Dear Fmlers,
Plan to let The entire state of Michigan know what the whole world thinks
about the decision that the politicians and finally did to Kodo, the gentle
companion domestic pet ferret.  What we (everyone who knew Kodo was
innocent), think of the decision of what their state did, and specifically
the people who made those decisions.  Just one plan, we will all come up
with many.
 
1. Boycott: Do not buy anything made in or sold in Michigan whenever
possible.  How long?  Good question.  We do not want to hurt the innocent
people of Michigan.  Ideas?
 
2. Do not travel in or through the state for a long time.  How long?--same
reason??  Ideas here too.
 
3. Write, call, e-mail, fax not only every single political person involved
with the Kodo case who was responsible for Kodo's murder, but ALL political
people in the state of Michigan.  Some of them may be ferret lovers who just
did not get involved because they thought that the unthinkable could not
happen in their state.  Write them.
 
Note: Include copies of the entire stories of Kodo from the minute Karen
Burns invited (asked ) Bob Jacobs to come to the People and Animals together
Expo, and convinced him to do so, and all the events in between, including
how the poor gentleman was totally convinced that Kodo was not a risk to him
(When Kodo was being killed, this gentleman was vacationing out of the
country , I believe.) Does this sound like a man who is worried every second
about his life.  He sighned afadavits that said he did not believe that Kodo
was a risk of any kind to him, and he emphatically did not want the gentle
companion pet, who did NOT bite him,did not , I repeat at an time killed.
He was satisfied that he was safe because Kodo was legally vaccinated with
the Government (that is our Government) approved , licensed (by our
government) vaccine, and since Kodo was vaccinated, the gentleman was not in
the least bit concerned.
 
If the man who was involved in the incident completely trusted the vaccine
to make Kodo NO risk to him, then WHY--mMICHIGAN, DO YOU NOT TRUST THE VERY
VACCINE YOU LEGALLY REQUIRE THAT ALL FERRETS TAKE WHO LIVE IN THE STATE OF
MICHIGAN.  A little louder, I can't hear you , please.  What , no answer.
Apparently, not, because I havn't seen one, and I have followed this case
from the beginning to the immoral, unjust , crushing end.  If he, the man
who was involved in the alledged incident trusted the vaccine, why Then
write anyone political, being careful to be factual, polite,assertive, and
let your long term committment come through in your conversation, and as
always do not personally attack, blame or slander.  This is meant to be an
informative message we want to portray.  There aere many who did not get the
whole story.  Let us give it to them.
 
4. Now, write, call, e-mail, fax and contact with letters or however, (he
grapevine is still in effect I hear),everyone in the state of Michigan that
you do know , even remotely.  Be sure again , that they get the whole story
and the may have heard much about it already.
 
Be careful not to be argumentative.  That could hurt our cause and will
certainly not make them want to tell others about the atrosities that have
just happened and how we need to work at making change so others like Bob
Jacobs family and their poor children , who will carry this with them the
rest of their life, as well as all of us who have cried, prayed, put othet
things aside , just to try to help.  There are thousands of people out there
in the state of Michigan who have not been reached yet, however, and they
should be told about the injustices.  Sure you will have some who will
remain ignorant in the face of convincing evidence or who are not
interested, but you will also reach compassionate people and ferret owners,
they need to know that all ferrets are at risk just Like Koto, and when they
are safer in Michigan, thanks to Senator Dingell, and Representative Dehart,
there still will be many states who have ignorant close minded people who
will try their best to continue the unnecessary carnage and heartbreak of
ususlly unspecting people.  I am talking about people who have complied and
had their ferrets vaccinated and felt confident that their pet was safe
because he/she has its shots!
 
5. Someone write Imrab 3 makers.  Are they aware that if their vaccine is
toatlly accepted in every state and in the world , and completely accepted,
that their sales will soar!!  I know that is not their motive, and I love
them for sending the letter on Kodo's behalf and the vaccine they worked so
hard and long on.  But why shouldn' we hurry this up asap to get ferrets
safe everywhere, launch a public education campaign that they are if
vaccinated, and why shouldn't Imrab3 makers make a fortune ASAP.  They have
earned it and deserve it and are making millions of little fuzzies safe, not
to mention the dogs and cats.
 
