.
 
For those people who feel left out by not having someone to write to,
call/write your public health officials and ask them what their policy on
ferrets is - with or without a bite incident.  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Try to educate before it becomes an issue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Pam Grant
Shelters That Adopt & Rescue Ferrets
[Posted in FML issue 1125]