>I have also heard testimony by HSUS in NH hearings that companion animals >do not need owners-- they need guardianship-- which will be overseen by >local shelters-- this is getting pretty scary Pam!-- THE FOCUS seems to be >that of an agenda to relieve folks of pet ownership. This combined with >an exotics ruling for ferrets may be scarier than a humane shelter walking >into your residence w/o a search warrant -- and that is the current HSUS >trend! More work needs to be done NOW in the humane arena-- we have lost >some serious footing for our pets. I am personally uncomfortable with the concept of pet ownerships as well. I own my car - that means I am perfectly entitled to graunch the gears, starve it of oil, and kick it if I get mad. I don't own my pets any more than I own my kids - they are an obligation and a responsibility that I have willingly taken on - but that does not confer on me any unalienable rights to do with them what I want. In this respect the term guardianship (or something similar such as custody) is probably a more appropriate term than ownership. John Chessum [Posted in FML issue 3491]