I seem to recall that the case in England that Dick Bossart mentions
happened when the parents left the child at home alone while they went
out to a nightclub.  There were 2 dogs loose in the home as well as the
ferret.  There were no details offered, but I always thought the presense
of multiple animals and the obvious neglect on the part of the parents to
make the charge against the ferret questionable at least.
 
Debra in Fort Worth
[Posted in FML issue 3663]