As it turns out, the 3/7/96 date for ferret freedom in MA is a little softer
than 1st thought.  Looks as though the 90 day period for the bill to take
effect was a minimum, not a fixed period.
 
While the bill made ferrets legal, there are some ambiguities that have to
be ironed out by the agencies that will set the regulations.  The details
and the devil rise again.  When we last left our story, the pet store lobby
pulled a brilliant tactical move at the last possible moment to enable them
to sell ferrets.  This was forbidden by the bill up to this point and is
something the MSPCA opposes strongly.  The pet stores and MSPCA are at
loggerheads on several issues and ferrets may be a convenient front to wage
this larger battle.
 
One issue is that ferrets are required to have all distemper and rabies
shots.  There are at least 2 interpretations of this.  1) The shots
appropriate for its age, which would not restrict kit sales.  2) A kit will
have to be old enough to get the final distemper and rabies shots before it
could be sold (say 16 weeks).  The 2nd really could cause problems.  If MF
sells kits at around 7 weeks (right or wrong aside - it happens), what does
that mean for MA pet stores.  Do they lose out because MF won't hang on to
"age" them at extra expense when they could be sold elsewhere readily?  Do
MA pet stores buy them and warehouse them until the right age?  In either
case, the kit(s) will not get the personal care and training that the 1st
option would allow.  MA ferrets will cost more and be older than in NH, so
people may go there to buy ferrets along with their liquor.  This will
please MA pet stores.  Also, I think it is better to get the new owner
involved actively in health care by going to the vet for shots and having
that support contact.  This is better than delivering a no muss, no fuss pet
that allows less involvement for 1 year.  This is just one area of possible
contention, there are other issues that could muddy the waters.
 
Shortly, the state agencies will have a meeting with the various interest
groups to spell out the proposed regs.  Right now nobody is showing their
hands.  This will be followed by a public meeting in late Feb.  If there is
some real controversy over the regs, the state agencies can postpone the
legalization date until resolution.  Since the MSPCA got burned at the last
minute on this bill and already has axes to grind with the pet store
industry, they could take this opportunity to lash back.  There are all
sorts of other individuals with varying opinions about pet store sales that
could be wildcards.  The upshot is that March 7th might be the magic day,
but there are no guarantees.  A worst case could put it off for some time
(and that could be MSPCA's tactic if they want to stave off problems or
twist the knife).  I have no idea how things will play out, I'm just
pointing out the potentials.  Murphy's Law is still in effect in this state
and we have quite an Irish population.
 
This should be of interest to CA folk to show that there is always a way to
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  Even a passed bill is not the final
step.
 
   ( )--(a)
   (@=@=) \     Till next time.......Rudy the ferlosopher
   O__)  \ \___
      \   \
      /\ * )  \
 
[Moderator's note: How about trying to convince them to agree *existing*
ferrets are legal and let them work out the details for pet store sales
at their own pace? :-)  BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 1458]