Ferret Lovers,
Following is the out-dated, distorted, uninformed, biased, ferret-hating
lying pack of drivel put out by the CACA SPCA of LA, who operates on
donations from animal lovers such as us and was written by a Chris Cauble,
who also has the unmitigated gall to tack on a DVM following his (or her)
name!
 
I don't know what most of you think about the return on the dollar we get
from donating to the SPCA, but they've got the last damn dime they'll ever
get from me.
 
I couldn't get there with the url in Jazmyn's post, but
www.digitalcity.losangeles.com (and then follow links) will get you there.
 
"Except by special permit, owning ferrets in California is illegal, as
deemed by the California Fish and Game Commission and endorsed by the
Defenders of Wildlife who purport that ferrets are a threat to native
species, public health, and agricultural activities.
 
Additionally, they state that in the wild ferrets would be competing with
and jeopardizing California's natural heritage.
 
At an American Veterinary Medical Association conference (AVMA) in 1988,
numerous photographs of extensive trauma to the face, nose, ears, and toes
were shown of children which had been bitten by ferrets.  Many of the
attacks occurred while the kids slept.  At that conference, ferret behavior
was deemed "unpredictable," and that they are unacceptable as pets when
children under the age of nine are in the household.
 
The official position of the AVMA and the State and Territorial
Epidemiologist Association is that ferrets are not recommended as pets.  In
addition to California, ferrets are illegal in New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
South Carolina, and Georgia.
 
The ferret is susceptible to a variety of bacterial infections and fungal,
such as salmonella sp, escherichia coli, tuberculosis, listeriosis
blastomycosis, histoplasmosis and dermatomycosis (ringworm).  They can also
carry heartworm and canine distemper.  There is no approved vaccine at this
time for ferrets; however, in 1993 a rabies vaccine was made available, but
its effectiveness is unsure, according to Dr. Chinwe Thomas with the Los
Angeles County Veterinary office.
 
Despite the fact that ferrets are illegal, there are an estimated 500,000
ferret owners in California and the Southern California Ferret Society is
working to legalize them as pets."
 
Email to [log in to unmask]
 
Glenn  J.
[Posted in FML issue 2169]