Past Legalization Efforts
Council Member Kathyrn Freed's Bill to Legalize Ferrets
Kathryn Freed Press Release 4/19/01

 

Kathryn E. Freed
COUNCIL MEMBER, FIRST DISTRICT
51 Chambers Street, Room 429, New York, NY 10007

Phone: 212/788-7722            Fax: 212/788-7727
E-mail: freed@council.nyc.ny.us

Representing: SoHo, NoHo, TriBeCa, Washington Square area, South Village, Battery Park City, Wall Street, South Street seaport, City Hall area, Little Italy, Chinatown, LowerEast Side

CONTACT:
Evan Greenstein, (212) 788-7722
NEWS RELEASE
 
April 19, 2001

 

ANIMAL ADVOCATE FREED PRAISES HEALTH COMMITTEE
FOR SAYING YES TO FERRETS

Contracts Chair Calls on Full Council to Allow Ferrets as Pets in City

 

 

Council Member Kathryn E. Freed today thanked Health Chair Victor Robles and other Committee members for voting to overturn the 1999 City ban on keeping ferrets as pets. Freed's bill, Int. 627, now heads to the full Council for consideration.

"Ferrets have been domesticated longer than cats," said Freed, who has been the leading critic of the City's ban on ferrets since its inception. "It's time that the City recognize the merits of ferrets and stopped making criminals of their owners. I am hopeful that the Council will overturn the administrative ban and allow the residents of the City to keep their ferrets."

While there appears to be widespread support on the Council for overturning the ban, Mayor Giuliani has indicated that he supports the Health Department's decision. In fact, during a radio interview in 1999, the Mayor referred to a ferret owner as "deranged" and then told the man to see an analyst (New York Post, December 15, 2000).

"The ban on ferrets is silly and should be overturned immediately," said Freed, the self described Council animal maven. "While I understand that not everyone is an animal lover, the Mayor has taken his hatred towards ferrets to a new extreme. Thousands of New Yorkers keep ferrets as pets. They are wonderful animals who deserve an equal chance for a loving home."

Freed expressed optimism that the Council will pass her bill at the next meeting and that the Mayor will review the issue and sign the ban overturn. She noted that keeping ferrets as pets are legal everywhere in New York State, outside of the City and in 48 of the 50 states.

 

 

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