First, N.J. requires a permit which in most cases costs $10 per year per home; just ask Fish, Game & Wildlife, non-game division. (Yes, I know about the ancient aspect of part of the enclosure -- that will eventually wind up changed, but was stuck there in an awkward situation at one point. It may already be gone -- didn't have time to review recently.) Second, several years back during another misinformation scare (such as has been documented here arising from people who scream out without getting the Kodo facts) a legislator tried to get ferrets outlawed based upon zilch. Several calls were made by a number of people and --Guess what? -- it turned out that at least one state politician has an extended family ferret! That included one very powerful one who then passed on actual, factual information to the law's proponent and that effort was withdrawn with some embarrassment on the proponent's part -- maybe he learned something about getting facts. Third, there also seem to be some of our beaurocrats (sp?) who have ferrets in their families or extended families. Fourth, for several years information on the vaccine and it's testing, then on each part of the shedding studies and results have been passed on to a person in F, G, and W who then passes on things to the Health Department, AND the Health Department has some VERY logical folks who follow this on their own. This is why: Fifth, N.J. is a case-by-case situation with folks UNofficially leaning toward quarantine in many cases. When there was a case a while back with some kits accussed of biting the Health Department and F, G, and W recommended quarantine and shots to the inquiring judge. This first judge then went in that direction, but the accussor (who afterward said he still planned to visit breeders and look for ferrets of his own) refused to take the shots and asked his lawyer to appeal. The appeal judge forced the kits to be killed -- and that situation seemed to be a combination of the judge simply not understanding scientific data, and the loser who would not take shots and also forced the destruction being -- well, I won't say it. (I DO hope he's learned since!) Sixth, there is currently consideration going on in the Health Department about when the department could officially support a quarantine time and what aspects the situation would have to fit to qualify. These individuals are CRITICAL FOR BOTH INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE so they must be treated politely and factually!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seventh, information is continuing to be passed along as received. Eighth, the ferret people involved so far are keeping their names OUT of this and working THROUGH THEIR CONTACTS because sometimes it's MUCH better to let the pros at schmoozing schmooze, and let THEM get any credit because that's a good carrot. [Posted in FML issue 1973]