Hokay, here's the story as it stands - Today, I and the staff of the Utah Ferret Association, together with other interested citizens, appeared before the Salt Lake County Executive Council to continue the legalization effort for ferrets. (The news reports should be on in about 1/2 hour for me, I can't wait!) We arrived and told the council before they read the proposal from animal control that we REJECTED the proposal in its entirety, and needed to start over from square one - the council took a few moments to voice their displeasure to Peggy Hinnen of animal services for tripling the fees that the council had already agreed upon (they agreed upon the fee, and sent the proposal out to be re-written, whereupon she tripled the fee again) - Another council member (who was against ferrets as pets, as he admitted to us) felt that the proposal was just plain unfair, and that the county would NOT be more liable if in fact they DID institute a rabies quarantine period for vaccinated ferrets.. (Yes, this is GOOD news!) The end result? - more delay. The executive council has now organized a `task force' of individuals to sit down with animal services and go line-by-line through their planned changes (they are changing the ordinances for dogs and cats within a couple of months, a complete re-write.) The task force would discuss the pros and cons of all the restrictions and fees they plan, and would decide which ones to implement (working ferrets into the ordinance as it was re-written, with no more restrictions than dogs would have.) In my eyes, this is wonderful news, and we SHOULD have a much better proposal in 30 days (I am on the `task force' as well as a vet who is VERY angry with animal services for their heavy-handed shenanigans of the past and present, the Vet is also very pro-ferret!) I will be glad to answer any questions people have, and will be sure to keep you all updated! Our first meeting of the `task force' will be this coming monday morning, so I shall be sure to have another report then! Matt Ouimette President, Utah Ferret Association (daytime phone - 801-553-0600) [log in to unmask] _,-/"---, ;""""""""""; _/;; "" <@`---v ; ::::: :: "\ _/ ;; " _.../ ;" ;; ;;; \___/:: ;;,'"""" ;" ;;; ;; ;;; ::/ ;" ;;;;. ;; ;;; ::/ ,/ / ;; ;;;______;;; ;;; ::,/ /;;V_;; ;;; \ / | :/ / ,/ \_ "")/ | | / /"""= \;;\""= ; ;{::""""""= \"""= ;""""; \/""" - If ferrets had ruled the earth, mankind would never have invented matching socks! [Posted in FML issue 0930]