6. When you call, be sure to document who, when what date and what these
people say to you.  If your answering macine has a conv button, push it on
before you start your call or while it is ringing, and this will help you to
remember what the person on the other end said.
 
7. Ask specific questions.  Get their opinions, and ask them where they get
their information.  If they claim not to know anything or that they cannot
comment, calmly ask them to connect them with whoever can or give them their
fax or phone number, or e-mail, and be sure to write names down of who you
talk to about everyting and the times , etc.
 
8. No matter how strongly you feel, or how angry you feel, do not use
profanity , it can hurt our cause.  Be in control of what you say, ask and
don't be put off.  We pay most of their salaries.]
 
9. This is an impotant one: Know if the person you are calling has been on
Kodo's side or the other one---you know .
 
10. Try to educate every time you get a chance.  Let people know that the
domestic ferret has been around for 500years since before the housecat.
Tell them all the precious qualities of ferrets, and how strong
people-ferret bonds occur, and you may then want to tell them how the little
animal has gotten the wrong end of the stick for years and years.  For
example, 3 times as many ferrets were tested and killed than were said were
going to be killed and tested, and that the two-thirds that died this awful,
painful death did so not nessarily to prove the vaccine and shedding study.
 
11. Tell them that Kodo was ripped from Mr. Jacobs hands and he was not
allowed to visit him or have Kodo's own veterinarian examine Kodo for the
entire time that he was being jailed, falsely remember, Kodo bit no-one.
 
12. Kodo was told that he would get a trial (fair hearing , where all the
scientific evidence could be presented), and when all the top ferret experts
were poised to come, tickets bought, schedules re-arranged, the Bay County
Animal Control dropped their case so that the Attorney General could decide
the case of whether Kodo was a risk at all or not.  Then Bay County Animal
Control insisted that Attorney General Kelly use the 5 yr. out-date
Compendium which was not only outdated, contained no completed shedding
studies , no recent statistics, INSTEAD OF the 1997 updated, shedding
studies (completed in 1995-1996), and the most up to date statistics,
research data , state of the art information to decide the case!!  This is
unbelievable and I do not believe would ever have been used on any other
animal case.
 
13. The Attorney General deceded against Kodo and this was 30+ days after
the incident.  Never in recorded history has a person or animal contracted
rabies after 10 day.
 
14.  The rabies virus has never been shown to be present in the saliva of an
ill ferret!!  How could a tooth hangng out of a ferret's mouth (on the
outside of his lower jaw even have saliva on it if it could have which it
could have not for two reasons a.  Kodo is fully vaccinated and b.  the
rabies virus has never been found in ferrets saliva, ever in recorded
history.  Was the state trying to make history.
 
15. There are several criterial in which risk assessment is supposed to be
taken into account when evaluating risk in a possible exposure incident.
 
16. Kodo did not, and has not ever bitten; the man bumped Kodo's handing
out tooth, and MAYBE THAT IS WHAT caused the bleed, becuse he first bumped
his hand on a table and his thin skin bleeds easily.
 
17. Kodo was relaxed in his owners arms and was at all times unagressive.
 
18. The gentleman was not even sure he was bitten.
 
19. AND THIS IS A BIGGIE:  Kodo was at the time and remained for 40 days to
be perfectly healthy!!
 
Plan:Implement--One suggestion that just came to me is to take a section of
each state, starting with Michigan and let people sign up for that small
section.  This will not happen overnight.  We do need to complete letting
Michigan know what we feel and want, but when the legislation is passed to
put ferrets under the umbrella like cats and dogs, maybe we can start on
some other states, systematically.
 
One thing I have learned is that is you do not have a systematically planned
plan---that plan will fail.
 
What do you think Mr. Bill Gruber?  I will take a small section of Mi.
 
I have other ideas, but will pass them along later.  I am saving money to
help with the expenses of the GLFA (SP?) and the cost courts.  I believe
people will still send in and it will all be met and will exceed what we
need to help with the next stand.
 
We love our ferrets enough, and other people's ferrets enough, and all the
future little fuzzies enough to keep on going .  With some people it is a
little at a time, but it all adds up babies.  I am not buying any new
clothes for at least one year and probably longer.  Ferrets are more
important to me.  I get my hair cuts at longer in-between intervals.  It
costs the same , I save the cost of a haircut by skipping one.  My list
could go on and on, but i do not want it to come out wrong.  I have ,
however found out that a bunch of things I used ot think were necessities
are just wants.  Of course the money I save will go to the funds I mentioned
earlier.
 
