I have a question about a certain situation that occurred the other day.  A
neighbor wanted to see my ferrets, who were out playing in my apartment.
So I said sure, just watch where you're walking, they're always underfoot,
and they'll probably try to eat your shoes (she had on a pair of those
really clunky, chunky high-heeled sandals.  So as she's walking through,
she's not really paying attention, and she stepped on poor Merlin's tail
with one of those horrible heels.  He's writhing, and I'm trying to tell
her to move, when all of a sudden he whipped around and bit her hard on her
ankle.  Well, that got her to move and Merlin ran off and hid, hissing all
the way.  His tail appears to be fine, but he took a good chunk out of the
neighbor's heel.  It was bleeding a little, I put antiseptic on it and gave
her a band aid.  Well, today she comes to my door asking if he's had his
shots and all, tells me she had to go to her doctor to get a tetanus shot
and doesn't want to get rabies shots, so she wants to make sure my ferrets
are all vaccinated (which they are).  THEN, she makes a comment about how
it's a good thing she has medical insurance, that way I don't have to worry
about covering her doctor's bills for her!  EXCUSE ME???  Could that have
been a possibility?  It wasn't exactly an unprovoked attack, and I warned
her before-hand.  Now I'm wondering if I should just never let anyone hold
or play with my ferrets, just in case!  Does anyone know the usual rules or
law about this (in the US)?
 
thanks,
debbi
[Posted in FML issue 3145]