A quick P.S. to the last letter: I sent a pile of web resources to the
radio station the day that post came out using the letter below.  This is
how easy it is to get info out, so if I can do it so can anyone else:
 
Oh, my!  Since when did you ever work as bureaucrats' mouthpieces when
they aren't using the facts?  You know better.  Oh, well, we all slip
up at times; this was just your turn.
 
Here are the resources desired with actual facts about domestic ferrets.
They would permit you speak from a standpoint which has some oomph
behind it.
 
First of all go to http://www.avma.org and get through there to the
Compendium of Animal Rabies Control from the National Association of State
Public Health Veterinarians (or find the compendium in the first edition of
the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, JAVMA, each
year) .  Notice that ferrets in 1998 were included to be treated the same
as dogs and cats in questionable situations.  This is because extensive
testing was done through the CDC and major universities.  That work can be
confirmed with the project leaders if you want further confirmation and I
can help you on that score should you need.
 
Secondly, check with New York's state public health vet, Millie Eidson up
in Albany at the Health Dept.  Hey, don't stop there; check in New Jersey
and Connecticut with the state public health vets in charge of rabies
policy as long as you are at it, and cross reference with the Fish, Game
and Wildlife Depts when those hold the permit numbers.  Know what you'll
find?  You'll find the same thing that was found when Freddie Hoffman, a
pediatrician, did an in-depth article on bite rates for a major medical
journal: That ferret bites are rare per capita pet type compared with dogs,
and that serious bites are way more rare.  If you'd like to learn more
about the study contact the AFA at 1-888-FERRET1 or [log in to unmask]
 
Then contact the ASPCA, the Associated Humane Society in New Jersey, and
other major humane groups.  The most recent to stop opposing ferrets is
the USHS (though I don't know if all the employees know yet that they have
publicly announced this in their magazine -- hopefully they do).  The
ASPCA and others spoke out in ferrets' favor at the NYC Health Dept public
hearing.  Did the Health Dept happen to tell you that?  Do you really trust
folks who keep you out of the loop simply because they want to widen their
scope of power by taking some away from the City Council?
 
Know who else were at that meeting?  How about a number of ferret-expert
vets testifying in the ferrets' favor.  Right there in NYC you have one of
the world's top veterinary research and treatment facilities: the Animal
Medical Center in lower Manhattan.  Why not ask their exotics specialists
for info?
 
Want to know the natural history of ferrets?  There are multiple sites
of ferrets in art work since using ferrets to flush rabbits (not to kill
them -- that was left to humans and dogs) was common in the Middle Ages
and they made popular pets in the Renaissance (even for Elizabeth I).  One
example is http://www.tiac.net/users/drbeer/joyce/ferrets/frhistpg.htm .
Would you like to read about the history -- perhaps about Pliny mentioning
them since they were domestic pets used for mouse control back then just
like cats were?  Look into the Natural History segment of
http://www.ferretcentral.org
 
Can't let yourselves be misused as mouthpieces in someone's politic
plotting again.  Enjoy these data and then put them in a spin in thanks
for misusing you!
 
Glad to be able to do you the favor in this case -- knowing ferrets
personally and enjoying their cuddles and kisses for many years.
 
[P.S.]
Have been finding out from friends in many efforts what worked in their
locations, put it with what worked here when we had a challenge to ferrets,
and these were the upshots:
 
Someone in NYC needs to do some basic coordination so that folks will know
HOW they can help get the legislation passed.  A webpage would be
WONDERFUL!!!!  In fact, it would be PERFECT!!!!  Anyone willing to put
one up?  [Moderator's note: Lori has a good start -- see her post.  BIG]
 
Foremost: a list needs to be made of districts (including what locations
are in those districts for folks who don't know their district numbers and
councilmembers (plus councilmembers' addresses and phone numbers) offhand),
so that NYC people can access the webpage or list, or otherwise contact an
individual (or two) who can tell them immediately WHO their councilmember
is and how to make contact.  Then the voters in that district need to get
in touch with that councilmember and let the person know that they want the
legislation to legalize ferrets, proposed by Councilmember Kathryn Freed,
to be passed.
 
To help them do this in a constructive fashion it would be great to have
a small ferret FAQ handy; till that can be compiled it is possible to
refer people to sites such as
http://www.ferretcentral.org, http://www.ferret.org,
http://www.miamiferret.org, and http://www.ferretnews.org, etc.
 
The addresses of media for the area are the third step so that they can be
sent data and ferret-supportive letters.
 
Also, people should be encouraged to write letters of support to:
 
Councilmember Kathryn Freed
51 Chambers Street, Room 429
New York, NY 10007
 
cc: to
Speaker Peter Vallone
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
 
All contentious speech needs to be stopped.  It creates animosity, it loses
allies, and it appears completely unprofessional so it will work against
ferrets.  Instead, be constructive and informative.  Be appealing.  Be
professional.
 
This CAN be done!!!!!  It is essential that your council come to recognize
that ferret supporters are logical and level-headed people who have data
and who truly love their ferrets enough for opposition to legalization to
lose them votes, while support of legalization WILL get support and
contributions.
 
I am not in NYC, but I have a lot of friends there and I REALLY HOPE that
some logical, calm, non-combative individuals make it obvious that many
voters are affected in a very bad way by the Health Dept.  ban, and that
ferret people are for the most part the sorts of people the councilmembers
will enjoy having in their courts!
 
Sukie
 
P.S. There are already some people getting some information to the
Councilwoman, but additional info and friendly, personable letters of
support are ESSENTIAL.
[Posted in FML issue 2729]