Just wanted to post what I wrote to Engler and others re Kodo...hope it will
help...GET INVOLVED!!!!
 
>Michael R. Butz                    9 June 1997
>
>Dear Gov. Engler:
>
>I write to urge you, as strongly as possible, to get your office, and the
>power that comes with it, into the struggle to free Kodo, an innocent animal
>who is healthy and has done nothing wrong.  By this point I am sure you are
>sick of receiving correspondence from so many, in state and out of state, on
>this subject...get used to it!  We are not going to just sit back and allow
>the State of Michigan to murder an animal for reasons such as those put
>forward by the officials.  Kodo has shown NO signs of rabies.  Kodo was
>vaccinated against rabies.  The gentleman with whom Kodo came into contact
>has shown no signs of rabies.  Kodo is a beloved pet, and has given no
>reason for this death sentence.
>
>I am a ferret owner myself, and live in Chicago.  Choose to ignore my
>thoughts if you wish, however you cannot ignore the fact that you have the
>power to stop this execution...if you can commute the sentence of a guilty
>human being you KNOW that you have the power to commute the obviously unjust
>sentence for a small, loving and intelligent pet animal.  I have trouble
>believing what is taking place in your state, however it appears that this
>issue will not be resolved by the hands of justice.  You must intercede.
>
>Ferrets are a wonderful species of animal.  They are very smart, extremely
>playful, and quite loving.  They live for about ten years and in that time
>the bond that develops between owner and pet is just as strong as that which
>would develop between a dog, or cat and their owner.  They are not low
>intelligence animals...they have personality and are unique from one
>another.  They provide not only companionship, but love, amusement, and joy
>to those that care for them.  They are not malicious creatures...if treated
>correctly (as with any animal) they are calm and peaceful animals who would
>never bite without provocation.  Whether you like ferrets, don't like them,
>or have no opinion, surely you have been a pet owner at some point in your
>life.  Surely you have pets for your children.  Imagine having a huge
>governmental authority forcefully remove them from your childrens' hands and
>place them into a cold cage...away from the affection that they need.  Then
>imagine that this authority refuses you access to your pet, and later tells
>you they will have to kill it; even though it had been vaccinated, even
>though this would NEVER happen to a cat or dog under the same circumstances,
>even though there are absolutely no wounds or marks on the ferret body to
>indicate a bite from another animal, even though thirty days had passed with
>no outbreak.  CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW ANGRY AND UPSET YOU WOULD BE?
>
>In short, I urge you to GET INVOLVED in this issue.  You owe it to the
>people of your state, and now whether you like it or not, you owe it to all
>pet owners in the United States.  You have the power to save Kodo from
>DEATH...please use it.  Your common sense and your heart should easily
>direct you.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Michael R. Butz
[Posted in FML issue 1962]