One important thing I am learning is that "managed the same as cats and dogs" differs dramatically from state to state. Depending on vaccination status some have quarantines, some have quarantines of different times and procedures (such as months and months in a vet's office) if an animal is not vaccinated as compared to when it is vaccinated, and some require killing unvaccinated animals. So, DO use that IMRAB-3 and keep your certificate in a safe place. Another thing is that state procedures vary all over the place, and of course, these folks have to follow their state laws. Some of them have to be reviewed by other departments such as the their state versions of Fish and Wildlife, and/or Agriculture, or some others, so they have to carefully cover their butts by having published studies they can produce. Some have to leave it open to public comment for a while. Troy Lynn said that in her's the local health departments can ignore the state one on certain things so there the local ones have to be educated in a logical and friendly fashion. In some policy eventually becomes codified into statute but in others it does not. Some need just the decision of their professionals, some need just the sent Compendium, some need both the Compendium and the studies to all be published in a refereed journal. Some can't do anything if legislation is pending. The list could go on and on. Honestly, the public health vets don't even know the differences; I've had comments from some that certain of my questions made no sense because a certain variation couldn't exist in any state, only to open the next letter and see exactly that variation. So, if you are an activist in your state use your lawyers' and politicians' help wisely before making any leaps until after the policy changes have had a chance to happen there. [Posted in FML issue 2145]