Barbara Clay, Dir of Shelter Affairs/CEO Rocky's Ferret Rescue and Shelter Parkton, Md. 21120

410 329-6111 www.rockysferrets.com

Update 3-15-05
By SARAH ABRUZZESE
Capital News Service
Friday, February 25, 2005

ANNAPOLIS - Hundreds of years ago, the feral ferret roamed the earth, wild and wily, it hunted its prey -- mostly rats.

Today, a ferret would look only for its water bottle and kibble, which is why ferret lovers keep coming back to Annapolis year after year to press for passage of the "Ferret Protection Act."

Lawmakers in the House Judiciary Committee heard familiar testimony on the issue that has come before House lawmakers since 2002. This year's bill, HB 620, regulates ferret commerce, mandating no neutering or spaying before the animal is 6 weeks old and no s! ale of animals before they turn 10 weeks.

Proponents say the bill is needed for the healthiest growth psychologically and physically of the fifth-most-owned pet in the United States behind dogs, cats, fish and birds.

The bill's sponsor said the bill isn't just for the ferrets.

"It is an important protection for prospective pet owners," said Delegate John W.E. Cluster Jr., R-Baltimore County.

"I guess it is just like a child," Cluster said in an interview. "The longer you are with your parents, you develop what they are. You take the ferrets away from their mothers early they get really mean."

The director of shelter affairs for Rocky's Ferret Rescue in Parkton is behind the bill.

"We domesticated a wild animal; we've changed its natural instincts. A ferret can no longer escape from a house and fend for itself because of what we have done to it," said Barbara Clay. "Because it! is a man-made pet, we are morally charged with the responsibility of giving it every opportunity to achieve" maturity.

Clay and other proponents say that delaying spaying may reduce the number of cases of adrenal gland cancer called hyperplasia in ferrets.

In a brief hearing, a co-sponsor on the bill recounted his personal experience with ferret ownership.

Delegate Joseph C. Boteler III, R-Baltimore County, said he has owned three different ferrets. The first ferret was too young when he bought it and suffered from hyperplasia as well as behavioral issues.

"These animals really need to be given time to wean from their mothers," Boteler said.

A pet store owner who opposes the legislation disagrees.

"Their insistence of (the) fact that ferrets wean at such an old age is akin to saying women nurse until 5 years," said Ruth Hanessian, who owns the Animal Exchange in Rockville and appeared on behalf of the Maryland Association of Pet Industries.

But, Clay said, it's not just about weaning.

By pulling ferrets away from their parents and siblings early, Clay said, they don't learn important socialization tools like "paw-to-paw combat" and "open-mouth play."

"Our ferret went kinda nuts," Boteler said. "We had to have it put down."

A lobbyist for the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council said his organization opposes the legislation.

"We habitually enforce regulation for the safe and humane shipping of pets," Michael Maddox said. "We're very pro-regulation, if it is rational and consistent with the needs of the animals! ."

The director of animal health for Marshall Farms Group Ltd., which sells ferrets, said the legislation isn't consistent with the animals' needs.

Roberta Scipioni Ball said "the age timeline proposed is not biologically relevant."

Maddox said his group would support the legislation if the minimum sale and sterilization age changed to 8 weeks and a requirement to educate consumers was added.

The committee may not even ponder such amendments.

"There is a lack of understanding about the need to protect ferrets," said Delegate Robert Zirkin, D-Baltimore County.

A fellow committee member, Delegate Luiz Simmons, D-Montgomery, said the committee has a strong history of animal protection.

"The committee has been very, very good on these issues. The question of the ferrets is something that we have to spend more time on if we are going to pass it out. I just don't know if we have the stamina or the time," Simmons said.

The Tech Council of Maryland asked the committee in writing to consider an exemption from the rules for research animals.

"We believe the bill's current language could result in unintentional consequences that could hinder research," wrote Government Relations Director Charlie Scott.

If the issue doesn't make it out of committee this year, Simmons said it may return next year.

"It is clearly," he said, "a vote that we will not be able to weasel out of."

-30- CNS-2-25-05

Copyright © 2005 University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism
A word from Barb on how we can help
Thank you so much for all your love and support.
At this time, the best we can do is deluge Chairman Vallario with our insistence that this Bill not die in his Judiciary Committee again this year. Our passion and ferrets' needs to be very visible and and heard at this point in the Maryland session. It's crunch time in Annapolis, and we need to implore them to move forward with HB620, "The Ferret Protection Bill".

