Just got the latest (Vol.  9, Number 1), January-February issue of American
Ferret Report which comes with membership ($30 for most, but ask at
1-888-FERRET1 for rates if you are a vet or live in an FFZ so need special
covers/envelopes) to the American Ferret Association, P.O. Box 8056, Mc
Lean, VA 22106-8056.
 
Anyway, now that you have carreened (Zoom!  My name is Bond...) through
that sentence -- this issue has a LOT on deafness (several articles), some
articles on caring for elderly ferrets, updates from the states and from
Canada which were sent to them (though the Compendium news is old, as is
often the case with printed things), and more.  One interesting item was
about a vet who was treating a ferret for a tail tumor and got nipped.
According to the article, the vet (Dr. Melissa Webster of South Carolina --
no town given) demanded that the ferret be killed and tested rather than
honoring the quarantine, but the S.C. Dept. of Environmental Control, their
attorney (Nancy Laymen), and the judge ALL chose to honor the 1998
Compendium of Animal Rabies Control so the ferret is quarantined instead!
Good news!!!!  Saw a number of articles by familiar folks, including some
of the vets here.
 
Oh, and AFA is getting 400 to 600 calls a month at the 800 number (No wonder
replies take a while!) as well as a number of other costly services such as:
legislative monitoring and aiding, helping improve veterinary care, the
Compendium and the studies to inform states about, veterinary referrals,
etc., but there have been so many important and costly things in the last
year or so (the 800 number, some legal actions, and info or sometimes people
to testify sent out (Spokane, Cleveland, etc.)) that the coffers are getting
thin so they ask for contributions, as well as letting other ferret folks
know about their membership or giving gift memberships in this issue.  If
you don't think these things add up let me just tell you that compiling how
and when the states are implementing the 1998 Compendium of Animal Rabies
Control and getting this info out to core people has run us something
between $400 to $500 personally.  That's just me following this solitary
thing, so imagine what this national group's costs and volunteer needs must
be!!!!
 
Sukie
[Posted in FML issue 2252]