Here is the PROPOSED ordinance for Salt Lake County Utah's ferret
`legalization' have a look.. I'm currently re-writing OUR version to
give them, as well as sending copies to Bill Phillips in CA to go over and
help me with. We can't allow it to go through as such, but I thought you
should see it.. (If it's too long, just scrub it Chris, I'll send via
e-mail if anyone asks)
I realize that MANY parts of this `proposal' are wrong, and we are trying
to get that through to the appropriate people, I just thought you should
see it - the fees mentioned are six times what a dog owner would pay, and
cats have no fees, just so you know.. there are other discrepancies as
well, but I can't post the original document to compare - too much space
- but we're trying hard.. I've postponed the meeting til the 24th, so we
have a little time to muster arguments.. and it looks like we'll need
them! I'm re-writing this two differeint ways with our
counter-proposals, so I'll be at the keyboard a lot the next week or so..
oboy.. :)
I hope we can talk some sense into them..
Matt Ouimette
Utah Ferret Association
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Salt Lake County, Utah
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 8.04.220, 8.12.040, 8.12.110, 8.28.030,
REVISED ORDINANCES OF SALT LAKE COUNTY, 1987, AND ADOPTING SECTIONS
8.12.065, 8.20.12, AND CHAPTER 8.18, REVISED ORDINANCES OF SALT LAKE
COUNTY, 1987, RELATIVE TO THE REGISTRATION, CARE, AND MAINTENANCE OF
FERRETS.
The Board of County Commissioners of the County of Salt Lake ordains
as follows:
SECTION I. That the amendments made herein are designated by
underlining the new substituted words. Words being deleted are designated
with a line drawn through said words.
SECTION II. That Section 8.04.220, Revised Ordinances of Salt Lake
County, 1987, is amended to read as follows:
8.04.220 Wild Animals
K. Weasels (Mustelidae). All including weasels, martens,
wolverines, ferrets (except for common house ferrets, otherwise known as
the European Polecat or European domestic ferret), badgers, otters,
ermine, mink, mongoose, etc., provided that except that persons raising
members of this family as a business for their pelts shall not be
prohibited by this section.
SECTION III. That Section 8.12.040, Revised Ordinances of Salt
Lake County, 1987, is amended to read as follows:
8.12.040 Permit--Fees
C. Permit fees for businesses, breeders, rescue shelters,
or other similar establishments selling any number of ferrets shall be
seventy-five dollars per year as required in section 8.12.060.
SECTION IV. That Chapter 8.12, Revised Ordinances of Salt Lake
County, 1987, is amended to add Section 8.12.065 as follows:
Chapter 8.12
COMMERCIAL PERMITS AND SPORTSMAN'S PERMITS
Sections:
8.12.065 Permits-Ferrets-Requirements
A. Any business or similar establishment which obtains a permit
for the purchase, sale, housing, or transfer of ferrets shall comply with
the following requirements:
1. Each ferret imported or bred for placement, transfer or sale
shall be implanted with a microchip and shall be registered with the
division of animal services within ten days of receipt or birth. Said
registration shall include microchip number, name and address of current
responsible party, date and place of birth, and in the case of an adult
ferret, appropriate veterinary records.
Unless otherwise sterilized or registered as a breeding ferret,
each ferret when it reaches the age of twelve weeks, shall be sterilized
and certification of surgery shall be provided to the division.
3. Each ferret shall be descented.
4. All ferrets shall be maintained in cages and shall not be
exhibited in such a way as to provide opportunity for harassment by any
customer or injury to any customer.
5. Within ten days of acquisition of an adult ferret or prior to
placement of a kit, veterinary certification of the following vaccinations
shall be provided to the division for each ferret.
a. Canine and feline distemper. Initial vaccinations shall
be provided when a ferret is four to seven weeks old; the vaccinations are
repeated at eleven weeks, with a booster provided every other year
thereafter.
b. Rabies. An initial vaccination shall be provided when
the ferret is 12 weeks old, with a booster provided every year thereafter.
Only vaccines approved by the division, in accordance with national public
health standards for rabies control, may be used.
B. All such establishments shall be subject to periodic
inspections during regular business hours by the division of animal
services and/or the health department at which time all related
documentation shall be available for inspection.
