I have been recently asked (all right, nagged) by a high placed person in FROLIC to address the misunderstanding about Minnesota's rabies policy. Probably because I was there and a part of the effort and therefore might be considered somewhat knowledgable...go figure. Contrary to what people have been told or what official documents they have seen or been sent the official policy of the Minnesota Department of Health regarding rabies policy is that they are not involved in the process. As a result of a long, protracted administrative rules change process the public health rule governing their recommendation 4605.7600 was changed in such a way that the only involvement the State Public Health Department has in the process is to monitor and keep records. All kill & test or quarantine decisions are made at the local level and that is where the responsibility will lie. Of course, State health officials have the same right to free speech as the rest of us and can issue any opinion they want. However, according to letters issued by the State Attorney General's Office, any opinions issued which may be contrary to rule or law must be clearly identified as the individual's opinion only and not the policy of the State The only way there could be the kind of official state policy being described would be for the Dept. of Public Health to go through the same rules process and either change or ammend the rule. I know for a fact that they have not done this because I am one of several individuals on the list of persons to be contacted concerning such rules changes and a source to be consulted whenever the department seeks information from outside sources. It would be illegal for such a policy change to be made without my first being notified and given an opportunity to comment on it. To date I have recieved no such notification. What people are being given is simply the OPINION of whoever they contacted and carries no force of law and is unenforceable. About this "all ferrets bite and cannot be trusted" crap....I resent that type of general, broadstroke, stereotyping asw much as I resent the comments made that all men are potential rapists! I guess if you want to stretch the point to totally unreasonable lengths both are technically true, but in the real world these statements do nothing but paint a much darker picture than the facts support. Ferret biting, like any other behavior trait, in my opinion and experience is a matter of handling and socializing. Anyone who ever met our ferrets knew that they were strictly taught what was and what was not acceptable. As a result our guys worked Midwest Pet Fair and were handled by literally 30,000 people over a three day event with no problems. I would not hesitate a second to hand any of my ferrets to a kindergartener or first grader and have done so during many St. Paul Public School and Library presentations. There was nothiing special about any of our ferrets. With one exceptions they were all rescues. Some even came to us with health and personality problems. But with consistant work they all learned the rules and became very productive ambassadors to the ferret community. In my opinion the pet that bites is the fault of the owner not the petjust like the child who is a spoiled brat is the fault of the parents not the child. Question: Do my ferrets bite? Answer: Usually only if you insist. And you'll have to worry about me long before you get the ferret to that point. Well, enough of my ravings, I'm going off now to lurk in some dark corner waiting and plotting to potentially rape someone while my ferrets bite them. "Nothing should be implied as law which leads to unjust or absurd consequences." "The game's not over until I win!" [Posted in FML issue 2191]