The sky grew darker this morning as I began to read todays FMLs.  Then the
rain began, and it has continued, at times in torrents for much of the day.
Even the heavens are crying....
 
I can't help wondering if the MI Health department realizes what they've
done.  By ignoring all available data and refusing to consider any
alternative but a kill and test, even after over a month of confinement,
they have made themselves look very bad.  They claimed they acted in the
interest of public health.  A noble claim to be sure.
 
But by acting so unreasonably, I fear they have endangered the public
health.  How many ferret owners, in MI and other states will say "Why bother
vaccinate?  They don't care.  It's not even considered."  How many owners
will undermine the efforts of checking what might be valid bite reports, by
making their ferrets suddenly disappear because it's the *only* way to
insure their safety?  This has already happened in a few cases.
 
I believe the ramifications of their decision are far more of a danger to
public health than a reasonable decision would have been.
 
Those of you who will rally forth in your states to fight for quarantine
laws, and rational thought by the local health departments, bring up those
points.  The best way to protect the public from rabid ferrets is to
encourage owners to vaccinate them.  One of the best ways owners can be
encouraged to vaccinate is by showing that it protects the ferret not only
from rabies, but from kill and test policies.  There is a far higher
incidence of ferret death from the latter.
 
In the meanwhile, I am giving serious thought about what my own choices are
if one of my ferrets are reported.  I was told by the local health dept
(Westchester NY)  that mine would be killed and tested if such an incident
occured.  I had originally  thought if I spent time up front gathering
information and statistics, I could probably convince the animal control
officers to make arrangements for reasonable quarantine anyway.  I'm no
longer comfortable with that.  No easy choices here.  I suppose trying to
change their minds now will at least give me a better feel for what my
options will be realistically.
 
To Robert Jacobs and his family, I can offer only condolences and thanks.
You fought for all of us, and I know that while the effort did not save
Kodo, the ripples it sends out have and will result in actions which will
ultimately save the lives of other ferrets.
 
 
To all of you who have joined the fight, from near and far, I thank you as
well.  Not only for your efforts, but for reminding me again that there is
so much good in the world.
 
To all the health departments who would side with the MDCH, look out.  We
are just getting started.
 
-Ilena Ayala
[Posted in FML issue 1970]