Re: How to get Humane Societies to release ferrets:
 
Fortunately, here in NH, we really didn't have much problem.  Having a state
license to operate a small animal rescue did help.  All we had to do was
give them a copy of the license, and our business card.  They call us when
they get a ferret in.
 
One approach would be to copy the Ferret FAQ on ferrets, and make sure that
the director and staff all get copies.  Offer to come in and give a lecture
on ferret care.
 
As far as rabies goes, they are being way out of line.  Do they kill all
stray dogs and cats too?  The incubation period of rabies in ferrets can be
as long as 3 months.  So far, shedding studies have been done on the
European vole strain (ferrets didn't asymptomatically shed the virus) -
"Adaptibility of two rabies virus strains isolated in Central Europe. . .,
Part IV Transmission Studies on ferrets with a rodent isolate"; 1978;
Forster; the European fox strain (ferrets did not shed the virus);
"Experimental Rabies in the Ferret";1982; Blancou; a US skunk strain
(ferrets did not asympotmatically shed the virus); "Rabies Pathogenesis in
the Domestic Ferret"; 1995; Niezgoda; and a yet to be released study on the
raccoon strain (ferrets shed the virus 2-3 days before becoming
sympotmatic).
 
All the studies so far show the ferret to be a minor risk for rabies,
certainly less than the dog or cat.
 
Dick B.
[Posted in FML issue 1797]