I recall someone posting about her ferret being registered with some
local AAT group. He got a little 'kerchief and everything. If they
can, I'd very much appreciate them contacting me. In fact, anyone and
everyone that has their ferrets registered in some sort of group as a
therapy animal is welcome to contact me ... all countries. If your
ferret is allowed to be in public with you because they are regarded
as a therapy animal in some sense (bus pass or other passes, doctors
note, anything ...), that would also be helpful.

Several of us in the ferret community are in contact with Frances's
lawyer about her case in Canada where her ferret has had his special
bus pass revoked, even though he has papers listing him as an AAT
animal. The bus company took it a step further when she complained and
now they have revoked ALL AAT animal passes except seeing eye dogs. So
now this lady is fighting for many. Not just herself. This is the third
high profile case I've seen like this and we must support those who are
fighting for others in the ferret community. Any information regarding
the use of your ferret in some sort of AAT, or the use of your ferret
as your own service animal would greatly help this case.

Please contact me if you can.

I'd like to say that one of the single, largest reasons this is
happening to so many people by the way, is all because of DELTA animal
therapy services. They are the grandfather of most U.S. AAT groups and
are the main model for those who are not affiliated with them. Other
countries even look to them for their own standards. The problem? Not
only does Delta not accept ferrets as AAT pets, but they use them as
one of their prime examples of a "wild exotic animal" that is not
allowed. I've been in contact with Delta a few times over the years
ever since 1999 or 2000 (can't remember which). They will not budge on
this subject. In fact, they've been very terse and abrupt with me no
matter how I approach them. This last time I tried to plead with them
to at least cease in disseminating false information about ferrets in
that they are not wild but domestic. I politely asked them to take them
off the wild animal list on their site. If they don't want to accept
them, that is their prerogative (that's a fight for another day). But
for right now, they inappropriately list them as wild and exotic no
different than a wolf or wolverine. I supplied references, quotes, etc,
over the years to no avail. I know of other ferret people who have
written once upon a time and were greeted with the same brick wall of
ignorance. They've been told how detrimental this is to these animals
and their owners. It hurts in so many ways, and the writings of a well
respected agency like this, goes a long, long way across the board
into other areas of animal welfare.

Many of your smaller animal organizations also list ferrets as wild and
inappropriate. That is because they are either affiliates and must list
that, or are using Delta as their model. Some of these groups realize
that ferrets are domestic and don't want to list them, but they do
because of Delta. Despite me pleading with them and explaining that
taking ferrets off the example list of wild animals is not going
against Delta since it says "etc" after a few examples, they won't do
it. I'm saddened, that so many organizations exist for AAT, run by
"animal people" that should know better and they can't ban together
and request that ferrets be taken off that list, let alone ask to be
included in AAT. So sad.

Sad that ferrets are outlawed, viewed as wild. Sad that they are put
down, viewed as viscous. Sad that they are treated unfairly and even
abused in many ways due to this mindset. But most of all, it's sad for
the handicapped souls that really and truly rely on these little guys
to alert them to oncoming seizures, panic attacks, or quell extreme
anxiety and agoraphobia such as in my little boys case. Frances only
got outside twice last winter. With the aid of treatment and her little
one combined she was starting to get all over the place and life was
starting anew. That is happening no more. But it doesn't have to remain
that way...

Wolfy
ps, please cross post this if you have the chance.

[Posted in FML 6056]