C. Upon the sale or transfer of any ferret, the permit holder
shall provide to the division of animal services the name, address,
telephone number of the new owner, and certification from the Utah Ferret
Association that appropriate training on ferret care and behavior has been
provided the new owner. This information shall be provided along with the
identifying microchip number and any of the information required in this
section not previously submitted.
D. The requirements of this section shall also apply to a rescue
shelter operated by the Utah Ferret Association or other approved agency
which holds and places unreclaimed ferrets.
Section IV. That Section 8.12.110, Revised Ordinances of Salt
Lake County, 1987, is amended to read as follows:
8.12.110 Permits--Suspension or revocation--Procedure
Any permit granted under this title may be suspended or
revoked by the division of animal services or the county commission for
violations listed in sections 8.12.065, 8.12.090, and 8.12.100.
Section V. That Title 8, Revised Ordinances of Salt Lake County,
1987, is amended to add Chapter 8.18 as follows:
Chapter 8.18 Ferrets
Sections:
8.18.010 Registration--Required within ten days--Owner's age.
8.18.020 Registration--Application--Other requirements.
8.18.030 Registration--Fees.
8.18.040 Number of ferrets per residence.
8.18.050 Registration--Term and renewal.
8.18.060 Registration--Importation of ferrets from other
jurisdictions.
8.18.070 Registration--Revocation.
8.18.080 Harboring stray ferrets.
8.18.090 Ferrets running at large.
8.18.100 Ferrets prohibited in designated areas.
8.18.110 Attacking ferrets--Defenses--Destruction
authorized.
8.18.010 Registration--Required within ten days--Owner's age.
All ferrets must be registered each year to a person of
eighteen years of age or older. Ferrets must be registered within ten
days of purchase or acquisition.
8.18.020 Registration--Application--Other requirements.
A. Application. Registration applications must be
renewed annually with the division of animal services. The application
shall specify the name, address, and telephone number of the applicant;
and the sex, color, age, and microchip number of each ferret.
B. Other Required Documents. The application shall be
accompanied by:
1. The required registration fee;
2. Certification by a licensed veterinarian that the
ferret is sterilized, descented, and is current on rabies and
canine/feline distemper vaccinations. Rabies vaccinations are required
annually and canine/feline distemper vaccinations are required at least
every other year.
8.18.030 Registration--Fees.
A. Registration fees shall be as follows:
1. Breeding ferret . . . . . . . . . . $50.00
2. Sterilized ferret . . . . . . . . . $30.00
3. Late fee, in addition to regular fee $15.00
B. Ferrets will be registered as breeding ferrets unless
verification from a veterinarian is provided indicating that the ferret
has been sterilized. The fee for each breeding ferret must be paid in
addition to applicable fees for a breeding or business establishment.
C. Upon completion of the application process and payment
of the registration fee, the division of animal services will issue the
owner a certificate for each ferret registered. A tag will be provided if
requested by the owner.
8.18.040 Number of ferrets per residence.
No person or persons at any one residence within this
jurisdiction shall at any time own, house, or license more than two adult
ferrets.
8.18.050 Registration--Term and renewal.
Registrations shall be effective for twelve months from
the date of purchase through the end of the same month on the following
year, after which a late fee may be imposed. A ferret may be registered
thirty days in advance of the expiration date.
8.18.060 Registration--Importation of ferrets from other
jurisdictions. A. All ferrets imported from outside Salt Lake County for
resale, breeding, or relocation must be examined by a licensed
veterinarian within thirty days prior to entry into Salt Lake County.
Only vaccinated ferrets may be imported.
B. Prior to importation, the establishment owner or
responsible party must provide the division of animal services with a
complete report from a veterinarian indicating vaccination history, and
the date and results of the last health examination, which are subject to
verification by the division.
C. Upon a showing of the above veterinary certifications,
registrations from other jurisdictions will be recognized and transferred
at a cost of $5.00 for each ferret and will be valid for a period of
twelve months from the date of out-of-County registration. If the ferret
has not been registered in another jurisdiction, payment of the normal
registration fees will be required.
