We read a little blurb in the USA Today on Wednesday which mentioned that a
supermodel had written an angry letter to Governor Paris Glendening of
Maryland requesting that the Governor help to shut down a mink & ferret farm
operating at the Eastern Shore.  PETA had released information that said this
owner was euthanizing (sp?) animals by injecting the animals with weed killer.
 
  After some investigation we discovered that the situation has escalated so
quickly that by the time you read this it could get really ugly.  Apparently
not only does PETA want to shut down the operation, but the State Dept.  of
Health Veterinarian is waiting in the wings probably wanting to kill the
animals anyway to test them for rabies.
 
  We are open to suggestions as to any ideas.  We have talked with several
concerned ferret groups so far.  Right now we have talked to the concerned
county and we're trying to figure out what could be done with the animals
if the ranch is shut down.  There are probably in excess of 2,000 ferrets
(not including probable kits) and an unknown number of minks!  These
animals would necessarily be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days against
the slim possibility of rabies and also they should be tested (at least
randomly) for Alution (sp) disease which is highly contagious to both
ferrets and mink.  If a solution is found then we will need to get the word
out about ferret adoptions (for probably the cost of neutering or spaying).
 
   Any suggestions are welcomed and highly encouraged since we don't really
know what's going to happen.  Unfortunately there is a real possibility that
the state of Maryland will get a hold of them and not let them go.  Another
idea is that if Maryland does opt to kill them under the guise of testing for
rabies then we should make them test each and every ferret and prove any
positive results they might get.
 
  Calls and e-mail are welcomed.
 
   bill & diane killian
    zen and the art of ferrets
    (703) 590-3473
[Posted in FML issue 1199]