2008 Woodie Awards
Ferrets deserve to be legal companions
One local battles for 'felon' ferrets
Mallory Voyk
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Opinion
The joy I get from having furry, four legged members in my family is indescribable. My two rambunctious boys charm everyone they meet with their affection; after realizing how quiet and gentle my two boys are,
no one can see a reason why ferrets are illegal here. California is the only state on the continent that enforces bans on this domestic pet, and ignores public demands for change.
The state Department of Fish and Game is responsible for the ferret's 'wild' status. They believe three easily invalidated positions: ferrets are prone to attacking children, there is no proven rabies vaccine
for them, and they'll establish feral breeding populations and threaten wildlife. They base their decision on data older than a decade, and don't want to admit that over 500,000 ferrets already live here.
I ask everyone to do their own research.
Ferrets were domesticated over 3,000 years ago. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that between 1978 and
now, there have been just over 400 recorded ferret attacks, averaging about 13 per year (the CDC reports an average of two million dog bites per year.)
Ferrets DO NOT target age ranges. A rabies vaccine called IMRAB 3 was USDA-approved in 1994. Ferrets will not form feral colonies; they are almost always neutered when young
BEFORE going to new homes.
This is just a bit of information on ferrets available today. Animal lovers, the correct information is easy to come by. Don't let false accusations and bogus studies mislead you.
Mallory V, Humboldt State student
no one can see a reason why ferrets are illegal here. California is the only state on the continent that enforces bans on this domestic pet, and ignores public demands for change.
The state Department of Fish and Game is responsible for the ferret's 'wild' status. They believe three easily invalidated positions: ferrets are prone to attacking children, there is no proven rabies vaccine
for them, and they'll establish feral breeding populations and threaten wildlife. They base their decision on data older than a decade, and don't want to admit that over 500,000 ferrets already live here.
I ask everyone to do their own research.
Ferrets were domesticated over 3,000 years ago. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that between 1978 and
now, there have been just over 400 recorded ferret attacks, averaging about 13 per year (the CDC reports an average of two million dog bites per year.)
Ferrets DO NOT target age ranges. A rabies vaccine called IMRAB 3 was USDA-approved in 1994. Ferrets will not form feral colonies; they are almost always neutered when young
BEFORE going to new homes.
This is just a bit of information on ferrets available today. Animal lovers, the correct information is easy to come by. Don't let false accusations and bogus studies mislead you.
Mallory V, Humboldt State student
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