Fairfax Journal Jan 25 by Mark Grossman 'Pet Owners Ferret Out Victory from Supervisors'. Many Fairfax County ferret owners left Monday's Board of Supervisors meeting with a sour taste in their mouths, despite gaining a victory that allows them to keep the animals as pets. That's because the supervisors never allowed them to testify at a public hearing before throwing out a proposed law banning county residents from owning ferrets. Instead, the supervisors directed county staff to study, then draft a law allowing the county to seize a ferret after it has bitten someone so it can be studied for rabies. The weasel-like animals must be killed before they can be tested for the disease, which is fatal to humans if left untreated. "I'm disappointed I didn't get to speak," said Cathy Garby, a Burke resident who owns three ferrets. Garby was one of more than 25 speakers who asked to testify Monday on the proposed law. (some lines edited) Garby said she'd fight any proposed county law that gives officials power to take ferrets that have bitten someone. "Ferrets shouldn't be singled out," she said. "It should happed with all animals. After hearing county staff defend the proposed law, members of the board decided ferret ownership posed little danger. When pressed by supervisors, a county health official said his staff has found virtually no evidence that rabid ferrets live in the county. "We tested 17 ferrets and not one tested positive for rabies last year," said Dr. Dettinger, assistant director of health services in Fairfax County. "There are no known cases of ferrets giving rabies to a human or other animals." (some other stuff deleted) While we were successful, having provided the board members a great deal of information before the meeting, The battle is not over. I will now be working toward ensuring the ferret is not discriminated against when the proposed seizure law is open for public hearings. Following the meeting, I met with N. Marshall Meyers, General Counsel for PIJAC (Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council) and advised him of this mailing list. He is much interested in gaining access to it as a means to move information and thus to fight other efforts at ferret banning. I cannot get him access to my gateway. Does anybody have any ideas. He is located here in the D.C, area. I also met with some vets specializing in ferret diseases and will post some information on Aleutians disease that I found disturbing. [Posted in FML 0050]