Greetings from the Curmudgeon.
 
By now I'm sure just about everyone has heard the news that the NASPHV
(Nitwits Asserting Stupid Public Health Visions) has just officially
announced that, as of the 1998 Compendium, ferrets will be included in the
wording in the same places that dogs and cats are.  Theoretically this means
that ferrets will be treated the exact same in every aspect including the 10
day quarantine period.
 
Well, here I go again, standing here in the corner with the ice cold water
of reality, ready to douse your victory celebration.  Call me paranoid but I
just don't trust these people.  I'll believe it only when I see the actual
document.  I remember all too well the ecstasy of hearing that these people
had officially approved IMRAB for use in ferrets.  Then I saw the label with
the disclaimer which invalidated the entire thing and set off an entire new
set of problems (as yet still unresolved).  They MAY very well include
ferrets in each and every reference.  But what kind of paragraph or two are
they going to add later in the document to muddy the waters??  Let's wait
and see.
 
Not to be totally pessimistic though, let's just assume that there is no
hidden (or unhidden) disclaimer, that the document is perfect.  Let me
remind everyone that, in recent years, in response to the pressure brought
by ferret owners and organizations, many local public health agencies have
passed laws, ordinances, and public health rules which mandate a kill and
test policy.  Each of these laws, ordinances, and rules will have to go
through the same long and evolved process to change or repeal that they did
to be written in the first place.  This can take anywhere from 6-18 months
without opposition.  Sorry folks, but that is just the way the system works.
That is if there is no opposition to the changes.  If someone objects, which
is entirely possible given the number of old school traditionalists holding
public health positions and the fact that these recommendations are only
that, recommendations with no force of law behind them, the process can take
years with the hearings, public notices, committees, compromises, and
politicing.  This time line begins once someone decides to sponsor the
change.  I'm sure that this policy shift is more important to the average
voter (and thereby politician) than niggley issues such as budget, taxes,
crime, and education...right?  Let's face it, even in the best case scenario
it is going to be 1-3 years before some places see any trickle down benefit
from this.
 
Before the ferret community out there dislocates their shoulders trying to
pat themselves on the back, let me remind everyone that we still have a LOT
of work to do getting these changes (if they are worth anything) implemented
everywhere.
 
As a final note let me interject a very personal opinion here.  Contrary to
what people may think, I do not believe that completing the shedding studies
was responsible for this recommendation.  I feel much more credit for the
change should go to the ferret community who brought increasing pressure to
end the killings and backed it up with the litigation, administrative
processes, and demands for disciplinary action against the public health
officials involved in kill and test policies.  I'm sure this went a long way
to entice them to find a better way.  As far as my comments above, I
sincerely hope I am wrong and that everything is just as it should be and
everyone cooperates.  But I'm still going to sit back, wait, and see.
[Posted in FML issue 2115]