How The Ferret Ban Started
Dr. Taylor's Letter

 

Franklin Veterinary Clinic
39 Hill Road
West
Franklin, NH 03235
[tel. 603_934_7179]

 

To Whom It May Concern:

I have been a veterinarian for 15 years, practicing first Meriden, CT, and for the past ten years in Franklin, NH. My practice consists entirely of cats, dogs, ferrets, and rabbits, and small rodents. I enjoy all of these species, and each of them has it place. I would like to lend my experience and expertise with ferrets to the controversy surrounding their legalization in New York City.

We were unable to find out how many of those years Dr. Taylor actually spent treating ferrets and how many ferrets Dr. Taylor treated per year. Nor were we able to find any information about any specialized training he may have received with regard to the treating of ferrets. All of these would be helpful in determining Dr. Taylor's "expertise with ferrets". We did, however, find out that he is no longer treating ferrets.

NYCFerrets.Com wrote to the New Hampshire Shelters. All of which were within 2 hours of this vet. When asked the question "Who do you consider to be the top ferret vets in your area? Is there a particular one that your shelter uses?" These were the responses from two out of the 3 licensed shelters in NH. The third shelter did not reply.

• 4 Li'l Paws Ferret Shelter
• Ferret Services of Freedom

 

In the proper hands, a ferret may be a wonderful pet, as I am sure, could a tiger cub.

Comparing a domestic animal to a wild endangered animal is ludicrous and inappropriate.

 

Nevertheless, both may pose significant threats in the wrong circumstances.

Any animal can pose a significant threat in the "wrong circumstances". To name a few:

  • Large Dog
  • Small dog
  • Cat
  • Bird/parrot
  • Hamster
  • Gerbil
  • Guinea pig
  • Rabbit
  • Human being

 

My fears, should ferret become legal in NYC, fall in to several categories.

First, I fear they may escape, or be dumped. Dozens show up in local shelters here all the time

NYCFerrets.Com asked the New Hampshire Shelters, all of which were within 2 hours of Dr. Taylor, about the alleged "dozens" of escaped and dumped ferrets.

• 4 Li'l Paws Ferret Shelter
• Ferret Services of Freedom
• Ferret Services of Freedom -Letter to Dr. Taylor

 

and turn feral.

Dr. Taylor stated that ferrets had turned feral in NH and (further down) alleges that this has happened in CT as well. In 1996 The California Department of Fish and Game sent a four page questionnaire regarding ferrets to all 50 states. NONE reported any incidents of feral ferrets in their states or of ferrets breeding in the wild.

• CT and NH responses to 1996 California Dept. of Fish and Game questions regarding the absence of feral ferrets in their states.

 

Although they do not tolerate cold well, a city environment will afford them with plenty of protection from the elements.

• Domestic ferrets do not survive in the wild. From the CDFA library *Link is out of order
• Californians for Ferret Legalization: Misinformation of the Week #4 *Link is out of order
• Californians for Ferret Legalization: Misinformation of the Week #9 *Link is out of order
• Ferret Services of Freedom -Letter to Dr. Taylor

 

This has been seen in Hartford and Bridgeport CT.

• CT and NH responses to 1996 California Dept. of Fish and Game questions regarding the absence of feral ferrets in their states.
• Ferret Services of Freedom

• Ferret Services of Freedom -Letter to Dr. Taylor

 

Lacking an innate fear of man, these aggressive creatures

• Californians for Ferret Legalization: Misinformation of the Week #6
• Ferret Services of Freedom -Letter to Dr. Taylor

If ferrets were "aggressive creatures" the following links would not be possible.

 

may have a profound effect on the indigenous park species of birds and small mammals,

• Californians for Ferret Legalization: Misinformation of the Week #1 *Link is out of order
• Californians for Ferret Legalization: Misinformation of the Week #2 *Link is out of order
• Californians for Ferret Legalization: Misinformation of the Week #3 *Link is out of order
• Californians for Ferret Legalization: Misinformation of the Week #5 *Link is out of order
• Californians for Ferret Legalization: Misinformation of the Week #7 *Link is out of order
• Domestic ferrets do not survive in the wild. From the CDFA library

 

and my well have direct contact with man.

That leads to my second concern. Rabies is a big issue with ferrets, and although some preliminary research has shown they may have an antemortem shedding period for the virus that is similar to cats and dogs, the research is not conclusive.

Unlike dogs cats and other animals, rabies is practically a non-issue in ferrets. This is undisputed. There has NEVER been a case of a ferret transmitting rabies to a human being.

• Compendium of Animal Rabies Control
• Jenkins Cover Memo to Transmittal of 1998 Compendium *Link is out of order
• LIFE Fact Sheet on Rabies in Ferrets (February 1997) *Link is out of order
• Rabies and the Domestic Ferret, By Troy Lynn Eckart.(1997) *Link is out of order
• Californians for Ferret Legalization: Misinformation of the Week #10 *Link is out of order
• Californians for Ferret Legalization: Misinformation of the Week #11 *Link is out of order
• CDFA Ferret Facts: Rabies *Link is out of order
• The NYC DOH position on Rabies in ferrets

 

In addition, there is an extremely limited choice of rabies vaccines which carry approval for this species.

Whether or not there is a choice of vaccines is irrelevant. There is a readily available approved Rabies vaccine for ferrets. IMRAB 3 is the approved Rabies vaccine for ferrets. With the exception of cats and dogs, there is no approved Rabies vaccine for any other household pet.

 

Last, and most important, is their interaction with infants. The reports of ferret attacks on small infants are not exaggerated, nor are they isolated incidents. Even the most ardent ferret proponent would not think of leaving their infant unattended for even 60 seconds in the presence of a ferret.

No responsible adult should leave an infant alone with any animal unattended. It is irresponsible to leave an infant lying on the floor, unattended with a dog; To leave a cat in an infant's room unattended overnight; To leave an infant unattended with a macaw; To leave an infant unattended with hamsters or gerbils or snakes running loose. Leaving an infant alone and unattended with any animal is reckless and irresponsible behavior.

As for whether or not ferret "attacks" are isolated incidents, the few alleged "attacks" on children or infants that made it into to news were often found to have been exaggerated and there were usually suspicious circumstances (parents were passed out and drunk at the time; the bites were later found to be from rats; the ferret had been abused...) there are very few, if any, legitimate reports of ferret attacks on small children and infants.

• CDFA Ferret Facts: Bite Data *Link is out of order
Photos of not-so-vicious ferret & baby
• Ferret Services of Freedom -Letter to Dr. Taylor

 

I am personally aware of two attacks upon infants caused by completely normal ferrets that were patients of mine. One of the babies was nine or ten months old when the attack happened. During the attack the child's eyelid was torn off. In both instances the parents believed that the ferrets were in "escape proof" cages.

We do not fully understand why ferrets exhibit these behaviors. Some have suggested that sounds or perhaps smells engage their hunting instincts.

No one has been able to find any proof of this attack. 4 Li'l Paws Ferret Shelter had some comments on this alleged attack.
• 4 Li'l Paws Ferret Shelter

 

Whatever the cause, you have the opportunity to prevent similar attacks of infants that are bound to happen if ferrets are permitted in NYC. If it were possible to go back and prevent their legalization here in NH. I would do it, despite the fact that individually I may enjoy them very much.

Sincerely,

 

Barry N. Taylor, DVM

Certainly everybody is entitled to their own opinions. However, the Governor of New Hampshire seemed to be quite pleased with the continued legalization of ferrets in New Hampshire when she proclaimed June 12th 1997 "Ferret Appreciation Day".

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