BETTER LATE THAN NEVER - THE 1995 HSUS ANIMAL CARE EXPO - by Pam Grant, STAR*
Ferrets
 
Place:   Orlando, Florida
Date:   March 30- April 1, 1995
 
 the greatest thing about trade shows is the networking,  What better
opportunity to educate animal care and control people about ferrets that at
an expo?  For the third year, ferret owners and shelter operators manned a
double sized booth sponsored by FFIRC Disaster Response Internationals and
Shelters That Adopt & Rescue Ferrets (STAR*).
 
 Ferret people passed out STAR*'s ferret resource list (about 450 copies),
literature about ferret care and history from clubs across the United States,
and FFIRC put together bags of information about disaster preparedness which
were handed out at the booth as well as at one of the seminars.  I'd like to
thank Jodi & Steve Schroth (PA), John Grant (VA), Bill Gruber (NY), Ronnie
(FFZ), Debbie Coburn (FL), Ava & Aaron McDannell (VA), Steve Boyce and
Barbara Zingg (FL), Margaret and her guide dog Vanilla (FL - who got a lot of
people to stop and say hello, being the only four legged participant at the
expo),and a guest appearance by Deborah Jeans (FL), for helping out.
 
 I'd like to share several high and low points, so those who would like to
help us next year in Las Vegas, NV might get motivated:
 
High point #1:  People who attend the expo wear easy-to-read name tags which
also state who they are with and where they are from.  STAR* targets tags
with CA, MA, GA, SC, MI, NH, DC and home states of present booth volunteers
to make sure we don't miss an old or present FFZ or personal networking
opportunity.  The Michigan people in animal control and shelter situations
were STARVING for accurate ferret information and absolutely delightful to
talk with.
 
 I had one long conversation with an Animal Control officer and two shelter
workers from MI.  I explained that things would get better after the novelty
phase wore off, offered them mounds of ferret literature in triplicate for
them to take home, and pointed out contacts on the STAR* list for help and
follow-ups.  I was informed that they had their first ferret bite just
reported and I urged them to quarantine the animal if it had its rabies shot
(which it should have dad, otherwise it was in violation to the new state law).
 
Low point #1 (and really the only sad incident):  Jodi approached a SC tag
wearer and offered her information and the listing of ferret contacts.  The
woman went off, "Ferrets are wild animals and not suitable as pets.  We have
them euthanized as soon as they come into our facility."  I overheard the
outburst and offered her the domestication literature and she thrust the
STAR* listing back at Jodi, refused any handouts or to talk further, and
stormed off.  A male in our group offered to follow her tot he parking lot
and break her legs, but we took this demonstration of ignorance as a lesson
in how to pity closed minds.  By the way, we did pass out a lot of
information to other SC people, some of which had heard of Katie Sweeney, one
of the people on the listing.
 
High point #2 & #3:  Our booths were located across front he Fund for Animals
(NY) and the American Humane Association  (CO).  both groups couldn't help
but notice the amount of traffic in and out of our display, the
professionalism of our "staff" and the goodies we had to offer - for FREE.  I
had a discussion with the Fund person about the "legalization efforts" in NY,
and though she personally was against ferrets as pets (because we don't need
any more pets), I must have presented a fair argument/discussion because she
ASKED for material to take back and "saw" my side of the issue.
 
 The AHA has updated their rabies literature to state that the only animals
the vaccine is effective in are dogs, cats, and ferrets (copy of pamphlet
will be featured in an upcoming issue of STAR* Ferrets).  AHA personnel
visited our booth, specifically requesting information for their files and
out list of contacts.  Steve Schroth was sent out with a stack of listings
and instructed to pass them out to all pertinent booths.
 
Delayed high point #4:  a few weeks later, STAR* received a letter from the
Network of Humane Organizations of Florida, Inc. (NOHO) (which we promptly
copied and sent to all FL contacts).  they are letting their members know
about ferrets, STAR* and the resources/contacts available in Florida.
 
 So, as you can see, the good reasons for coming far outweigh the bad, and
the people who need to hear from us most need to KEEP hearing from us.  This
will be especially true in 1996 when the Expo will be filled with California
Animal Control, Rescue and Wildlife people.  If you would like to come to the
Expo in 1996, it will be at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV,
February 13-17.  The cost for the Trade Show, seminars, and at least one free
meal a day has been $18.00 for all the exhibit days (14th - 16th).  Not a bad
deal.  To get more information and on the mailing list for the HSUS Expo,
call/fax 619-488-5226 (a toll free number will appear later on).  We will
ask/remind you all later about volunteering at the ferret booth and how/where
to send materials.
[Posted in FML issue 1202]