The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A P R O C L A M A T I O N
By His Excellency
G O V E R N O R W I L L I A M F . W E L D
1997
WHEREAS: Mustela putorius furo, known commonly as the ferret, is a
domestic animal with a long and colorful history of faithful
service as a working animal and a pet; and
WHEREAS: March 7, 1997, marks the one-year anniversary of the signing of
the bill that legalized ferret ownership in the Commonwealth;
and
WHEREAS: This bill dispelled the ignorance, prejudice, and misinformation
surrounding ferrets, allowing these animals to serve their
owners as sources of joy and companionship; and
WHEREAS: Today, ferret owners in Massachusetts have the right to enjoy
these animals as pets, to seek proper veterinary care, to gather
with other ferret owners, and to shop for their pets' needs
without fear of confiscation or legal prosecution; and
WHEREAS: These new-found freedoms are accompanied by the responsibility
to care properly for ferrets, which includes procuring
vaccinations in accordance with health requirements; training
these animals to behave within the context of domestic life; and
fighting abuse neglect, and abandonment of these animals;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM F. WLED, Governor of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim March 7th, 1997, to be
FERRET FREEDOM DAY
and urge all the citizens of the commonwealth to ake cognizance of this
event and participate fittingly in its observance.
Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this
twentieth day of February, in the year of our
Lord one thousand one hundred and ninety-seven,
and of the Independence of the United States of
America, the two hundred and twenty-first.
<signed>
By His Excellency the Governor WILLIAM F. WELD
<signed>
WILLIAM F. GALVIN
Secretary of the Commonwealth <SEAL of the COMMONWEALTH>
GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
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Transcribed from the orginal by Lee McKee, Clerk, MaFF
[Posted in FML issue 1865]
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