In Baltimore City there is a proposal for a grant to foster the pets of
those leaving abusive homes because often when the nurturing soul leaves the
pet(s) left behind take all the battering.  Unfortunately, it is meeting
with opposition and according to the AFA and Baltimore Ferret Club the
public Maryland shelters are not allowed to accept pets.  If you are
interested in helping a program to deal with saving ferrets from this
situation, please, contact the Baltimore Ferret Club at 1-410-448-1281 or
e-mail [log in to unmask]  (Posted at the written request of Diane
Rogers.)
 
As you know I have pretty much finished with my data collection on
Compendium compliance because now it's a matter of waiting for a few states
to finish long procedures.  In this regard the AFA is better equiped to
stay on top of the task because they can help with materials on hearings,
legislation, etc.  One place they have been doing that is Oklahoma and Diane
just send me an update on that state: According to Kristy K. Bradley, DVM,
MPH, Oklahoma State Dept.  of Health, Acute Diseases Service, 1000 N.E.
10th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1299; 1-405-271-4060, 1-800-234-5963
(Contact person: Michael Crutcher, same deptment; 1-405-271-3266) ferrets
will be handled the same ways as dogs and cats starting June 11, 1998 which
is when their newly approved regulations will become effective.  There are
several things you will need to know if you are in Oklahoma, since the
regulations in that state are very strict for all three pets.  You will also
want to make sure that your shelters know about local ferret shelters so
that cage space limitations do not lead to death, and you will want to make
sure they know about insulinoma since they might confuse the more severe
neurological symptoms with rabies if they don't know this disease exists.
 
Here are things you'll want to know:  "Subchapter 3. Rabies Control.
310:599-3-1 Management of dogs, cats of ferrets that bite a person.  (a)
Any person or entity owning, harboring, of keeping a dog, cat or ferret
which in the preceding ten (10) days has bitten any person, shall upon
written notice by the local animal control authority or Department
designee, place such animal in quarantine under the supervision of a
licensed veterinarian for a period of ten (10) days from the date the
person was bitten."
 
It goes on to say that except when the bite is first party ownership
(residents of the home or immediate family) the quarantine will be in a
licensed veterinary facility or animal control facility.  It also gives the
option of immediate killing and testing for stray dogs, cats, or ferrets
which have bitten someone, or that immediate killing may be done in observed
animals which begin to display symptoms consistent with rabies, or which
have inflicted severe wounds, especially deep wounds to the head, face or
neck.  This is because they are afraid that an animal in such a case (in
which rabies can rapidly get to the human brain and become untreatable) will
not exhibit symptoms fast enough -- something far more likely to happen with
a dog or cat than with a ferret.
 
As part of having quarantine it is now required that ferrets be vaccinated
with IMRAB-3 (or any future USDA-approved-for-ferrets-vaccine) as per
specifications set forth in the Compendium for Animal Rabies Management, and
that your vet provide you with certificates of vaccination and keep the
records for at least three years.
 
If an unvaccinated ferret, dog, or cat is exposed to a rabid animal things
get very rough: there can be either immediate death and testing or a 6 month
quarantine in a licensed veterinary or animal control facility.
 
Sukie
[Posted in FML issue 2316]