JM and all FML, I was so mad when I read your post that I sent an e-mail message to Mr. Resnic. It follows: Wayne Resnic, As a secretary at a public radio station I didn't believe it when I first started and the public radio people were telling me we were a step above commercial radio, however you are proving to me how right they were. Would you like to know why? At least we get our facts straight before speaking to all the people in our listening area so we don't look stupid. FACTS: First of all, Kodo did not bite the older gentleman. The older gentleman in an attempt to pet Kodo snagged his finger on Kodo's tooth (if you knew as much about ferrets as you proclaim you do, you'd know their lower canines protrude from their mouth). The gentleman stated that the ferret DID NOT BITE him. Second, the rabies vaccine is very effective in ferrets, just not 100%. It is 96% effective, but it's only 86% effective in cats and dogs, any comments now? Third, Mr. Jacobs and family along with all other ferret owners knew the ferret could not have rabies because it could not have come in contact with anything that carried rabies. Kodo was always in the house and monitored when running free in the house and caged when not being monitored. When he took his ferrets out they were in carriers or held in his hands. So unless you think ferrets are born with rabies it was a 0% chance and a vet testified to that in court. Is your statement "Kodo's owner and fellow ferret-fanatics were responsible for tying up the Michigan court system and preventing the health authorities from doing their job" an attempt to say that pet owners have no rights? The last time I checked this was America and we all have rights, even you to make uneducated statements. Fourth, the older gentleman was not in the least concerned about contracting rabies (where in the world did you get your information, I think I would look for another source!) and signed a document to that ef fect! He even went on an extended vacation and refused to get the rabies series because he didn't feel that there was any need for it! Fifth and last IMRAB vaccine is approved by the FDA for ferrets! More extensive tests have been done on ferrets than any other pet. The findings indicated that with the Fox and Skunk stains of rabies that ferrets were highly resistant to these forms and had to be injected with high amounts of the virus to contract it and then got the "dumb" form which in layman's terms is that they go into a paralytic coma before they start shedding the virus and are therefore unable to transmit it. With the raccoon strain they did contract it but were dead within 3 to 5 days after symptoms and shedding the virus started which falls into the 10 day quarantine period for dogs and cats. So where is your "rabies time bomb" theory now? The bat rabies virus strain is now being tested on ferrets, which is what the animal control people in MI were claiming had to be the culprit because there is no information about the shedding period for this one. Dogs and cats don't have any testing done on the bat rabies virus strain, does that mean that now all dogs and cats that bite will have to be killed and tested for rabies? A dangerous precedent don't you think? There is NO KNOWN transmission of rabies from ferrets to a human or other animal on record in the United States. Can you say the same about cats and dogs? Oh, by the way, Kodo tested negative for rabies. Explain that one to Bob Jacobs' children! I would appreciate a response unless you're too embarrassed that you didn't get all the facts before inserting foot in mouth. Or are listeners more important than the truth? Vicky [log in to unmask] http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/ferret1/ Families are Forever [Posted in FML issue 1971]