The following press release was sent to Madison and Milwaukee newspapers,
Associated Press, National Public News, and various Wisconsin radio stations.
We are starting the ball rolling to change the "Kill and Test" Mandate in
Wisconsin!
========================
Contact Persons:
Kathy Fritz (608) 423-3315 or (608) 423-3124
Bobbi or Tim Tynan (608) 245-1525
June 11, 1997
For Immediate Release
Ferret Shelter Seeks Law Reform
(Cambridge, WI) In light of an inevitable execution of "Kodo," a pet ferret
in the state of Michigan, Kathy Fritz, Director of "The Ferret Nook," a
local ferret shelter, is seeking a law change in the State of Wisconsin.
Kodo is being executed because he allegedly bit a man in the hand and the
execution will enable the health authorities to determine if the ferret has
rabies (rabies can only be detected by investigating the brain of the
ferret). The change would mandate ferrets like Kodo to be vaccinated with
IMRAB-3, a USFDA approved rabies vaccine, and thus be quarantined instead of
executed. Michigan and Wisconsin laws mandate an execution of any animal
which bites except a dog or a cat. Dogs and cats are exceptions because
they are mandated to have a rabies vaccination and thus are quarantined
rather than executed.
Kathy Fritz points out that there is a USFDA approved rabies vaccination
available for ferrets which has been tested numerous times for its
effectiveness. In fact, the tests have shown that ferrets have a 96% chance
of rabies immunization when vaccinated while dogs only have an 87% chance of
immunity. Ferrets are now the third most popular pet, next to dogs and
cats, and Kodo is only one of thousands of ferrets nationwide who are
executed because of "kill and test" laws.
Other states, however, are realizing the flaw and allowing ferrets to be
quarantined if vaccinated with IMRAB-3 rather than executed. Fritz states,
"Given a scientifically credible vaccine, there is no reason for the
slaughter of ferrets to continue."
XXX
[Posted in FML issue 1965]
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