Posted: July 28, 2008, 5 a.m. EDT
If you’re planning to move — whether it’s to a new town, county, state or country — be sure to research laws regarding ferret ownership and husbandry in your new location, said David Gaines, director, legal and legislative affairs for the American Ferret Association in Annapolis, Md.
“There are things you do as part of moving, like getting a new driver’s license or registering your car,” he said. “And when you have a ferret, a part of responsible ferret husbandry is to dig a little deeper than people who have dogs, cats and rabbits have to. And you may find that the place you’re moving to requires you to have a license to own a ferret, and you have to have proof of rabies vaccination.”
Even if you’re traveling between counties or states with your ferret, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with local animal-control laws. Gaines frequently takes calls from concerned vacationers.
“We’ll get an inquiry from someone who’s traveling to Texas, asking if they can bring their ferret along because they heard they are illegal in some places,” he said. “You have to literally go down to the town level, go to that town’s website, look at their ordinances, and find out.”
Wendy Bedwell-Wilson writes about pet topics from her home in Oregon.