From:
FHbytheSea@aol.com
Date: 2004-03-07 14:46:15 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: reactions to two shots
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <157.2f6d174f.2d7c8fb7@aol.com>
In a message dated 3/6/04 10:37:27 PM Eastern Standard Time,
rvaughn@pobox.com writes:
> Yes, you can get out of getting the vaccinations, but I don't think a
> vet's waiver will necessarily prevent the authorities from sacrificing
> your ferret if he or she happens to bite someone who feels like
> pressing the issue. In that case, as far as they're concerned, it's
> still an unvaccinated animal.
>
> It's just a tradeoff you have to make. I can respect your decision
> not to vaccinate your reactive ferrets, just as I can respect Caity's
> decision to painstakingly pretreat hers so they CAN be documented as
> vaccinated. I do hope you never find yourself in a situation where
> you have to defend your ferrets against the authorities, though.
> Fortunately it doesn't happen often.
>
Thankfully, the state I reside in (Virginia) has a sane policy for vaccinated
and unvaccinated ferrets - quarantine. The ferrets in question no longer go
outside or to ferret shows and are not introduced to new people just to limit
possible exposures and/or biting situations. Virginia also does not require
rabies vaccinations for ferrets (some counties/cities may but Virginia Beach does
not).
I am balancing the threat of dying from the vaccine with dying from the
disease I know that. Hopefully it will never come to pass.
Lisa Leidig, Head Ferret
Shelter Wench in good standing
The Ferret Haven "By-the-Sea"
www.ferrethaven.org