I talked today to Pat Sproule ("Sprowl") of Clark County Animal Control in Las Vegas. Office is (702) 455-7710. It turns out, that, as before, the information that was posted was incorrect. The situation is: A ferret licensing bill, with which Animal Control was involved, was passed yesterday, but it is different than we were led to believe by a recent post. Note it applies to unincorporated Clark County, not the cities of Boulder (City?), Henderson, and North Las Vegas, which may have their own ordinances. This is all my memory and notes, so if you really care, you might check this. --------- 1) Ferrets must get rabies shots, by Nevada State Law, just like dogs and cats. 2) There is now a mandatory license. The licensing is meant to help enforce #1. I'm not sure exactly how this works. 3) The license fee for ferrets is the same as for cats: 1 year license $ 4 for spayed animal $ 10 for non-spayed animal At any rate the $100 mentioned was inaccurate (that or something like it was however in the dangerous animal ordinance, which suggested or enacted a $100 fee and proof of adequate control to keep an animal which had been deemed as vicious by a judge (because, say it had savaged several people, *after the fact*). 4) Ferrets must be confined indoors (or on leash if outside). 5) There is no maximum number of ferrets allowed (I think that was on the basis of #4). Cats have a maximum number allowable, 6 for non-fanciers permit, 12 for fanciers permit ($25 (per year?)). 6) There are no surprise inspections. For cat fancier's permits, there is a (prescheduled) appoinment yearly. 7) If a "bite ferret" has a vaccination, it will be quarantined in your home for 10 days, just the same as cats. Unvaccinated ferrets will still be killed, she thinks. --------- I haven't finished pondering what I think of legislation like this. I might entertain the idea it is understandable and maybe even arguably reasonable (that is, at least not completely insane), BUT: I tend to want the government out of my affairs, and wonder if this kind of thing goes too far. Also, $4 per year animal could still be a bit high if you have a lot of animals. Also, it is yet one more burden from the goverment. Also, I don't know that I want the government, goverment records and power, and attendant beauracracy surrounding yet another thing in my life. Finally, it's not clear that the epidemiology of rabies in their area warrants this kind of thing. Anyway it is not as bad as we were led to believe (not as steep price, not discriminatory over dogs and cats). Todd Cromwell Dors and Seldon [Posted in FML issue 1307]