First thing this morning I got a call from Anne Ryan.  Jane Sasale had just
called her.  A ferret in Sparta, N.J. had been adopted by a person who had
gotten scratched and the local pound and health department were going to
destroy the ferret for testing.  Now, you have to remember that N.J.
changed policy on Nov.  5th last year, AND the state health department
notified all the smaller departments and has also been conducting seminars
for them (In fact, there's another one within two weeks.) so they should
have known the ferret posed no hazard since it was healthy and had already
been held for over 10 days.
 
Anne wanted me to get in touch with the state folks while she contacted both
the Sparta pound and their health department.  Dr. Sorhage wasn't available
so Dr. Campbell (a very kind man) who works with her said he'd call the
Sparta folks immediately.
 
Anne, meanwhile had managed to convince the Sparta people to stop the
destruction till they heard from the state.
 
Anne just called me back, and the ferret is safe and being turned over to
a ferret shelter.
 
It worked out well.  So much of saving ferrets is educating local places,
and letting animal shelters and pounds know how to reach ferret shelters
when they need their help.  This is true all over.
 
Sukie
[Posted in FML issue 2263]