First, N.J. requires a permit which in most cases costs $10 per year per
home; just ask Fish, Game & Wildlife, non-game division.  (Yes, I know about
the ancient aspect of part of the enclosure -- that will eventually wind up
changed, but was stuck there in an awkward situation at one point.  It may
already be gone -- didn't have time to review recently.)
 
Second, several years back during another misinformation scare (such as has
been documented here arising from people who scream out without getting the
Kodo facts) a legislator tried to get ferrets outlawed based upon zilch.
Several calls were made by a number of people and --Guess what?  -- it
turned out that at least one state politician has an extended family ferret!
That included one very powerful one who then passed on actual, factual
information to the law's proponent and that effort was withdrawn with some
embarrassment on the proponent's part -- maybe he learned something about
getting facts.
 
Third, there also seem to be some of our beaurocrats (sp?) who have ferrets
in their families or extended families.
 
Fourth, for several years information on the vaccine and it's testing, then
on each part of the shedding studies and results have been passed on to a
person in F, G, and W who then passes on things to the Health Department,
AND the Health Department has some VERY logical folks who follow this on
their own.  This is why:
 
Fifth, N.J. is a case-by-case situation with folks UNofficially leaning
toward quarantine in many cases.  When there was a case a while back with
some kits accussed of biting the Health Department and F, G, and W
recommended quarantine and shots to the inquiring judge.  This first judge
then went in that direction, but the accussor (who afterward said he still
planned to visit breeders and look for ferrets of his own) refused to take
the shots and asked his lawyer to appeal.  The appeal judge forced the kits
to be killed -- and that situation seemed to be a combination of the judge
simply not understanding scientific data, and the loser who would not take
shots and also forced the destruction being -- well, I won't say it.  (I DO
hope he's learned since!)
 
Sixth, there is currently consideration going on in the Health Department
about when the department could officially support a quarantine time and
what aspects the situation would have to fit to qualify.  These individuals
are CRITICAL FOR BOTH INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE so they must be treated
politely and factually!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Seventh, information is continuing to be passed along as received.
 
Eighth, the ferret people involved so far are keeping their names OUT of
this and working THROUGH THEIR CONTACTS because sometimes it's MUCH better
to let the pros at schmoozing schmooze, and let THEM get any credit because
that's a good carrot.
[Posted in FML issue 1973]