Can a snake be a service animal? Yes, but rules are getting a new review Monday, October 19, 2009 8:05 AM PDT By Nancy Bartley Seattle Times <http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/10/19/breaking_news/doc4adc801305644061734709.txt#blogcomments> Simple solution: Allow the treating physicians to decide on a case by case basis when an animal is performing a service function and then the physician can arrange for a state or federal permit, just as there are handicapped parking permits. Ferrets often perform the function of service animals. Here are four on-line links for reading about some people who use ferrets to spot on-coming seizures: <http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/10/14/article/pet_that_helps_disabled_man_draws_controversy> <http://www.extremeweezils.com/ewfriends.html#cerino> <http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/media/critter-news/legal-news/ferrets-cause-eviction.aspx.pdf> <http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/letters/story.html?id=7bfb0564-303b-4bf9-a419-25656c03d919> Ferrets have also helped children with autism broaden their lives. For example: http://www.modernferret.com/pressreleases/sean.html Hilbert, is very aware when my asthma is becoming very bad and saved my life when we had a furnace malfunction. This is another issue in which the ferret community needs to become involved, PLEASE! Sukie (not a vet) Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html http://www.miamiferret.org/ http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html all ferret topics: http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html [Posted in FML 6491]
