I recall someone posting about her ferret being registered with some local AAT group. He got a little 'kerchief and everything. If they can, I'd very much appreciate them contacting me. In fact, anyone and everyone that has their ferrets registered in some sort of group as a therapy animal is welcome to contact me ... all countries. If your ferret is allowed to be in public with you because they are regarded as a therapy animal in some sense (bus pass or other passes, doctors note, anything ...), that would also be helpful. Several of us in the ferret community are in contact with Frances's lawyer about her case in Canada where her ferret has had his special bus pass revoked, even though he has papers listing him as an AAT animal. The bus company took it a step further when she complained and now they have revoked ALL AAT animal passes except seeing eye dogs. So now this lady is fighting for many. Not just herself. This is the third high profile case I've seen like this and we must support those who are fighting for others in the ferret community. Any information regarding the use of your ferret in some sort of AAT, or the use of your ferret as your own service animal would greatly help this case. Please contact me if you can. I'd like to say that one of the single, largest reasons this is happening to so many people by the way, is all because of DELTA animal therapy services. They are the grandfather of most U.S. AAT groups and are the main model for those who are not affiliated with them. Other countries even look to them for their own standards. The problem? Not only does Delta not accept ferrets as AAT pets, but they use them as one of their prime examples of a "wild exotic animal" that is not allowed. I've been in contact with Delta a few times over the years ever since 1999 or 2000 (can't remember which). They will not budge on this subject. In fact, they've been very terse and abrupt with me no matter how I approach them. This last time I tried to plead with them to at least cease in disseminating false information about ferrets in that they are not wild but domestic. I politely asked them to take them off the wild animal list on their site. If they don't want to accept them, that is their prerogative (that's a fight for another day). But for right now, they inappropriately list them as wild and exotic no different than a wolf or wolverine. I supplied references, quotes, etc, over the years to no avail. I know of other ferret people who have written once upon a time and were greeted with the same brick wall of ignorance. They've been told how detrimental this is to these animals and their owners. It hurts in so many ways, and the writings of a well respected agency like this, goes a long, long way across the board into other areas of animal welfare. Many of your smaller animal organizations also list ferrets as wild and inappropriate. That is because they are either affiliates and must list that, or are using Delta as their model. Some of these groups realize that ferrets are domestic and don't want to list them, but they do because of Delta. Despite me pleading with them and explaining that taking ferrets off the example list of wild animals is not going against Delta since it says "etc" after a few examples, they won't do it. I'm saddened, that so many organizations exist for AAT, run by "animal people" that should know better and they can't ban together and request that ferrets be taken off that list, let alone ask to be included in AAT. So sad. Sad that ferrets are outlawed, viewed as wild. Sad that they are put down, viewed as viscous. Sad that they are treated unfairly and even abused in many ways due to this mindset. But most of all, it's sad for the handicapped souls that really and truly rely on these little guys to alert them to oncoming seizures, panic attacks, or quell extreme anxiety and agoraphobia such as in my little boys case. Frances only got outside twice last winter. With the aid of treatment and her little one combined she was starting to get all over the place and life was starting anew. That is happening no more. But it doesn't have to remain that way... Wolfy ps, please cross post this if you have the chance. [Posted in FML 6056]