Hello, all, I know I've mentioned this before, but it is something which can't be taken lightly. Until the shedding time studies are done we can't count on the fact that there is an approved and effective rabies vaccine (IMRAB) carrying the same weight for ferrets as it does for dogs and cats. Shedding time is part of the rabies puzzle for any mammal species and can't be ignored. There are now SEVERAL proposals before the Morris Animal Foundation ready to address this but the foundation does not have as much in its ferret shedding period coffers as it needs for even one study since donors to the ferret funds have preferred putting the cash into cancer, pregnancy, and other non-shedding period studies and the foundation is VERY careful to follow donors' wishes. Donations to change this should be marked for use specifically on ferret shedding period studies and sent to: Morris Animal Foundation, 45 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, CO 80112-5480. The proposals are carefully reviewed by other researchers so that any given fund's money tends to go wherever it will be most effective. Our only connection to them is that we are regular donors. Once this is done it should make the picture complete for states and communities which are being so hard on ferrets because they will have that, the reality of IMRAB, and the hard data from reliable sources on bite stats vs. those of cats and dogs. Bigoted jerks won't listen (an example is the grouping in California which should have a state taxpayers' suit brought against them and well publicized for misuse of state funds in the mis-leading propaganda they send out of state -- it would at least reduce the scope of their damage and would make them more questioned within the state) but most people in the world aren't jerks. Pam, in general we are so impressed with your new owner FAQ that if you give the okay and if Chris or others do not know of any legal reason not to do so we would like to give copies to local pet shops and vets for ferret owners. I'd like to make one addition to it which we DO consider important, though. In over 11 years of ferret ownership we have regularly been praised as having the best behaved ones any vet has seen and we believe this is because we use praise and strong positive reinforcement of good behaviors combined with distraction from bad behaviors (and sometimes caging and ignoring the miscreant) much more than we use discipline. Ferrets can get stubborn -- and you know that study which showed the average U.S. parent criticizes a child 10 times for each time praised -- should those numbers hold for ferrets then they may be asking for bad behavior. (This, BTW, has not led to our ferrets disliking their cage; they see it much as a kid sees his or her room. In fact, recently we played a CD with wolf sounds and Meltdown immediately sheparded the others into the most private reaches of their cage and then stood guard at the door. They also go back in themselves most of the time when they are tired from playing.) The Newark Humane Society deserves a special word about its good work. They recently got in some 2 year old females for adoption. We felt that we just can't handle 6, 7, or 8 and give them the attention they need, to some extent because our retarded and handicapped one doesn't get along with the others and has special health needs, so we sent a contribution to help with the care of the lassies. There are several applicants and each application is being carefully studied and the home and care reviewed to make sure that the furries have safe and happy homes. Meanwhile, they have been fostered with an animal care worker who is treating them wonderfully. BTW, did you know that Longtail, the Kansan ferret, is three legged? The McDowells not only took in two ferrets needing love, but they took in two amputees (Shortail is missing its tail). Kansas came down very far in my estimation as a state -- I HAD highly respected it -- with the government's treatment of that family and their critters. Do you also realize that the family offered to pay for extended sheltering and testing (shy of death unless rabies showed up in saliva, glands, or other tissues/liquids beforehand). As a cop Mike McDowell has devoted himself to the welfare of others and he had no intention of not doing so in this case -- he just wanted to find a scientifically logical compromise which would save the ferret should it not be ill. Like anyone else he knows that if one of their animals did ever get rabies then putting it down would not only be best for others but also for the critter itself. I hope the PBA can help him out in reference to his job since all evidence that I have heard implies that state laws are being seriously violated. If a rabies shedding period study had already been done already the state would have no leg to stand on if it tried to refuse the isolation and testing option. I have heard many rumors of a European study, but know no specifics as to who did it or where it was published. Our "wildlife" folks in N.J. have been very good about ferrets over the last 11+ years and if such a study has been done they want a copy to further help the case of ferrets whenever jerks get on their case and try to impose further restrictions. Laura, Efa-Z can help with dry skin as can a bit of saturated fat. Ask your vet if it is appropriate in this case. Anon, In N.Y. state a number of years ago I lived in an area where a vet went crazy, picked up a small dog he had been examining, and dashed it into the wall killing it in front of its owner. She called the local ASPCA or Humane Society, both of which keep funds for bringing animal abuse charges against such individuals. He was splashed all over the papers and lost his practise. As I recall he also met with a hefty fine but I don't remember if he had to also serve jail time. John, As readers know our ferrets enjoy massages with their little vibrator. Spot likes his stomach done but if he shifts and it touches his penis he immediately pees ( of course, he's also a bit loose in the bladder whenever he's overjoyed, is our Spot). Many power supplies are warm, hum, and vibrate. Perhaps that got to Cassidy. Here are two Spotty stories: you know by now that Spot loves his "ferret-mousie", a toy Black Footed Ferret, and will drag it into the bedroom and dock it in the garbage can there. Well, now that we have cold weather it no longer goes into the can. Instead he carefully tucks it in the covers which hang from our bed. The other day he'd had his quotient of raisins so out he brought the f-m, and carefully leading it before me (with many glances back to be sure I was following) he took it to the doorway of the kitchen and carefully arranged it until it was pointing toward the cabinet with the raisins. (When you were tiny did any of you say, "I'm all full, Mommy, but Teddy Bear wants some cookies."? Our best to all, Sukie, Steve, Meltdown (Path Valley), Ruffle (possibly PV), 'Chopper the ferret helicopter (breeder unknown), Spot (Marshall) and Meeteetse (Marshall) -- The last two of whom are extremely robust and want to know why some people get upset if kits hold their deciduous canines a while during the time when the adult teeth come out since that's perfectly normal for any mammal and a number of the humans here probably also did the same. [Posted in FML issue 0700]