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- Ferrets are not always legal to be
kept as pets. A a specialty pet retailer, it is imperative
that you learn about legal issues impacting ferrets and other
companion animals and how you can protect yourself and help your
customers. Keep abreast of these important issues to benefit your
store, customers, and their ferret friends.
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- Where
Are Ferrets Legal?
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- Ferrets
are legal in 48 of the United States and illegal statewide in
California and Hawaii. Local laws (such as city or county) can
choose to follow state guidelines, or can provide a stricter law.
For this reason, many counties or cities in states where ferrets are
legal have their own laws that may ban or restrict ferrets, such as
New York City, Washington D.C., and Dallas, Texas.
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- Why
Are Ferrets Illegal In Some Places?
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- Most
laws that specifically prohibit ferrets are based on ignorance or
misinformation. Lets explore these myths:
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- MYTH:
Ferrets are Wild Animals!
Not So! Mustela
putorius furo has been domesticated for thousands of years,
possibly longer than the housecat! Records of albino household
ferrets date back to early Greeks, around 450 BC. Furthermore,
ferrets are recognized as domestic by the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA 1996 Title 9). The American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of
the United States (HSUS) also officially recognize ferrets as
domestic companion animals.
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- MYTH:
Ferrets are a Rabies Risk!
The USDA approved the IMRAB-3 vaccine for ferrets in 1991. Different
states have different rabies vaccination rules for ferrets (usually
between 3 and 6 months). If you are selling ferret kits, you should
inform the new ferret owner when the shot is needed. Even without a
rabies shot, scientific studies and the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) show that ferrets are unlikely to either catch or transmit
rabies. In 1998, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
concluded that ferrets, in the slight possibility that they contract
rabies, die within a few days. Therefore, a rabies quarantine policy
was set for 10 days, just like cats and dogs.
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- MYTH:
Ferrets Are Dangerous, Vicious Animals!
Ferrets
have gained a bad reputation based on a few incidences widely
reported in the media of ferret attacks on children. In every case,
the ferret was severely abused. As with any animal, a ferret may
bite when it is frightened or in pain.
However, studies by the CDC and AVMA show that humans are
many times more likely to be bitten by a dog, cat, rabbit, snake, or
human than a ferret. However, the ASPCA and the HSUS warn that
"NO pet should be left unsupervised with a child."
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- MYTH:
Feral Ferrets! Another
fallacious argument is that if ferrets became legal everywhere, they
could escape and establish feral populations that would destroy
native wildlife and threaten farm production. Shannon Taylor,
manager of the Creature Castle in Valrico, Florida laughed at the
recent New York City ruling against ferrets: “There are so many
crops for ferrets to destroy in New York City! Like a ferret would
destroy a crop anyway!” Ms. Taylor adds that “Most ferrets sold
in petstores are spayed or neutered (or should be), because if
they’re not fixed, ferrets are smelly and experience health
problems.” There are NO feral ferret populations in North America. The
endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is the wild
American cousin of the domestic pet ferret, but they can’t
interbreed. Finally, domestic ferrets, because they have lived with
man for so long, have lost many survival instincts. They don’t see
well, have lost hunting instincts, and have little fear. Most pet
ferrets survive only a few days in the wild, particularly in hot
conditions.
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- What’s
Your Status?
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- The above information shows that most
arguments for declaring ferrets illegal are invalid. Shannon Taylor
of Creature Castle says, “I never knew any actual, legitimate
reason for ferrets to be illegal.” However, local codes remain on
the books that you must be aware of. Start with the Department of
Fish and Game to see if ferrets fall under their jurisdiction
(indicating that ferrets have been declared as "wild").
Then get the complete animal control codes from the county or city
where your petstore is located.
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- What
Are The Levels Of Restriction?
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- Although
every animal control code will vary, there are different
restrictions you should look for so you can inform customers about
the “rules.”
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- Ferrets
Are Named Legal.
In this case, ferrets are specifically listed as a legal
household pet. However, there are often other restrictions, such as
ferrets needing licenses and/or rabies tags. A spay/neuter
requirement is another possibility. In this case, be sure to give
customers proof of this procedure. Some areas have leash laws (keep
leashes and ferret harnesses in stock!). Finally, there may be a
limit on the number of pets that can be kept in a single household.
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- Ferrets
Are Not Mentioned In The Code.
In this case, ferrets are never mentioned in the animal
control code, meaning ferrets are legal by default and are not
subject to specific restrictions such as licensing, rabies tags, or
permits. On the downside, the code is open to interpretation if a
ferret in your store is implicated in a bite/scratch case. Some
cities, even where ferrets are legal, automatically euthanize
ferrets in a bite/scratch incidence.
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- Ferrets
Are Not Permitted.
In this case, ferrets are specifically mentioned in a list of
non-permitted wild or exotic animals.
Sometimes there are loopholes for petstores and ferrets can
be sold, but not owned as a pet in that city. Suzette Stidom, owner
of S&S Exotic Animals Pet Shop in Houston, Texas, says that
“to protect my store, I have a USDA license and a County license
from Animal Control to carry exotics.”
That way, if ferrets are classified as exotics, they can
still be sold. However, don’t let customers assume that because
they buy ferret in your store it’s legal. Ms. Stidom emphasizes
that even though ferrets are legal in Houston, if a customer is from
outside the city limits (such as nearby Beaumont, where ferrets are
illegal), “I always tell them to check their local laws.”
Please inform customers of the status of ferrets in their city to
protect yourself and your customer’s ferret.
Jacqueline Duncan, owner of All for Paws in Brooklyn, New
York, says, “We had to stop carrying ferrets because of the new
laws in New York. But we still carry all the supplies for ferrets,
and people come in all the time walking around with ferrets on their
shoulders.”
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- Conclusion
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- The
efforts of ferret folk everywhere are slowly working to correct
ferret misconceptions and change local and state laws. Progress is
being made, but there have been some setbacks. Keep abreast of your
local codes and become affiliated with a ferret organization that
can help you with legal research and educational materials.
Jacqueline Duncan of All for Paws says “there is no reason why
ferrets should be illegal.” Someday domestic ferrets will be
recognized everywhere as the wonderful pet they are!
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- How
Can You Affect Ferret Laws?
- Because
ferrets are the third most popular companion animal in the United
States, and ferret owners are more likely to spend money on ferret
accessories, it is worthwhile to ensure that these profitable pets
can be legally kept in your area. The key to changing ferret laws is
to understand existing laws, educate people, and work to change
laws. Start by examining the complete copy of the animal control
code, and discuss the code with animal control and humane
authorities. Then work to educate people, especially customers at
your store, or visitors to your booth at a trade show. Get publicity
by volunteering educational ferret seminars at elementary schools,
city council meetings, animal control officer training courses,
humane societies, and so on. If you wish to become proactive in
changing a particular code in your city, become very familiar with
the code, city council members, and the rules and procedures use to
rewrite code. Work with as many other organizations that you can;
don't try to change laws alone!
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