Governor Engler Sir:
 
This is not a form letter.
 
The manner in which the state of MI has handled this Kodo Ferret case is
disgusting.  Isn't it so easy to just kill the ferret ?
 
ATTENTION: There are NO bat strain rabies studies for dogs and cats !!!
Everything said about bat strain rabies in ferrets must now be extended to
dogs and cats... and horses.  I don't think you want every pet owner in the
state on your case about that, do you ?
 
ATTENTION: More studies are now available about ferrets than were available
at the time that quarantines were established for cats, dogs, and horses.
Use some reason here.
 
  --------------CRITICAL LIFE THREATINING FACT ---------------
 
PLEASE pay careful attention to this little detail.  At this point, the
UNCERTAINTY of the immunoflourescant rabies test will be far greater then
the actual probability of proof by extended quarantine, the ferret having
been kept now longer than any reasonable know quarantine period.
 
A FALSE POSITIVE at this time could force the "victim" to take a series of
vaccine treatments, which are FAR MORE RISKY than doing nothing at this
time.  You could well be risking the life of a human BY INSISTING on testing
the ferret !
 
If the ferret were infected, it would be dead NOW.  Seven days is the
longest surviving ferret in ANY test.
 
PLEASE, once again, listen carefully.....
 
No ferret has EVER transmitted rabies to any human or other animal.
 
Please, inject a little sanity into your government run amuck.
 
   Robert J. Martin III
   [log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1961]