Here's one for the "Bureaucracy Gone Mad" file. We need immediate help and advice, preferably from a professional with a lot of letters after their name. We live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and we're about to be steamrolled by an out of control bureaucracy. My wife is pregnant, and has developed Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension. To control her blood pressure, she is restricted to bed rest and a nurse is sent to our home each day to monitor her condition. Unfortunately, our little white 3 year old ferret, Sydney, occasionally likes to introduce herself by nipping. More unfortunately, she "introduced" herself to one of the antenatal nurses on Christmas day. We didn't even realize at the time that the introduction had occurred, but the nurse claims it did, and that she drew blood. Imagine our surprise when we received a phone call today from the nurses informing us that they had reported the incident to the Calgary Regional Health Authority's Communicable Disease Control office. This was followed almost immediately by a phone call from the Communicable Disease Control people informing us that Sydney would have to be destroyed so they can examine her brain for rabies. This is insane. Our vet thinks it's insane. We're talking about an incredibly loving, devoted, sociable, well cared for pet that's about as vicious (and as big) as a ball of lint. She's never out of the house (or car, if we take her for a ride), has never been exposed to other animals, and she gets her rabies shots annually. There is no question that she's clear. When we described all this to the official, along with the fact that to our knowledge there is little to no incidence of rabies being transmitted by ferrets, they told us it was irrelevant. They feel that there is a possibility that rabies could have been transmitted to Sydney while she was in the womb. What the **** is the chance of that? Is it about the same likelihood as the possibility that Bill Clinton is an alien? Or that Elvis is alive? Maybe the Earth IS flat. Essentially, there appears to be no provision for a quarantine period, and because this all happened today just before their offices closed, we don't know what recourse (if any) we have at this point. This is all so stupid and pointless, I can't believe it's happening. If any veterinary or health care professionals out there have an opinion on this that may help save Syd from these petty dictators, PLEASE HELP US!!! Believe me, so far the nurses haven't done much to reduce my wife's blood pressure, which could be putting both her and the baby at risk. Sydney is one of the few things keeping JoAnne sane through all the stress of a high-risk pregnancy. As I write this, she has climbed up the couch to check on JoAnne, and is giving her kisses. We can't afford to lose Syd, particularly because we already lost our first two ferrets this year to adrenal disease and lymphoma. Thanks to anyone who can offer help and support. Desperately, Tim Faunt & JoAnne Collinson [Posted in FML issue 2570]