Dear FML'ers everyone,
There is a desperate and vigorous battle going on to try to convince one
Renee Harris of the Lawrence Humane Society of Lawrence Kansas that we want
her to change her policy of automatically killing (let's call it what it
is-euphanizing is such a cover up word in this instance), anyway,
automatically killing ferrets after the 3-day legally mandated holding
period.  She says that she does it because she thinks that ferrets can carry
the rabies virus for a year and"may" do so.  Also, she says she has the
authority to initiate and change policies of the organization.  Evidence is
overwhelming, as most of you know, that ferrets are a lower risk than cats
or dogs for carring or transmitting rabies.  1) Never a transmission of
rabies from ferret to person 2)completed shedding studies show ferrets don't
shed the virus in their saliva3) The KDHE revised its recommendations last
year (1996) to include ferrets with cats and dogs to be treated with the
same respect and HELD not killed to rule out rabies.  It is a LAW in the
state of Kansas that ferrets cannot be legally killed to test for rabies
because the KDHE "considers ferrets to be a low rabies risk", and had
mandated it so.  The ferrets Renee is killing are not even ferrets who have
bitten or scratched anyone!  They may ;seem perfectly healthy!  Apparently
their only crime that deserves killing is that they are ferrets!!  FFS and I
personally have offered to adopt any ferret that comes in and is not
reclaimed by their owner.  All we want is the chance to give these ferrets a
chance for life.  5 of my seven ferrets are from a loving shelter.  Why
can't Renee let the licensed shelter adopt them?  FFS owner and operator
(many of you know who she is) has offered to sign a waiver and I would do so
also to release the Humane Society of any legal rammifications.
 
If you would like to see any ferret that comes to the Lawrence Humane
Society to NOT be AUTOMATICALLY killed after just 3DAYS, please call
ReneeHarris, or better yet, fax her because she may not take your call .  If
she does not, tell the person you talk to that you disagree with her kill
policy .  The shelter number is area 913-843-6835 and her fax #
is913-843-6554.  Time is of the escense because a ferret could come in any
day.  Also, because she meets with the Society's board on April 8th.  There
must be some members of the board who disagree with Renee's policy.  If we
ask them to tell her that, or let them know how we feel, perhaps that will
do a world of good.  If you decide to write, call or fax, be polite but
knowledgeable and firm about what you know and feel.  If you want a list of
the board members, I will Email them to you personally a.s.a.p.  Just ask me.
I will be standing by my computer today.  Let's win this one for the
ferrets.  O.K.?
 
Janice and the 7 little dwarfs in the land of Oz.  P.S.  I just remembered
that there is a ferret that may come into my house soon who is being held by
a different kind of shelter , a REAL shelter and a HUMANEsociety and they
don't care if it is way past 3 days.  The little guy is still alive and I
may just get him .  Thank God he wasn't turned in to the Lawrence "Humane"
Society.  I just know they do good works , and many of them and they deserve
the credit for all that .
[Posted in FML issue 1887]