Wow - the first time I have not been at a Compendium Committee    meeting in nearly 2 decades, and I missed the opportunity to meet  you   or hear your presentation if you gave one.  I have to say that you    are starting out on the right track.  The contacts with these  people    and others within USDA, CDC, manufacturers, is VERY important to  your    cause and making yourselves known and visible to these people is    extremely important.  You may attract their interest and  willingness    to try to help, but keep in mind (as you have emphasized on your  web    site), that absolutely NOTHING will change unless and until  extensive    testing is done and it will be at YOUR cost - not a  manufacturer's. 
   
The Wildlife Education and Research Foundation has been pursuing  USDA    approval of rabies vaccines for use in wolves and Wolf Hybrids    (wolfdogs) since 1988, but although great strides were made in    influencing the attitudes of "those that be in power," it was  always    made very plain that without the required extensive scientific    testing, absolutely nothing would change.  One group (Wolfdog    Coalition) was convinced that it was completely political and    attempted to skirt doing the scientific testing by trying to amend    the Code of Federal Regulations.  Other intermittent groups have    tried similar efforts.  Unfortunately, the scientific community  nixed    it entirely from the inception of that effort, and with good  reason.

The State Public Health Veterinarians are employed for one reason  and    one reason only - to protect human health and safety.  That is    something that the Coalition never understood or could accept at  any   rate. 
   
Because skunks are large reservoirs for rabies and because there  is    an identifiable skunk rabies virus variant, your job is going to  be    doubly hard, and there is no way you are going to get around  having    that testing (as set out in the CFR) done before you can get near    your goal.
   
Your listing of state regulations is a very good idea.  Make sure  the    contacts in those agencies and the manufacturers know about it and    receive the listing.  Keep attending as many scientific  conferences    as you can - the Compendium Committee meetings, the ASPHV  conventions    (go to the Rabies Committee meeting), don't ignore or gloss over
ANY    of the information you hear at these meetings.  It is important  that    you know.  Titer level testing doesn't really mean a thing so far  as    indicating actual immunity to the disease, so don't even bother  with    it.  All it indicates is that either the animal has had contact or    exposure to the disease or that it's immune system is trying to  react    to an administered vaccine.  You are dealing with a separate  species    (like the ferret people), so it might be wise to try to contact  those    groups to find out exactly how they went about it.  It took quite  a    few years for them to get a vaccine approved for ferrets.
   
These are just suggestions and comments, and please don't take    offense.  I have always found that diplomacy and willingness to  learn    is your best ally, not trying to impress someone with what you  have    done/are planning to do.  Especially when you're dealing with    scientists who have devoted their lives to one particular area.
   
I wish you all the luck in the world - but strongly suggest that  you    conduct some very heavy fundraising campaigns!!
   
   Dottie Prendergast
   The Wildlife Education and Research Foundation