[I hope the title covers the question.] We've had very good luck up here in NH in working with the larger humane society shelters. It was just a matter of visiting each and every one to introduce ourselves, show them our state license, offer free literature on ferret care, and leave a small pile of business cards. We also work with them during their annual events (fairs, seminars, etc.). We get referrals from nearly all of the shelters now all over the state and even Mass. Most of these shelters are very reluctant to euthanise any animal. Perhaps if you gave them sufficient technical information concerning the "actual" non-threat of rabies in ferrets, they would be more likely to send the ferrets to you rather than kill them. I do have a rather thick information packet that we used with the NH Senate and House to get a State Quarantine Law passes for vaccinated ferrets. Wish we could afford to give it away, but it costs us about $10 to get it copied and mailed. If you're interested, please email me at : [log in to unmask] I hope to add the 30 October CDC Rabies Study Abstract. If any of you haven't seen or heard this one, the KSU/CDC study (Phase 1) showed: An unspecified number of ferrets were injected with a skunk strain of rabies. 33 developed symptoms and were later tested and found rabies positive. None were found with the rabies virus in their saliva (necessary if they are to pass it on through a bite). One was found with the virus in the salivary gland (the abstract led me to believe that this ferret died of the disease before it was examined, but it was unclear.) Since "shedding" of rabies is defined as the appearance of the virus in the saliva prior to the onset of symptoms (dogs can shed the virus for up to 8-14 days prior to showing symptoms); this study showed that ferrets do not shed the virus. Mean time from onset of symptoms to death was 4 days. The results closely mirror earlier studies done by Forester in Germany, and Blancou in France. They tested ferrets using the vole and fox strains respectively. Neither found the virus in the saliva. Forester found the virus in the salivary gland of one ferret "at the outset of death." The concentrations were so low that only one of five test mice, injected with a solution made from the salivary gland, directly into the cranium, developed rabies. Based on their studies and empirical evidence (there have never been observed to have significant numbers of rabid polecats in the wild, nor is there a specific "polecat rabies strain"), both concluded that the "ferret was a dead end for rabies." The closest relatives to the ferret in North America are the weasel, ermine, and mink. Rabies is extremely rare in these animals, and there is not a "weasel strain" of rabies. I found one case of a rabid weasel reported by the CDC over the years, I believe (I don't have my info packet with me), 1988-1992. The total number of ferrets found with rabies,since the CDC began compiling data in 1958 is under 20. Some of these were caused by people vaccinating the ferrets with a modified live rabies vaccine (IMBAB is a killed virus). Seems to me that these findings show that the ferret is one of the safest carnivores to have as a pet, and in no circumstances should be routinely euthanized because of a rabies concern. Perhaps if the ferret were showing symptoms consistent with rabies, but never a healthy ferret. I couldn't tell you the number of blood-letting nips I've gotten from frightened, half starved "found" ferrets. I've never even gotten an infection and certainly after seeing the results of all of those studies never worry about rabies. Dick B. [Posted in FML issue 1365]