Question:
The city where I live has an ordinance that prohibits anyone from keeping any animal "wild by nature," like ferrets and wolf hybrids. My brother keeps ferrets, and it's OK since he lives in another state. He wants to give me one. He says they're not wild. What's your take on this?.
V.L., Minneapolis, MN May 01, 2005
Answer:
First of all, I am totally opposed to the breeding and owning of wolf-dog hybrids, because many suffer from extreme timidity and temperamental instability.I am also opposed to people keeping any wild species as a "pet." Wild animals belong in the wild. The importation of exotic wild species for the pet trade should be prohibited by the federal government for public health, humane and environmental reasons. There has been a resurgence in the sales of baby turtles, even after this was made illegal in 1970 after thousands of children developed salmonella infections from these animals.Now that an approved rabies vaccination is available for ferrets there is no reason why municipalities should prohibit their ownership, so it is now OK for you to keep a ferret in your state. They are a domesticated species, after all. Be aware, however, that the rabies vaccination has some risks for ferrets, who should be carefully monitored after vaccination.
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