A quick P.S. to the last letter: I sent a pile of web resources to the radio station the day that post came out using the letter below. This is how easy it is to get info out, so if I can do it so can anyone else: Oh, my! Since when did you ever work as bureaucrats' mouthpieces when they aren't using the facts? You know better. Oh, well, we all slip up at times; this was just your turn. Here are the resources desired with actual facts about domestic ferrets. They would permit you speak from a standpoint which has some oomph behind it. First of all go to http://www.avma.org and get through there to the Compendium of Animal Rabies Control from the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (or find the compendium in the first edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, JAVMA, each year) . Notice that ferrets in 1998 were included to be treated the same as dogs and cats in questionable situations. This is because extensive testing was done through the CDC and major universities. That work can be confirmed with the project leaders if you want further confirmation and I can help you on that score should you need. Secondly, check with New York's state public health vet, Millie Eidson up in Albany at the Health Dept. Hey, don't stop there; check in New Jersey and Connecticut with the state public health vets in charge of rabies policy as long as you are at it, and cross reference with the Fish, Game and Wildlife Depts when those hold the permit numbers. Know what you'll find? You'll find the same thing that was found when Freddie Hoffman, a pediatrician, did an in-depth article on bite rates for a major medical journal: That ferret bites are rare per capita pet type compared with dogs, and that serious bites are way more rare. If you'd like to learn more about the study contact the AFA at 1-888-FERRET1 or [log in to unmask] Then contact the ASPCA, the Associated Humane Society in New Jersey, and other major humane groups. The most recent to stop opposing ferrets is the USHS (though I don't know if all the employees know yet that they have publicly announced this in their magazine -- hopefully they do). The ASPCA and others spoke out in ferrets' favor at the NYC Health Dept public hearing. Did the Health Dept happen to tell you that? Do you really trust folks who keep you out of the loop simply because they want to widen their scope of power by taking some away from the City Council? Know who else were at that meeting? How about a number of ferret-expert vets testifying in the ferrets' favor. Right there in NYC you have one of the world's top veterinary research and treatment facilities: the Animal Medical Center in lower Manhattan. Why not ask their exotics specialists for info? Want to know the natural history of ferrets? There are multiple sites of ferrets in art work since using ferrets to flush rabbits (not to kill them -- that was left to humans and dogs) was common in the Middle Ages and they made popular pets in the Renaissance (even for Elizabeth I). One example is http://www.tiac.net/users/drbeer/joyce/ferrets/frhistpg.htm . Would you like to read about the history -- perhaps about Pliny mentioning them since they were domestic pets used for mouse control back then just like cats were? Look into the Natural History segment of http://www.ferretcentral.org Can't let yourselves be misused as mouthpieces in someone's politic plotting again. Enjoy these data and then put them in a spin in thanks for misusing you! Glad to be able to do you the favor in this case -- knowing ferrets personally and enjoying their cuddles and kisses for many years. [P.S.] Have been finding out from friends in many efforts what worked in their locations, put it with what worked here when we had a challenge to ferrets, and these were the upshots: Someone in NYC needs to do some basic coordination so that folks will know HOW they can help get the legislation passed. A webpage would be WONDERFUL!!!! In fact, it would be PERFECT!!!! Anyone willing to put one up? [Moderator's note: Lori has a good start -- see her post. BIG] Foremost: a list needs to be made of districts (including what locations are in those districts for folks who don't know their district numbers and councilmembers (plus councilmembers' addresses and phone numbers) offhand), so that NYC people can access the webpage or list, or otherwise contact an individual (or two) who can tell them immediately WHO their councilmember is and how to make contact. Then the voters in that district need to get in touch with that councilmember and let the person know that they want the legislation to legalize ferrets, proposed by Councilmember Kathryn Freed, to be passed. To help them do this in a constructive fashion it would be great to have a small ferret FAQ handy; till that can be compiled it is possible to refer people to sites such as http://www.ferretcentral.org, http://www.ferret.org, http://www.miamiferret.org, and http://www.ferretnews.org, etc. The addresses of media for the area are the third step so that they can be sent data and ferret-supportive letters. Also, people should be encouraged to write letters of support to: Councilmember Kathryn Freed 51 Chambers Street, Room 429 New York, NY 10007 cc: to Speaker Peter Vallone City Hall New York, NY 10007 All contentious speech needs to be stopped. It creates animosity, it loses allies, and it appears completely unprofessional so it will work against ferrets. Instead, be constructive and informative. Be appealing. Be professional. This CAN be done!!!!! It is essential that your council come to recognize that ferret supporters are logical and level-headed people who have data and who truly love their ferrets enough for opposition to legalization to lose them votes, while support of legalization WILL get support and contributions. I am not in NYC, but I have a lot of friends there and I REALLY HOPE that some logical, calm, non-combative individuals make it obvious that many voters are affected in a very bad way by the Health Dept. ban, and that ferret people are for the most part the sorts of people the councilmembers will enjoy having in their courts! Sukie P.S. There are already some people getting some information to the Councilwoman, but additional info and friendly, personable letters of support are ESSENTIAL. [Posted in FML issue 2729]