[Moderator's note: This is an updated list of contacts in the government
and media who you may wish to write or call about Kodo. There have been
many corrections made and not all addresses have previously appeared on
the FML. BIG]
Here is a list of contacts for the media and government. We urge you to act
now to save Kodo and get Bob Jacobs his day in court. We are convinced that
public pressure is what is helping keep this sweet ferret alive. The next
piece of mail may be the one that sets Kodo free. In all likelihood, as in
many political actions, the opposition is hoping that people will grow
weary, run out of money and go away. We must not let this happen to Kodo,
or to Bob Jacobs and Kathy Zimmer. We are the ones who must act now to keep
the light of the world shining on Michigan. Please don't let up - even for
a day. Paula ([log in to unmask]) and Beth ([log in to unmask])
KODO'S KONTACTS
For government officials and legislators, personal contact is best, by phone
or regular U.S. mail. Most officials at least keep tallies of phone calls
on important issues - without indicating where a caller resides. Regular
mail has to be opened & handled by a person, so you know the message was at
least received. Faxes are a close third, since they, too, must be
physically handled. E-mail is next - many legislators and civil servants
don't read it, but if e-mail is what you can manage - please do send it -
the quantity of our e-mail was impressive enough to have done some good at
the beginning of this effort.
What this is leading to, of course, is a request not only for e-mails, but
for mailed letters, personal phone calls & faxes. Go the extra mile for
Kodo and for your ferrets. Take the time, spend the Sprint dime, give it a
shot. Use some of your Sunday (and Monday and...) to save a ferret that
could be yours.
Given the urgency as of May 18, it may even be best to e-mail, followed up
with faxes and letters. (And calls.) But the bottom line is whether you
contact one person or 50, and whichever method you use, you're helping.
Every contact counts.
Express support for quarantine for Kodo, not execution. Assume these folks
may not care, but could be swayed by details and facts and, of course,
votes. Letters that appeal more to the emotions are fine too. Please be
factual and calm. Hysteria or foul language will not convince or impress
anyone. Sample questions and points to make follow at the bottom of this
document.
An e-mail addressed to a single official may be preferable to one addressed
to dozens, but again, whatever you do matters
Flier - On Kodo's web site is a link to a flier that can be used to inform
people and solicit donations. You can print it out and copy it. Leave
quantities at work, school, your vet's office, church - anywhere you can
think of where people congregate. Send it to others to do the same. (See
below under MEDIA for more info re Kodo's web site.)
If you want a hard-copy contact list to distribute to people want to help
but who are not on-line, and you are not able to print it out or copy it for
them, e-mail Beth at [log in to unmask], or Susie at [log in to unmask] and give
us the details.
GOVERNMENT
Attorney General Frank J. Kelly
Phone: (517) 373-1110 - general number only
Fax: (517) 373-3042
E-mail: none
Address: P.O. Box 30312, Lansing, MI 48909
Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Public Health Division
Robert J. Taube
Phone: (517) 373-3488
Address: Assume the same as above
Court of Appeals
No fax or e-mail - only interdepartmental mail
Address: P.O. Box 30022, Lansing, MI 48909
Docket #: 203072
In all probability, judges will not (can not) look at our letters, but they
may find out anyway how strong public sentiment is.
Governor John Engler Send him a fax or at least an e-mail and call every
day!
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Phone: (517) 335-7858 or (517) 373-3400
Fax: (517) 335-6863
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Web site address: http://www.migov.state.mi.us
Senator Dingell - He is pro-ferret and has taken some steps - now that this
is at the state level, perhaps he can do even more.
e-mail [log in to unmask]
(517) 373-7800 phone, (517) 373-9310 fax
These are not all of the representatives. For an excellent, easy-to-use
list of representatives' names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail
addresses, with links to their e-mail addresses, go to:
http://www.house.state.mi.us/replist.html
For other government officials (e.g., senators), links to contacts and an
e-mail link to the governor, go to http://www.migov.state.mi.us
If you live in MI, visit your representatives right away!
Mike Chaddock, MI State Vet
Phone: (517) 373-1077
Freeman Hayes, Asst. State Vet
Phone: (906) 786-5462
Chief Dept. of Public Health State of MI (anti-ferret)
Dr. Mary Strobierski
Phone: (517) 335-8174
Chief Medical Officer for the Community Public Health Agency
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
AT Frank (Pro-Ferret!)
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Phone: (517) 373-1797
Howard Wetters
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Phone: (517) 373-0158
James Haveman, MI Dept of Community Health
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
He is the boss of the doctor with an historical anti-ferret bias who is in
charge in Bay County.
(The above list is not all inclusive. With this nightmarish situation
happening so quickly, and with only 24 hours in a day, I'm sure we have left
out some good, ethical friends in the legislature. We will do our best to
update as time permits. Please accept our apologies for not acknowledging
or including everyone we should.)
MEDIA
If you haven't seen them, here are two web pages to visit. You can also
include them in your letters and mention them in your calls to media.
Kodo's web site http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6560
WNEM TV (a link is on Kodo's web site) http://www.wnem.com/index.htm
In AOL, information is provided on the Legalizing Ferrets board in Pet Forum.
The web sites can be sent as links in your e-mails. If you do not know how
to do this, ask your service provider. If you have AOL, you can also
contact Beth (MiskaBC) or Susie (SusieColl). If you do include a link,
please type out the site address anyway, in case the link doesn't work.
WNEM TV, Saginaw - providing great coverage - highlighting Kodo on their web
page and TV! Paul Newton is the reporter. Thank them and ask them to
continue the coverage.
Phone: (517) 758-2030
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://WNEM.COM
Bay City Times - great friend - On Kodo's web site, read articles and an
editorial closing with "We say let the little weasel live." Frank C. Lee has
done most of the reporting. Thank him and ask him to continue the super and
needed coverage.
