Back in 2002 the NZ Government was handed a reason to ban ferrets in
NZ when it was found diseases had been imported into NZ from overseas
by one of the ferret breeders; for many years they had wanted to ban
ferrets due to the constant "dumping" of them into the forests and
this was just the excuse they needed to bring in the law to prohibit
the sale and breeding of ferrets.

When this law was introduced in 2002 the NZ Government was
understanding enough to allow all ferrets already owned as pets to live
out the term of their natural lives and remain within the families
which owned them BUT there were to be no more ferrets bred and those,
if and when found, would be destroyed.

It would now appear that, despite the laws of the country, some
breeders continued to breed and, sadly, those people who have purchased
kits either knowing the laws or ignorant of the same, are now suffering
the consequences of being found with family pets which, had they just
been born when the laws changed, would now be 11 years old.

I am really sad for Michelle as this would be seem to be a huge
injustice and heartbreaking wrench to live through, but someone has
done the wrong thing by continuing to breed and it is others who are
suffering the consequences of this .... it is unfair to blame the
country when this law has been in place for so long and the period
of "tolerance" has well and truly passed.

Because we are a disease free country, Australia has a total ban on
the importation of ferrets and I, for one, hope these laws continue
to remain in place so we are never faced with the horrible not having
ferrets in our lives. We also have two States/Territories in Australia
in which it is illegal to own/have ferrets as pets and our owners here
suffer the same consequences if ferrets are found to be living in their
homes.

Hugs to all.

Dianne.

[Posted in FML 7984]