This may surprise some of you but there already IS a law in place to protect
ferrets in Michigan.  That law is known as the "ferret bill" and stipulates
the use of risk assessment for bite and scratch incidents involving ferrets.
That is what we were fighting in court (until we got trapped into the issues
of quarantines and shedding studies) and that is also what 1 appellate judge
and 2 supreme court judges clearly understood and supported us!  The problem
is that Dr. Mary Grace Stobierski who sets the policy in Michigan for rabies
procedure refuses to obey the law!  We have at least 3 more bills in stages
of development.  If Dr. Stobierski refuses to obey one law and can get away
with it, does anyone really believe that another law is the answer?
 
I STRONGLY believe that there are two tactics that we should employ:
1. Involve an investigative reporter on a national level to uncover all of
   the dirt here. AND
2. Remove Stobierski by writing letters to James K. Haveman, Governor
    Engler, the media, or anybody that could influence the decision.  If we
    show her boss, Haveman, how she has embarrassed Michigan enough times he
    may get the point.
 
Here is a copy of one of my letters:
 
Dear Mr. Haveman,
 
I have some very serious questions that I would like you to consider:
 
1. Why does Michigan allow Mary Grace Stobierski to disregard the law with
respect to her policy involving only one species of animal, the domestic
ferret?  The law requires that a risk assessment be performed in any bite or
scratch incident.  Please keep in mind that in both the appellate court as
well as the Supreme Court rulings, there were judges with strongly
dissenting opinions.
 
2. Based upon the testimony of Mary Grace Stobierski, what possible
connection do any rabies shedding study results have with her blatant
disregard for the law regarding a risk assessment?  The unqualified killing
of EVERY ferret involved in a bite or scratch "because the ferret lived in
the State of Michigan" is not a risk assessment - it is risk avoidance.  She
has created a huge emotional burden for ferret owners.  Why is she so
inconsistant in her application of policies involving rabies (horses, guinea
pigs, cows, ENDANGERED ZOO OTTERS are not killed - yet there are no study
data to support this type of action.  There is much more data than exists
for dogs and cats to support the FACT that rabies transmittal from the
domestic ferret is LESS of a threat to human health than rabies transmittal
from dogs or cats)?  How can she set an arbitrary 6 month quarantine period
for the otters at the Detroit Zoo (that bit the child) with no supportive
data?
 
3. How can Michigan tolerate Dr. Stobierski's disregard for the public's
money, property, and safety?  Her "Kill them all" policy has wasted taxpayer
money as well as MDCH resources.  All of her ferret rabies tests since the
legalization of ferrets in Michigan have resulted in NEGATIVE results.  She
has put the public in jeopardy by her acceptance (in court) of Bay county's
adoption policy for dogs which places potentially RABID animals (with no
vaccination history) into the hands of the general public.  Her disdain of
ferrets has significantly clouded her judgment.  She is a serious threat to
the well being of taxpayers in this state.
 
4. Why does Mary Grace Stobierski refuse to acknowledge the role of the
Department of Agriculture (documented in court transcripts) with regard to
the mandate of yearly rabies vaccinations for ferrets?  Her refusal to
consider vaccination history (with a vaccine that is MORE effective in
ferrets than dogs) violates the law regarding risk assessment.  If Mary
Stobierski does not recognize the effectiveness or does not apply it to a
risk assessment, then what is the purpose of mandating the vaccinations?
They are expensive and place the animal at risk of allergic reactions.
Again she shows no regard for the taxpayers which she is supposed to serve.
 
Mary Stobierski publicly threatened to implement a reign of terror if
ferrets were legalized.  She has lived up to her threat.  This will no
longer be tolerated.  As you may have observed, this matter has
international attention.  Domestic ferrets are the THIRD most popular pet
among VOTERS in the United States and most of those voters (there are some
that are not aware of the situation) are appalled by her behavior.  Please
take immediate action to remove her from her position in the Michigan
Department of Community Health.  She will continue to embarrass her
department, her colleagues, her superiors, her legislators and her State if
she is allowed to continue her personal vendetta against ferret owners.  Her
position requires rational, scientific, logical, decision making.  She has
proven many times in her treatment of ferret related matters that she is not
capable of that level of performance.
 
Respectfully,
David J. Les
[Posted in FML issue 1979]