Dateline: Kansas
Today, the first ferret step on the road to freedom was taken here.
 
Before the State Senate Subcommittee on Public Health and Welfare, Troy
Lynn Eckart of Ferret Family Services testified on behalf of  Kansas
ferrets.
 
The occasion was the introduction of  her bill to the state legislature
to declare ferrets domestic companion animals in  Kansas and give them
firm legal status and protection under the law.
 
Troy Lynn, who works for KSU,  has the advantage of the entire Kansas
State Veterinarian Library at her disposal. Working around the clock
for months in preparation for this day, she has assembled every known
piece of information, domestic and european, on rabies in relation to
ferrets.
 
Troy Lynn, accompanied by her veterinarian, her 11 year old neighbor
and a big teddy bear male ferret, presented her case concisely and
eloquently. Her ferret won the hearts of the committee, not to mention
everyone else that he came into contact with.
 
Speaking in OPPOSITION to ferrets being declared domestic companions in
Kansas were the State Epidemiologist, DR. ANDREW PELLETIER, and DR.
DEBORAH  BRIGGS from Kansas State University Foundation Research Ferret
Project.
 
Dr Pelletier presented the "latest- 1991(his words, believe it or
not!)" CDC compendium on rabies which states that ferrets are wild
animals -- but Troy Lynn had provided the current 1994 edition in her
packet - which does not.
 
One of the witnesses for the State said the only problem with IMRAB was
that it was only 89% effective  in ferrets, thereby presenting an
unacceptable risk --  but Troy Lynn had provided the effective
percentages in other animals  -- and when questioned by State Senators,
the witnesses had to admit that in dogs it was only 88% effective.
 
And so it went all morning. The Senate committee members, armed with
Troy Lynn's information packet, gradually shot holes in the opposition,
sometimes letting them dig their own.
 
Once it is out of committee, the bill will find its way (carefully
monitored by Troy Lynn) to the two legislative houses. Before each
vote, she has a Ferret Awareness day planned in which she and other
ferret owners will take their best teddy bear ferrets and criss-cross
the five floors of the state capitol, bearing good will and
information. She will be putting her own story into words-- how she did
it and what is involved-- for the April issue of the VOICE.
 
To say that Troy Lynn won a major battle today is to vastly understate
the incredibly effective, brilliant case that she made.
 
I'm proud to know you Troy Lynn.       --Ann Davis
 
[Posted in FML issue 0754]