House Bill 426, which will declare ferrets domestic animals, require rabies
vaccinations, and provide for a quarantine period for healthy, vaccinated
ferrets in bite cases, is scheduled for a vote in the Maryland House of
Representatives in the morning session TOMORROW, Wednesday, March 20.  The
morning session starts at 10:00 a.m.  Please call your state representatives
to express your support for the bill.  Diane Rogers, chair of the Maryland
Coalition for Rational Rabies Policies, said that phone calls can be made at
any time of the day or night, since the delegates have answering machines.
If you don't know your delegate's number, you can find out by calling the
Maryland State Legislative Services at 301-858-3810 or 410-841-3810.  You
can also call the Board of Elections in your county.  Delegates Weir,
Billing, and Davis voted against the bill in committee, so anyone in their
districts is advised to call and urge them to change their minds and support
the bill on the 20th.  Diane also recommends phone calls to Delegate Marsha
Perry's office.  Delegate Perry is the sponsor of the bill; it may help the
cause if she can announce the number of phone calls she has received in
support of the bill.  Her phone number is 410-841-3223.  Please take a few
minutes to support this important bill.
 
Clare & Bill Sebok
[Posted in FML issue 1513]