Don't get sad - Get mad We need to contact our state and local agencies and find out their policies/laws/regulations on ferrets and the basis for them, document the responses and send them to CDC. You don't have to tell your agencies that you have ferrets - you can use Kodo's (God rest his loving joyful soul) case as the basis for your inquiries. In 1980 CDC released a statement on ferrets that was viewed by the scientific/medical community as pro-ferret. CDC took a lot of flack for that statement which may be why they have never released another. What we need to do is SHOW them the misinformation that is being disseminated by state agencies. Document everything. If you call and your phone or answering machine has the capability of recording your conversation - record it so you will have exact wording. Have your questions written down in advance and write down what their response is. CDC should be inundated with letters from us. Maybe, just maybe then they'll get off their seats and do something. It's worth a try at the very least. Concentrate on local and state agencies. Many states allow the individual county health depts to make the decision on whether an animal is a rabies suspect or not. Find out what your state laws are regarding ferrets (if any), your county ordinances, your city ordinances, your health dept policies, and your animal control policies. If any of these agencies are disseminating incorrect information you will want to contact higher agencies and your legislators. In all your correspondence PLEASE be polite. Keep the lines open so you will be able to make a difference. Once we find out why each agency regulates ferrets the way they do we can counter with the hard scientific facts. If during your conversation you are told something so maddening that you want to reach out and touch the person - don't. BE POLITE. POLITELY explain their misconception but don't argue with them. You will need to follow up all telephone correspondence with letters THANKING them for their time and recalling the major points of your conversation. In this letter you can include documentation to correct their misconceptions (i.e. ferrets are wild, vicious, rabid, etc.) and be sure to include references. Keep copies of all your letters and those you receive. If you need the documentation to counter the misconceptions please let us know. Many of us work behind the scenes. Search the FML's for info on domestication, rabies, etc. Dick and I have packets and booklets that are available for the cost of duplicating and mailing. And please, if you haven't done so already, get the number of ferrets killed and tested in your state for the last 10-15 years and the results and send then to me. We need to do this to show how many ferrets are being unwarrantedly killed and tested. CDC does not get the numbers that are tested, many states only report the number positive. If you can get the circumstances of the bite or scratch that would be wonderful and very helpful to show that ferrets are being killed for acting normally (for a ferret). Name of Agency Address of Agency Phone Number Name and title of person you are speaking with Questions you asked Answers CDC Address: Dr. Charles Rupprecht Chief, Rabies Section Center for Disease Control 1600 Clifford Road Atlanta GA 30333 O.k. everybody - let's get working! Hugs. tle [Posted in FML issue 1969]