Thursday's hearing at the NYC Health Dept. went well insofar as major animal institutions were there opposing the proposed rule change: ASPCA, Humane Society of N.Y., the Animal Medical Center all supported legal ferret ownership, and the N.Y. Zoological Society and N.Y. Herpatalogical Society complained they were't consulted in time and found the reptiles and lizards on the prohibited list to be ill-conceived. WNBC television and WCBS radio were there, too, as well as some newspaper reporters. Needless to say, the actual members of the Board of Health were not in attendance and will receive a transcript of the proceeding. There were about a dozen other speakers in opposition to a ferret prohibition. Most notable, City Councilmember Kathryn Freed sent a representative to not only oppose the proposed rule change, but later sent a fax to the Board pledging to introduce legislation in the NY City Council to legalize ferrets. So no matter what the four Board of Health members (all appointed by animal-hating Mayor Rudy Crueliani) decide, the end result will be ferrets will eventually be officially legal. The next Board of Health meeting is on June 29th at 10:00 am on the 3rd floor of 125 Worth Street in Manhattan. It is open to the public. [Posted in FML issue 2702]