One perosnal note.  California, I know how happy you are.  I wish I could
completely share in your glee.  I just can't help thinking about all those
little fuzzies that will go out to uneducated , people, put in families who
know nothing about ferret-proofing, put in families with small children (
The HSUS recommends that they not be in families where children are under 5
yrs of age.)  Check the stats.  I does end up in abused , injured and dead
ferrets.  Pet shops please start today making up ferret-proofing lists and
hand them to the people when you sell the kit to them.  Also, I implore you
tell them what they are gettin in a ferret and the higher care they require.
Please have the courage to do so.  It will avert so much innocent ferret
injury.  Also, pet shops , if you could keep the cards of ferret shelters
nearest to your areas , just in case the ferret does not work out for this
family.  Encourage them not to just sell them to other uneducated people who
will put them through the same agony.  The horror stories are legion.
 
Of course I want Calilfornia's fuzzies to be legal!  I just wanted fewer of
them to be sold and fewer of them to suffer , first.
 
To Marshall Farms, please dont over breed, please.  You know they are so
adorable as kits, but do you know what happens to them when the novelty
wears off?  We could all send you a few dozen stories, if you'd like .  They
will tear your heart out.  Please do not over breed.  This message goes out
to all ferret breeders,and I am sorry I do not know their names.  I think
all breeders should be government licensed and regulated.  I think there
should not be any independent "jump on the gravy train breeders", and if the
government or we people do not something fast, there will be a holocost in
California.
 
Go ahead , let me have it.  But include in your letters ore e's why it is
not going to happen in California when it has happened in every other state
where it is now legal to sell ferrets: improper cages, improper diet
instruction, no instruction on their unique bathroom habits,(that might
curtail sales),no instruction on how if they get ill they will just sleep,
not eat and die, no instruction on how they cannot withstand direct hot sun,
and temperatures over 80 or exteme cold temps either (ask about the Fredonia
Ks. tradgedy)no instruction on how they ingest things and get intestinal
blockages, are pre-disposed to many illnesses , including cancer which takes
a significant commitment in money and sometimes, much money, how they get
into small holes and get stuk and die of strangulation if not found quickly,
no instruction on how refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, dryers reclining
chairs, rockers,sofa beds are potential death traps and must be made
inaccessable and the furniture like rockers,and recliners and sofa beds
CANNOT be made safe.  Many veterinarians do not take ferrets as patients for
their own reasons.  Some of those that do are sorely uneducated, and can do
more harm than good.  Consult , even if it costs long distance calls , the
most ferret literate vets you can find.  Ask around.  You may have to drive
for many miles.  Cats many many times have been known to slash the cornea of
ferrets eyes, leaving the ferrets blind in that eye.  Some dogs and cats are
unpredictable and are jealous and wait for a chance to kill the ferret kit.
Takes a great deal of patience to help them to learn to co-habitate and
sometimes it just does not happen.
 
Everytime an outside door is open the ferret, is he is out of his cage, will
try to go outside, unsuspecting the danger there.  THE DOMESTIC FERRET
ABSOLUTELY CANNOT survive outside "in the wild" and will meet with tragic ,
painful deaths.
 
Anyway, there is my two cents worth.  Lets get on this Mi. thing, and get
organized.  I am ready.  Then lets take state by state.
 
God bless and keep you all.
 
Ps. If I have inadvertantly said something that has offended someone in any
way, please believe me that that was not my intention.  I will do all I can
do to help educate all states.
Janice
 
[Moderator's note: You asked what I thought.  OK: I think it's important to
keep getting the word out.  *Accurate* information in the Kodo case, and
in general, can only help.  I don't think we ferret people are trying to
mislead people -- and there is nothing to hide.  The truth about ferrets is
that they're great.
 
And I do think accuracy and organization is important.  Personally, I
believe your statements #11, 13 and 14 are not entirely accurate.  It might
be a good idea to have people review a checklist such as this for accuracy.
But that's why the FML is here!
 
And, finally, I feel that people have many different talents.  Some people
are great at contacting officials.  Some people are probably better off
using different talents.  Not everyone is good at communication of this
sort.  BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 1971]