I'd like to respond to questions about the MSPCA. Most of you probably know that the MSPCA is the Mass. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; they have been around for a very long time. While I don't agree with all of their policies, I understand their position on the ferret bill. First, it is my understanding that the MSPCA supports legalization of ferrets but not sales in pet stores. Having ferrets sold in pet stores makes a lot more work for the MSPCA in two areas: first, it is my understanding that they will be inspecting pet stores; and second, the MSPCA runs a number of animal shelters throughout the state. Even after ferrets are legalized and we have our own shelter system in place, people will still be bringing (i.e., dumping) their unwanted ferrets (cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, pot bellied pigs, chickens, horses etc.) to the MSPCA. I know *I* won't be available 7 days a week to take every unwanted ferret from anyone who has one; the MSPCA shelters will. The MSPCA staff will be the ones caring for these unwanted ferrets (and you can bet a lot of the ferrets will be impulse purchases from pet stores); they will be the ones nursing the sick ones back to health, or making the painful decision to euthanize ones that they consider unadoptable because they have been abused or neglected by someone too irresponsible to take proper care of their animal. The MSPCA will be the ones investigating cruelty charges (if you saw the story in the Boston Herald the other day about the 2 collie puppies rescued from people holding dog fights, that was the MSPCA). Even when we have a shelter system in place and are hopefully able to provide *every* unwanted ferret in Mass. with a safe permanent place, we will still be working closely with the MSPCA as many people in Mass. will know of them more than they know of us. Hopefully we will have a good relationship with them and they will give us their ferrets--but running a ferret shelter is not a job to be taken lightly. I also would not want the MSPCA compared to the HSUS (Humane Society of the US) whose California branch actively opposes legalization and portrays ferrets as vicious animals. Again, the MSPCA supports legalization but has always opposed pet store sales. If there is a "bad guy" here, let's pin the blame on those pet store owners who see ferrets as a way to make money. I do not blame every pet store owner, but long after those certain irresponsible pet store owners are counting their dollars, the MSPCA will be taking in unwanted ferrets. Again, I do not support the MSPCA on everything, but I do see them as a group concerned about the welfare of animals who will be directly affected by pet store sales. Ronnie DiComo [Posted in FML issue 1397]