Your father can actually give the cops a copy of the Compendium of
Animal Rabies Control which you can get through the CDC or through
the AVMA:
 
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/Professional/Compendium/compen98.htm
(apparently the 1998 version from the address -- they tend to not have a
lot of money for web updates and often are late for that reason)
     or
http://www.avma.org/pubhlth/rabcont.html
(year 2000 version)
 
and if he wants more rabies info which is also accurate he can contact
the CDC or your State Public Health Vet who will usually have advanced
degrees in both vet med and epidemiology (and is usually at the Health
Dept.  though states vary so may be elsewhere) for even more info if
needed.  Ferrets typically don't live even the 10 days of quarantine;
rabies is just too physically hard on their little brains for survival.
[Posted in FML issue 2978]