Got the Compendium from Pam Troutman so that I can photostat it for inclusion with later state letters to the ones with nebulous replies or which sent no reply. Those will got out in February if I have the additional expected reference I need by then, and if that directory has not arrived they will then go out shortly after its arrival. Diane Rogers of AFA is also following up on some states which have not addressed the issue and I expect to receive her answers from them for posting here, or to find that she will post them directly to the FML, with the info I need for the Morris Animal Foundation coming to me. Meanwhile, I have received a letter from Minnesota. Jeff Bender DVM, MS, State Public Health Veterinarian, Minnesota Department of Health, 7171 Delaware Street Southeast, P.O.Box 9441. Minneapolis, MN 55440-9441, (612) 623-5000; excerpt including a quote of unknown origin: "...Currently, the commissioner of health's role in the "evaluation of animal bite situations is limited to reviewing factual data about the bite and making recommendations on observing or testing the animal or treating the individual who was bitten." Any recommendations regarding animal bites or treatment of individual bitten by animals are based on information put forth by the Compendium of Animal Rabies Control Committee and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practises of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Therefore, recent Compendium recommendations are being observed once they are published." Re: ferret waste around plants. Know that ammonia smell which ferret pots get? Ferret waste is very high in nitrogen so even if it might be safe in other ways (I don't know if it is or not.) you'll still have to watch out for nitrogen burn, a serious concern for gardeners when nitrogen levels are too high. (More is not necessarily better -- often not better, in fact, but there ARE ways to deal with this danger so break out the books.) Sukie [Posted in FML issue 2179]