Phone: (517) 895-8551
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Rosie O'Donnell - Phone: (212) 506-3200
Regis & Kathy Lee - Fax: (800) 330-1106
Good Morning America (Charlie Gibson) - E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Delta College Public TV & Radio - E-mail: [log in to unmask]
You can send e-mail to lots of media contacts (or anyone) at one time by
highlighting the e-mail addresses below and pasting them in the "To" box of
your e-mail. E-mail addresses just need to be separated by a comma and a
space. Here's a whole clump of media e-mail addresses.
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], hkurtz!aol.com,
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask], newswfmj.com, [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask],[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask] nbc, [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], pet [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
A link to all major newspapers, TV and radio stations:
http://www.newslink.org/news
A few of their listings:
ABC: http://abctelevision.com/voice/talk
CBS: http://www.cbs.com/email
CNN: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/
CNN: 10 p.m. newschat http://cnnplus.cnn.com/community/message
FOX: http://www.foxnews.com/comments/
NBC: email list http:www.nbc.com/mail
Find your local newspapers, TV and radio stations - they don't have to be in
MI. Call them and ask for a story.
Funds are needed to pay for travel & other expenses for expert witnesses and
for the attorney defending Kodo. Checks should be sent to:
Gloria Davis
Treasurer, Great Lakes Ferret Association
27654 Southpointe
Grosse Ile, Michigan 48138
ATTN: GLFA/LAF
Please make checks payable to GLFA/LAF; they'll be allocated to the Legal
Action Fund.
Credit card donations can be called in to Robert Jacobs at (517) 777-4807.
For added information which may be useful for putting together your letters,
e-mails, etc., there is a detailed article on rabies which includes
information about the effectiveness of the ferret vaccine.
www.blarg.net/~critter/articles/health/rabies_1.html
These contacts were compiled and consolidated by a variety of people,
including Gloria Davis (Great Lakes Ferret Assoc.), Paula Bryder
([log in to unmask]), Fran (PLUMDUTR), Susie (SusieColl), Jackie (LotaWeasel)
and others.
SOME POSSIBLE POINTS TO MAKE AND QUESTIONS TO ASK (not at all conclusive -
just a starting point)
--Every year the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Compendium is released
with changes and up-to-date information on their rabies guidelines. Why
does the state attorney general say that only the 1992 Compendium applies?
That version is not only outdated but contains incorrect information that
was changed in 1993. Ferrets were not even legalized in Michigan at that
time. Strange how the Attorney General chose the 1992 Compendium to be used
in this case, isn't it? By the way, the law does not state that MI will use
1992 guidelines.
--Bay County Animal Control and the County Attorney dropped the case and the
Attorney General stepped in one day before the hearing. Why? Is it because
Mr. Jacob's attorney has supplied enough current data to establish that Kodo
is not a rabies risk? Is it because outstanding expert witnesses from
around the country were flying into Michigan the very next day?
--Please explain this kind of justice to the 12 year old who donated his
savings to save Kodo, the 9 year old who sent the savings from her allowance
to help pay for Kodo's legal defense, and the first grade class in Alabama
who wrote letters begging for Kodo's life to be saved. "Please help this
sweet ferret," "We love Kodo" and "Care for this ferret? Feed this ferret?"
their letters read, complete with the misspellings and backwards letters of
little children. They love ferrets, thanks to Jessi, their teacher. What
are we teaching these children by killing this little animal?
--We plead with you to intercede in the Kodo case before it is too late for
this little pet. This should not be about politics, or saving face. This
is a beloved pet of two adults and two small children, who was vaccinated in
accordance with Michigan state law, and is only 11 months old. Bewildered,
he sits and waits in a cage, not knowing why he was abandoned, without his
family, without other ferrets, without even a toy to play with. Someday,
someone will come and open his cage door and finally pick him up. He will
be so happy! But will the hands that pick him up return him to his waiting
family? Or hold him down to kill him? In your position, you can influence
the outcome. Please find it in your heart and conscience to do so.
Some Questions
How many ferrets has MI killed since they've become legal in MI in 1994?
Answer: More than 200
How many of those ferrets that were killed since they've become legal had
rabies?
Answer: None
Has there ever been a transmission of rabies from a ferret to a human?
Answer: No
How many ferrets in the entire US have been found with rabies since 1958
when the CDC first began keeping records?
Answer: Approximately 25
Is there any evidence that would show that a 10 day quarantine would not
completely protect the public health?
Answer: No, the maximum time found between the beginning of viral shedding
and outset of symptoms is 3 days.
Has there ever been a ferret found with rabies that had been vaccinated?
Answer: No
Why, then, do you consider this ferret a risk?
Answer: [there is no answer.]
If you kill Kodo, why does MI law require ferrets to be vaccinated against
rabies?
Answer: [there is no answer]
Don't the public officials have better things to do with their time and
taxpayers' money?
Answer: [there is no answer]
So in other words, by nationally accepted standards, Kodo presents no health
risk, is vaccinated, and has been quarantined for some weeks now? Could it
be that the state and county have backed themselves into a corner, and
believe that they cannot afford to save this beloved animal's life or they
will lose face? Is this simply political?
Answer: [decide for yourself]
Why don't the public officials understand the difference between incubating
and shedding the rabies virus? It's fundamental to any decision that should
be made.
Answer: [They are not rabies experts and have not educated themselves, in
spite of voluminous material sent to them.]
Why are officials ignoring the facts?
Answer: [See above]
(Thanks to Troy Lynn Eckert and Dick Bossart, for providing some of the
questions and points.)
[Posted in FML issue 1940]
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