8.18.070 Registration--Revocation.
If the owner of any ferret(s) is found to be in violation
of this chapter on two or more different occasions during any twelve-month
period, the director of animal services may seek a court order pursuant to
Section 8.40.010 revoking for a period of one year any ferret
registration(s) such person may possess, and providing for the animal
services division to pick up and impound any ferret(s) kept by the person
under such order. Any ferret impounded pursuant to such order shall be
dealt with in accordance with the provision of this title for impounded
animals, except that the person under the order of revocation has no right
to redeem the ferret under any circumstances.
8.18.080 Harboring stray ferrets.
It is unlawful for any person, except an animal welfare
society incorporated within the state consistent with Section 769302 Utah
Code Ann. (1953), as amended, to harbor or keep any lost or strayed
ferret. Whenever any ferret shall be found which appears to be lost or
strayed, it shall be the duty of the finder to notify the division of
animal services within twenty-four hours, and the division shall impound
the ferret as herein provided.
8.18.090 Ferrets running at large.
It is unlawful for the owner or person having charge,
care, custody or control of any ferret to allow such ferret at any time to
run at large. Ferrets shall be caged or under the immediate control of
the owner or person charged with responsibility for the ferret at all
times. The owner of a ferret found running at large shall be strictly
liable for a violation regardless of whether or not the person knows that
the ferret is running at large.
8.18.100 Ferrets prohibited in designated areas.
It is unlawful for any person to take or permit any
ferret, whether loose or on a leash or in arms, in or about any
establishment or place of business where food or food products are sold or
displayed, including but not limited to restaurants, grocery stores,
markets and fruit and vegetable stores.
8.18.110 Attacking ferrets--Defenses--Destruction authorized.
A. Attacking ferrets. It is unlawful for the owner or
person having charge, care, custody or control of any ferret to attack,
chase, or harass any person, domestic animal having commercial value, pet,
or domestic fowl. "Harass," as used in this section to mean tear, bite,
or shake with the teeth. The owner of a ferret committing any of the
above activities shall be strictly liable regardless of actual intent.
B. Defenses. The following shall be considered in
mitigating or in dismissing the charge:
1. That the ferret was properly confined on the premises'
2. That the ferret was deliberately or maliciously
provoked.
C. Ferrets may be destroyed. Any person may destroy a
ferret while it is committing any of the acts specified in subsection A of
this section or while such ferret is being pursued for committing any of
such acts.
D. In the event a ferret bites any person or animal or
shows signs of having rabies, the owner or person responsible for caring
for the ferret will immediately surrender to ferret to the division for
destruction due to the uncertainty of rabies gestation in ferrets. This
section supersedes the provisions in 8.20.060.
Section VI. That Chapter 8.20, Revised Ordinances of Salt Lake
County, 1987, is amended to add:
8.20.12 Ferret rabies vaccination requirements.
A. The owner, or business, or person having the charge,
care, custody or control of the ferret shall have the animal vaccinated
for rabies when it reaches twelve weeks of age. Any person permitting any
such animal to habitually be on or remain, or be lodged or fed within such
person's house, yard, or premises shall be responsible for the
vaccination. Unvaccinated ferrets over twelve weeks of age acquired by
the owner, business or other person must be vaccinated within thirty days
of purchase or arrival. Every ferret shall be revaccinated thereafter
every twelve months. Rabies vaccines must be approved by the division of
animal services in accordance with national public health standards for
rabies control.
B. This provision shall not apply to veterinarians or
animal shelters or other animal boarding establishments who are
temporarily maintaining on their premises animals owned by others.
Section VII. That Section 8.28.030, Revised Ordinances of Salt
Lake County, 1987, is amended to read as follows:
8.28.030 Impoundment--Recordkeeping requirements
The impounding facility shall keep a record of each animal
impounded, which includes the following information:
A. Complete description of the animal including tag
and/or microchip numbers;
Section VIII. This ordinance shall become effective 15 days after
its passage and upon at least one publication in a newspaper published and
having a general circulation in Salt Lake County.
APPROVED and ADOPTED this ____ day of _____________, 1994.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF SALT LAKE COUNTY
By: E. JAMES BRADLEY,Chairman
Board Of County Commissioners
ATTEST:
SHERRIE SWENSON,
Salt Lake County Clerk
E. James Bradley Voting ____
Randy Horiuchi Voting ____
Brent Overson Voting ____
[Posted in FML issue 0914]
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