I am currently preparing the New Zealand Ferret Protection and Welfare Society Incorporated submission on the Public Discussion Document "What can we do about ferrets" that has been released by the New Zealand Government. This document outlines a range of proposed restrictions to be imposed on domestic ferrets, up to, and including, a total ban on keeping pet ferrets. One area of information that would be helpful for me is if anyone has any research, or case study data, on the effects that have arisen from the ban on ferrets in California. The type of thing I am looking for are animal welfare issues that might arise from the inability or reluctance to obtain veterinary assistance, genetic degradation from the effects of driving breeding "underground" or any other adverse effects that might help our case. I am also interested if anyone can provide me with a reliable (or at least quotable) estimate of the number of ferrets in California. And finally can anyone provide any detail on the susceptability of ferrets to Toxaplasmosis, and whether or not they pass this disease on in their faeces. Please reply to [log in to unmask], as I don't always have the time to read all the digests that come in. If you want more information on the situation in New Zealand, then contact me at the above address, or else you can access the public discussion document through our web-page at www.geocities.com/heartland/village/9074 Regards John Chessum President Ferret PAWS (NZ) Inc [Posted in FML issue 2887]