Dear Jill,
 
Recent articles in the Aurora Sun Sentinel have generated this response
from me.  Is there anything legal to be done here or can I just go to the
meetings and voice my opinion respectfully?
 
Randy
 
 
Especially Ferrets Inc.
718 Uvalda Street
Aurora, CO 80011
Phone: (303) 343-6460
Fax: (303)-343-6436
501 (c) 3 Non -Profit Corporation
 
 
October 12, 2001
 
Dear Sir,
I am not real happy with the goings on within the Aurora City Gov't,
i.e. the city council.  After reading Frank Bells columns on proposed
restrictions of persons in a residence to 150 sq. ft. per person and the
proposed restriction of only 3 domesticated ferrets (mustela furo) per
household, I am left with the questions as to what research has gone
into such proposals.  These proposals neither take into consideration
the physical or emotional needs of either species, but show bias and
discrimination in both.  Is Aurora becoming a zoo for humans by dictating
how much space we must live in, or discriminating against animals?  These
proposals allow more room for ferrets in a house than it does for a human,
depending on the size of the house.  On the other hand, ferrets spend a
majority of their lives in a cage that by humane standards need be no
bigger than 2'x2'x2'.  Why only 3 ferrets?
 
There has never been:
   A. more ferrets in kennels than cats and dogs
   B. a domesticated ferret getting loose, and establishing a feral
      community in America...ever
   C. a complaint of a barking ferret
   D. more recorded ferret bites than dog or cat bites
   E. 3 ferrets doing more damage than 3 dogs or cats, unless you let them
   F. more hair shed by ferrets than cats or dogs
   G. a rabid ferret bite anywhere in Colorado...ever
   H. a death attributed to domesticated  ferrets
 
I can counter practically every myth and allegation this city council can
concoct with educated research and fact, and produce expert witnesses to
back up my statements.  What comes next?  Only 3 dogs, cats, hamsters,...
goldfish?  Did the city council ask the local merchants if they minded
selling less animals, food and other merchandise associated with the pet
industry?
 
But let's be fair.  Why give ferrets more room in the house than humans?
It's true, ferrets don't drive cars that could take up space, but in all
fairness to my fellow humans, isn't declaring by law that a small animal
have more room to live in than a human discriminatory?  ......or is the
city of Aurora still trying to punish and drive from the city limits a
non-profit organization responsible for saving thousands of ferrets.  A
couple that have dedicated themselves to a cause that got too big to be
in the city and too big to operate in a residential area?
 
We at Especially Ferrets Inc.  have admitted that we made some mistakes
along the way and we also agree it is better for us to move from a
residential area to a more spacious place where zoning isn't so
restrictive.  Had we known the problems that would have arisen from our
growth, or even that this shelter would have gotten this big, we might
have done things different.  As it is, we want to move more than ever.
 
Yes, our house is for sale.  Our shelter and our dreams are shattered and
scattered all through the metro area.  We have heard rumors that house
sales are slow in Aurora and not because of the economy.  It's the zoning
laws and the ever-growing list of personal rights and freedoms that are
keeping the citizens of Aurora from enjoying their unalienable rights of
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Not the alleged problems caused by
Especially Ferrets Inc.
 
The Honorable Councilman Bob LeGare is right to dislike the measure
proposed for ferrets.  It treads upon the rights of all, and continues
the discrimination against ferrets.  Did you know that in Aurora, you can
have a playground for 10 children and a pond for 10 Koi or fish in your
backyard, but you cannot have a playground or a pond for 10 ferrets?
Especially Ferrets was ordered to tear down their playground for ferrets
even after agreeing to reduce the number of ferrets in their house to ten
ferrets in May of 2001.  I doubt if the weather will be" smooth sailing"
through the city council for either measure, as he is quoted in Frank
Bells column.  As long as this ferret loving and retired fishing boat
operator is around, there are rough waters ahead for this proposal.
 
Respectfully,
 
Randy Horton
Volunteer at Especially Ferrets Inc.
 
Web site www.especiallyferrets.org
e-mail [log in to unmask]
 
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SHELTER EFFORTS
[Posted in FML issue 3569]