It is with heavy heart that I report that again out of ignorance, two young
(10 week old) kits were executed in NJ for no reason other than the deaf
ears of people who have been told so many untruths about ferrets that their
thinking was clouded.
 
Apparently the father of the child could not get it through his head that
there was a zero risk of rabies infection in these ferrets.  They had never
been exposed to any animal other than their mother, who was fully vaccinated.
Despite Dr. Hoffman reassuring Mom that the risk was non-existant, Dad
refused to accept this.  Two other pediatricians had also told the parents
that there was no risk.  Regretfully, one pediatrician, Dr. Kevin Roche of
Hunterdon Pediatrics in the Clinton, NJ area, panicked Dad into making a
rash decision.  I attempted to reach this Doctor in order to implore him to
speak to Dr. Williams and Dr. Hoffman, however he refused my calls.  I will
be forwarding as much info on rabies and ferrets as I have to him within the
week.
 
The pet store is co-owned.  The one owner is heartbroken, and has asked what
she can do in order to change the laws here in NJ.  She was willing to fight
this.  However, she is a minority owner, and the other owner, fearing a
lawsuit and loss of his insurance, agreed to hand the ferrets over for
testing.
 
The Health Department in Hunterdon County had a very sympathetic view,
however, had to go along with the wishes of the parent.
 
How sad it is that in this society there are still closed minded people who
choose to listen to the rhetoric of fools rather than the hard facts
presented before them.
 
-Anne Ryan
 FEEL
[Posted in FML issue 1761]