Chris,
 
I have been discussing the possibility of getting the newsletters
uploaded once again to Compuserve's Small Animal library in the
Pet Forum.  Lenny Southam, small animal section leader, has
agreed to do so, and I saw her subscription request in the last
newsletter.  She also asked for permission from the CIS powers-that-be
to forward intact messages and threads to the mailing list; unfortunately
the answer was "NO."  However, summary & paraphrasing seems to be OK.
Otherwise, we have to have permission from the authors.
 
On that note, with permission of the authors, I am forwarding the
following messages from Compuserve's Small Animal section of the Pet
Forum.  (One side note: Karen Rosenthal is a staff vet at New York
City's famous Animal Medical Center.)
 
Forwarded message:
> From:  Karen Rosenthal, DVM, MS 70632,3562
> Date: 04/16/92 20:56:13
>
> Here is some more distressing news to ferret owners:
>
> In the animal hospital I work in recently an employee was bitten by
> another employee's ferret.  Although the bite wasn't severe, the person
> went to a human hospital to have it looked at and get some
> antibiotics.  No different than if a dog or cat had bitten a person and
> broken the skin.  The human hospital took care of the person's minor
> bite and then was legally required to contact the authorities who are
> now in the process of finding the ferret and when they find the ferret
> they will kill it and send its brain to be checked for rabies!!!
> Because of the rabies scare any ferret now that bites someone is to be
> killed and checked for rabies whether or not it has been vaccinated for
> rabies and whether or not it has been in contact with a rabid animal.
> This is an incredible overreaction and I don't think ferret owners
> understand the gravity of the situation yet.
>
> Karen
>
> From:  Lenny Southam DVM(Staff) 76170,2440
>   To:  Karen Rosenthal, DVM, MS 70632,3562     Date: 04/16/92 22:28:16
>
> Karen,
>
> I haven't heard of that yet. Hopefully it's not the case in PA or all
> other states. Is there an underground railroad for ferrets???  Who  is
> responsible for that ruling and any idea of how to fight it. My
> understanding of the bite regulations in PA is that even tho the
> autorities recommend euthanasia, an owner may refuse and it would take
> lengthy court battles to enforce. Of course, it would also cost a fair
> bit. When I've asked the question of people who are suppose to know I've
> gotten fuzzy answers, so my understanding may be fuzzy also!
>
> Lenny
>
>
> From:  Karen Rosenthal, DVM, MS 70632,3562
>   To:  Lenny Southam DVM(Staff) 76170,2440     Date: 04/18/92 13:09:01
>
> Lenny:
> This is the first case we have had of this probelm.  Since ferrets in
> NYC are not legal, the local VMA is not taking a stand.  I don't know
> exactly who set the regulation but the rabies scare has caused many here
> to overeact to pet ferrets.  Right now our hospital is looking into how
> to deal with the regulations and who in the city health department made
> these rulings.
>
> Karen
 
[There are reproductions of newspaper accounts of a similar incident
in issue 031.  In Washington DC.  H'm.  Was that you Jennifer?]
 
[Posted in FML issue 0250]