This is just to update everyone on the goings on in MA.  On Tuesday,
February 27, 1996 there was a public hearing at the Department of Fisheries
and Wildlife Headquarters.  Right after this meeting, the regulatory board
met and voted unanimous to adopt the proposed amended rules and regulations
pertaining to the new "ferret law" here in MA.  What this means is that on
March 7, 1996, your ferret will be legal in the state of Mass.
 
A BIG thank you to, Mason Weinrich, and Bill Williamson who spoke to the
board regarding the Mass Friends Group's concerns regarding some key issues.
Dick Bossart, for your help with our research, his never-ending patience in
answering our questions, and making available his "library" of knowledge.
 
Lee McKee, for all your last minute work in putting together the volumes of
papers Dick sent us. Also, thanks to Troy Lynn Eckert for getting to us that
last minute important information.  Thanks a million to all you others
nationally who helped us with our questions and sending in important
information from your own states.
 
Jo and Ed Fowler, thanks for taking the video of the proceedings.  Jan
Fleury and Ann Rudich, thanks for coming to the hearing and lending your
support.
 
One of the biggest issues the MA Friends Group was concerned about was the
risk assessment protocol in a bite situation.  We recommended that a history
be taken of the animal, i.e., if they are updated on their rabies shots, or
bitten by another domestic animal who is updated on its shots, a quarantine
should be done.  In the case of an unknown history of the animal, it will be
up to the Director whether or not to destroy the animal and have it tested
for rabies.
 
Mason also suggested to the Board that they should take this into
consideration while drawing up internal procedures pertaining to the
regulations, rather than inserting them into the regulation itself.  The
regs do allow a quarantine period at the discretion of the Director.  During
its deliberations, the Board consented to consider drafting the protocol.
 
The other, was that in the regs there was no mention of shelters.  The way
the law is written is that no one except licensed breeders and research
institutes will be able to possess a ferret unless it is neutered or spayed
and has had all its shots.  Since shelters will be taking in ferrets with
unknown histories, they will have two weeks to comply with the law.
 
For those of you who participated in commenting about the proposed rules and
regs the biggest issue was that under Prohibitions - letter h) has been
amended from "to have a ferret in one's possession or under ones control
where birds or mammals may be found has been amended to read: to have a
ferret in one's possession or under one's control in any field, forest, or
woodland or other place where wild birds or mammals may be found.  This is
mentioned in the statue and it has to do with hunting.  Dr.  French (F&W)
stated that there was not too much leeway as far as changing the wording but
this has helped to clarify that line.  The Environmental Police will be
instructed that people walking ferrets in the park will not be in violation
of the law.  Also, this does not mean that pet stores, vet clinics, homes
etc.  are in violation either.
 
We are formally declaring that March 7, 1996 is "Ferret Freedom Day".  We
are asking that not only MA residents celebrate this, but ALL ferret owners
across the country do the following:
 
Promote good ferret awareness, take your ferret out for a walk on his leash,
(MA residents, please take your rabies/distemper certificate with you just
in case), visit local pet stores, Veterinarian clinics, whatever and hand
out literature.  Please contact your local newspapers, write articles or
letters to the editor, contact your local media, cable company or radio
station and make yourselves available.
 
Anyone wishing to contact us please do so by e-mailing me, Bill Williamson
at [log in to unmask] or Lee McKee at [log in to unmask], or call
the Ferret Hotline at: (617) 224-1098 for updates on upcoming events.
 
The next meeting of the Mass Friends Group is scheduled for Saturday, March
23, 1996 at 1:30PM.  Place will be announced.  This is a very important
meeting because we are adoptingbylaws, electing officers, and becoming a
real, legal organization.
 
Sharon Burbine,
Mass Friends Group
[Posted in FML issue 1492]