Ok, folks, got my asbestos underwear on.
 
Though it is upsetting that the ferret was killed in Lake County, personally
I would have preferred it be sent to a shelter for quarantine but, we have
to look at the point, they acted and treated the ferret the SAME as they
would have treated a stray cat or dog.  They acted according to the
Compendium.
 
Having ferrets treated as an equal to cats or dogs has pluses and minuses.
You can't have the good without the bad.  Each case is different, and a
learning experience.
 
Ok, this guy wasn't saved, but will the ferret community jumping down the
authorities throat do any good for the next ferret?  Or would the ferrets to
come be better served that everyone send their local animal shelter, animal
warden, or local safety director a copy of the changes to the Compendium,
info on ferrets, AND the name, & phone numbers to the local shelters.
Contact your local ferret shelter, find out all the numbers they can be
contacted at, ask if they will get involved with quarantining strays, and if
they have somewhere where a stray can be kept quarantined.  Get copies of
info and pass it along to anyone in authority that would deal with an
animal.  Shelters & clubs by themselves cannot do it.  WE NEED YOUR HELP.
It took a group effort to make the changes in the Compendium, it will take
ALL of us to change the different localities ways of doing things.
 
If a shelter cannot quarantine, don't hold it against them.  A stray
brings in allot of possibilities of disease.  Distemper is one of them.
We are looking at a double edged sword.
 
Don't condemn, educate.  Don't get pissed off, educate.  Don't try to
get even, educate.
 
And that is my opinion.
 
Jean & The Zoo Crew
Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter
Home of Phoenix & Trooper
[Posted in FML issue 2306]