*the short of it: if you have ever written, or know of any good formal advocacy for ferrets, please consider sending me a copy. ;)* the long of it: Hello, my name is tatiana. i have written a few times before, but am relatively new to the list. i am currently enrolled in a pet assisted therapy program at my college, and was not all that suprised to find out that ferrets were not approved pet assisted therapy animals. this was because of the belief that they are wild, unruly, and untrainable animals. some animals that are approved include: ducks, horses, rabbits, cows, moose, goats, etc. not every ferret is a pat ferret just as not every dog or cat is PAT quality. but i don't think you can say that moose are, on the whole, better behaved then ferrets. ;) my immediate thought was, "i must launch my crusade!" not only that, but i would like to use one of my ferrets as a PAT animal. my instructor has told me she would let me do an internship if i could come up with some documentation that they are domesticated creatures. she said that anything written my members of animal welfare societies, vets, therapists, and other people with impressive sounding credentials would be acceptable, but that i will need a lot of data and opinions. basically it is because she will be going against the rule that plainly says that ferrets aren't allowed. if you have written anything in favor of ferrets as pets, or in any areas, for rabies quarantine, whatever, please consider forwarding me a copy. even if it is only a letter to the editor that you never sent. i will not take credit for anything you have written. the whole point is that it is not my opinion. ;) if you have written in opposition, that is fine as well. i'll be gathering information on that side of the fence too. anyway, i really would appreciate any articles or pointers. please respond via email if at all possible. thanks for your time and if you have any questions feel free to ask. peas, tatiana [Posted in FML issue 2503]