Rev J.Gordon Of Arrowranch said: I believe the state needs to better control the sale of ferrets. Not to make them illegal but to better qualify those who gets one. The state also needs to take better control of ferret rescues,.... WHOA! Hang on there! Be careful what you wish for! NO STATE should have "control over the sale of ferrets!" And certainly NOT take control of ferret rescues! And the State should ABSOLUTELY NEVER be THE qualifier as to who may obtain or retain a ferret! There is enough government running amok among our daily lives and influencing what we can and cannot do without relegating ferret control to a state authority! Case in point - California for one. If control of ferret sales is turned over to the state - which breeders will the state promote? Those with the friendliest ferrets? Healthiest? Most Colorful? Most traditional? How about, as most always happens, the breeder with the most political influence; ie, a lobby group or biggest campaign contribution? If the state is to qualify who gets a ferret and who doesn't which guideines will the state recommend? Free roam 24/7 of the home? Or 90% caged, 10% free? How about a 80/20 split? Or a 75/25? Or 50/50? Or 60/40? Will ferrets be allowed in homes with other pets or children? How many ferrets will each home be allowed to own? Will the ownership of such ferrets be according to gender of animal? How often will the state be required to follow up on the ferret keeping and will you be willing to leave your home open to inspections at will? Who is going to write the rules that the state will have to enforce? What will the fines be for infractions? How many infractions does an owner get before having to relinquish the ferret? Before you go wishing to relinquish control of ferretship to the states, be absolutely 100% certain you know exactly what you are asking for! Putting the governement, ANY government in absolute power or authority does in NO way resolve the original problem! Instead it often creates MORE problems as well as can be extremely difficult, if not nearly impossible to reverse once the state has gained such control! The over abundance of unwanted ferrets rests squarely upon the shoulders of several people: Ferret mills, pet shops, breeders, and uninformed impulse buyers. But before we point fingers at "uninformed buyers" how many of us got our first ferret after actually DOING homework FIRST? How many of us learned as we went? How many of US made mistakes in ferret care over the years? How many of us have evolved in our ideas of proper ferret care? HOw many have had ferrets in the past and now with new ferrets have revamped our ways? How many of us got our first ferret as an IMPULSE buy? How many of us got our first ferret(s) from a pet shop - which most likely got their stock from a mill? How many of us got MORE ferrets from a pet shop? Thereby creating MORE instances for ferret breeding at the mill? How many got more ferrets from a shelter or offered shelter to ferrets needing rehoming thereby eliminating at least a few instances for breeder replacements? PREVENTION of such numbers of unwanted ferrets rests squarely upon the shoulders of those of us who DO own ferrets! It is IMPERATIVE and INCUMBENT upon us as "knowledgeable" owners to inform others about the needs of ferrets. How many people have you talked to about ferret ownership this week? Were you truthful about the unpleasant parts; persistent oops poops and their clean ups, confinement issues, inevitable nips and play bites, medical issues, veterinarian needs, odors, fleas, mites etc; as well as talking about the glorious benefits and fun of ferret companionship? Did you make it perfectly clear that ferrets are NOT just huge gerbils, hamsters or guinea pigs and that they are NOT cage pets - which is totally contrary to the perception all pet stores and many ferret breeders portray? Knowledge is power and those of us who ARE responsible ferret owners NEED to, HAVE to, inform the unknowing wannabe ferret owners in order to help prevent the hordes of unwanted ferrets that inundate our shelters! But is this knowledge something the STATE needs to control? certainly NOT! The situation in Va, is disconcerting. Especially how many animals supposedly just HAD to be euthanized due to dehydration issues? Seems to me that Sub Q fluids would combat dehydration rather swiftly and fairly safely for the animals. As to the stock piles of frozen cadavers - many vet's offices do the very same thing. But I guess since a vet is "state licensed" its o.k. to stockpile animal cadavers in freezers? But then again from what I've read it was a "government" official (animal control) that made this decision. Not exactly a good precursor to the idea to turn over control and qualifying care is it? I definitely think that governemnt control is NOT the way to go - however a shelter network and roster of available volunteers or helpers would be a better way to go. Each shelter I am sure, rather like each ferret owner, feels their shelter is best for the rescued animal(s), but all too often the shelter caretaker can become overwhelmed and as we've seen, hesitant to ask for help they themselves are willing to give. A shelter network of volunteers and helpers would offer a starting place to glean available hands until the original caretaker is back on their feet. Please NIX the idea of STATE controls! Regards, Kim [Posted in FML 5870]