(Forwarded to listserv by mistake)
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Bobby,
 
        If I am not mistaken (can someone back me up on this?), Imrab, the 1
yr. rabies vaccine, has been FDA approved for use in ferrets for over a year
now.  FDA approval is not easy to come by, so I assume it's efficacy has been
thoroughly tested.  But the battle continues.  The lack of an FDA approved
rabies vaccine for ferrets used to be the excuse the ferret-free zones used
to ban ferrets.  That excuse is now obsolete, but the laws on the books still
state that a ferret who bites someone can be put down immediately and checked
for rabies instead of the normal observation period allowed for vaccinated
dogs.  If a ferret bites someone and animal control wants to confiscate
him/her, it is advisable (if you're willing to risk fines/jail) to refuse to
turn over the ferret and find a lawyer and an expert witness (i.e. a vet).
This is something that we have to keep plugging away at to get changed.  I
sure wish they'd quit picking on our poor lovable carpet sharks.
 
                                        Laura
 
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Laura L'Heureux, Trella, and Tribble, too
U. of Illinois Vet Med Class of 96
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[Posted in FML issue 0591]