Hello, folks.  Having a background which includes some newspaper writing, a
weekly radio spot on a university station many years ago before I put myself
through college, luxury sales, and several successful years in public
relations/publicity ( and a wide spectrum of other stuff from prospecting to
wild animal handling, to rock concert mgmt, etc.  since I;m a confirmed
dilatant firmly into middle age) I sent out write-ups and fact sheets (about 2
weeks ago) to N.P.R., the major news magazines, CNN, C-Span, network national
news, local P.B.A., a major newspaper, and political figures whose knowledge
of the McDowell incident could pressure Dole into becoming involved enough to
reduce possible embarrassment within a comfortable margin before his next bid.
I avoided 'dirt rags' because they tend to generate a lot of heat without much
light -- something which could back-fire in a spectacularly horrid way.
 
So far only one has sent a rejection, so there is hope.  It would NOT hurt and
may HELP if others do similar approaches.  Phone calls have minimal impact,
especially if they are on 800 lines, but actual data, and a write-up of the
incidents (Be sure to include that you have not verified all of it unless you
have.) puts useful ammunition in their hands while giving them figures and
facts that can also help balance future news stories on ferrets.  (We need
more like Heidi Kemp's report for WWOR television news; it was beautifully
done, quite long, and exceedingly factual.) Be sure to say "thank you" for
going through the material right in your pages (most effective if used in
closing or a final paragraph or both) and send a thank you note if something
positive is done.  That word is a publicist's best tool.  I used a text
work-up.  Others may want to use the equally effective stand-by which has
lines reading: What, When, Where, Why, etc.  If you target a specific reporter
whose work has impressed you (or a specific researcher you know about) you'll
have a stronger hit rate.  Never rave, and don't give out ways to contact
those you have heard or seen rant and rave.  (For the most part I avoided
national leaders in my "Resources and Warm Visuals" section because too many
of them get a god complex, and I've run into one who I've caught somewhere on
the line of 4 times making-up "data" as well as bad-mouthing the net --
perhaps because several net members DID notice the same thing and other items.
You folks who have been on the list a number of years know who I mean.)
Leaders of local clubs come across as warmer, and often have just as much data
while knowing kissy-huggy ferrets for visuals which out-weigh the words of
ferret-haters and make them look like extremists.  Give hard figures and where
they are from (when you are verified your story gains weight in a producer's
mind as a possible line to follow) and since this one is not main stream it
will have a problem getting folks to identify with it so have less power to
attract producers so emphasize the "cop, every-day-Joe who has served his
community and is then shafted" aspect of the story as your draw.
 
Don't underestimate the power of your local PBA to ask the ones in Kansas why
they aren't holding up their end, or of politicians of both major parties who
may want to undermine a Dole bid in just a few years (This could set off
short-term alarms for politicians.), or who might consider it useful to their
own careers to warn Dole that the situation is a nation embarrassment (after
all, why else would their constituents know of it) and urge him to mediate.
 
EVERYONE I wrote got a fact sheet with info on comparative bite stats, rabies
stats, vaccines, the two European rabies shedding time studies, the drive by
the Morris Animal Foundation (for donations: specifically mention the ferret
rabies shedding time study -- or other ferret health studies if you prefer --
45 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, CO 80112-5480, or for charge card use
1-800-243-2345), resources for visuals and local clubs, experienced ferret
vets, etc.  Sources were listed.  Be friendly and grateful while also being
business-like and as concise as the facts allow.  NEVER be nasty or overly
aggressive.
 
Change of topic: The ferret release study has nothing to do with our pets.  It
refers to Black Footed Ferrets, of which 150 have been recently weaned in
Sybille's facility.  Other locations are now in breeding or approaching it, or
pre-weaning.  The largest problems so far seem to be to find why some
facilities have a high breeding failure rate and to find other wild
populations to widen the gene pool.  Re-intros have exceeded expectations.
 
We recently learned that Meeteetse may be hyper-thyroid (extreme heart rate
at vet's and often well above 300 at home when excited, becoming bug-eyed,
eats like a pig but is not drinking excessively -- yes, we know to watch for
diabetes, too, in her case--We just now left her lowest resting rate we
could get at home with his aids for Hanan's info -- it was 160/min.).  Bruce
and Susan, do you have any data on this?  Our vet is an experienced one who
did an exotics specialization and was with AMC before joining Basking Ridge
Animal Hospital here in N.J., and has read well on the problem, but hasn't
done one yet.  (Yes, we completely trust his judgement.  Among other things
he rescued Hjalmar when he was almost 8 and crashed a few days after R.
adrenal surgery by using Florinef till the left one decided to kick in.) We
are the sorts of folks who believe there's no such thing as too much hard
data if folks know how to assess
 
Both Ruffie (who went into anaphalatic shock) and Meltdown (who threw up) last
year with the early Fervac had precautionary antihistamine treatment and Fromm
with no bad effects.   Although Meltdown is 2 years older than Ruffle she has
far less arthritis, but then Meltie looks and acts like one a couple of years
younger than she is while Ruffie is an achondroplasic dwarf (You should see her
coat; it's more perfect and kit-like from the condition than one could possibly
imagine.), with asthma, and is retarded (reason unknown -- genetics since she
was an inbreeding experiment?, high fever at a young age like one U.F.O.'s
founder has?).   Each member of this 4 person practise was chosen for excellent
knowledge and skills which complement each other so that the practise itself is
even stronger than any of its  parts.  None of them have ego problems and all
are constantly working to interact with others and learn new things.  If you are
in this area we recommend them (1908-766-4211).
 
Anyway, I'm babbling and going into a stupid fever myself with a touch of a
virus so will FINALLY shut up and sign off.
 
From Weasel 1 -- Sukie, Steve, Meltie, Ruffle, 'Chopper the ferret
helicopter, Spot and Meeteetse
 
P.S. Hanan replied that we can live with 160, but she has to be weighed weekly
and we have to jump extra fast (like we do with Ruffie) if she gets sick.
Obviously, she'll be closely monitored; we usually manage to give our ferrets
almost 7 to 9 years (exception: a yearling lung lympho case, Helix) of happy
life and want to do our best for each so it's not pleasant knowing that two
have such problems.
 
[Posted in FML issue 0810]