Anyone caring to join this campaign should write to the Chairman, as well as the members as listed on your website. Even a simple demand for a vote, and the vote be YES will suffice in keeping our Bill alive and moving forward as a law. We need to be heard.

Affectionately,

Barbara Clay, Dir of Shelter Affairs/CEO Rocky's Ferret Rescue and Shelter Parkton, Md. 21120

410 329-6111 www.rockysferrets.com

Dear Ferret Lovers Everywhere,

We here in Maryland are very proud and determined to have "The Ferret Protection Bill - HB620" to be heard in the 2005 Session. I believe this is groundbreaking legislation for the protection of kits transported to and sold in Maryland, or any state. It truly does address the health issues surrounding kits to be sold in Maryland.

Testimony is being heard by the Judiciary Committee on February 24th at 1:00pm, in Annapolis, Maryland. We encourage everyone to attend as a display of your support. Anyone wishing to carpool, whether from Maryland or out-of-state, please write me at barbclay@juno.com. We can also assist in hotel accommodations, or a stay with one of Rocky's volunteers in their home. Anyone interested in attending or wanting to testify, please contact me ASAP to coordinate attendees and those desiring to testify.

A bit of history; The Ferret Protection Bill was first introduced in the 2002 Session after Sharon Dowell and I met with then Delegate Al Redmer. Last year we had tremendous Maryland, as well as out-of-state support and testimony. Pathetically, it was never even put up for a vote in order to get out of the Judiciary Committee.

This past Fall, representatives from the Balitmore Ferret Club, Maryland Ferret PAWS and Rocky's Ferret Rescue and Shelter, met with Delegate Cluster. Delegates Cluster and Boteler, are our advocates and sponsors for this Bill. However, since it's inception, more Delegates have come on board with their support. These additional sponsors are listed in the Bill info further in this post. We all are so grateful for our Maryland's Delegates' determination in continuing to fight for this Bill to become law.

At that meeting we continued to insist on a late alter Rule. Apparently, compromise had to be made because of the vigorous opposition to the Bill by the Maryland Retail Pet Assocation. Much to my dismay, it had a minimum 6 week alter Rule. Today, the Bill has been amended to read 8 weeks. I am so grateful to the sponsoring Delegates for this amendment.

In supporting HB620, please DO NOT fax the Delegates. You are encouraged to either email or snail mail a letter to one or more of the Judiciary Committee/Chairman/Members below:

Delegate Joseph Valario, Chairman e-mail: joseph_vallario@house.state.md.us
Delegate Samuel Rosenberg, Vice Chairman e-mail: samuel_rosenberg@house.state.md.us
Delegate Curt Anderson e-mail: curt_anderson@house.state.md.us
Delegate Anthony Brown e-mail: anthony_brown@house.state.md.us
Delegate Jill Carter e-mail: jill_carter@house.state.md.us
Delegate Kathleen Dumais e-mail: kathleen_dumais@house.state.md.us
Delegate Don Dwyer e-mail: don_dwyer@house.state.md.us
Delegate Ana Gutierrez e-mail: ana_gutierrez@house.state.md.us
Delegate Daryl Kelley e-mail: darryl_kelley@house.state.md.us
Delegate Kevin Kelly kevin_kelly@house.state.md.us
Delegate Susan Lee e-mail: susan_lee@house.state.md.us
Delegate Susan McComas e-mail: susan_mccomas@house.state.md.us
Delegate Herb McMillan e-mail: herb_mcmillan@house.state.md.use-mail:
Delegate Pauline Menes e-mail: pauline_menes@house.state.md.us
Delegate Carol Petzold e-mail: carol_petzold@house.state.md.us
Delegate Neil Quinter e-mail: neil_quinter@house.state.md.us
Delegate Christopher Shank e-mail: christopher_shank@house.state.md.us
Delegate Tanya Thornton Shewell e-mail: tanya_shewell@house.state.md.us
Delegate Luiz Simmons e-mail: luiz_simmons@house.state.md.us
Delegate Michael Smigiel e-mail: michael_smigiel@house.state.md.us
Delegate Theodore Sophocleus e-mail: ted_sophocleus@house.state.md.us
Delegate Robert Zirkin e-mail: bobby_zirkin@house.state.md.us

To view and track HB620, use these links:

http://mlis.state.md.us/2005rs/billfile/hb0620.htm

http://mlis.state.md.us/2005rs/bills/hb/hb0620f.pdf

The following is an excerpt from a communication I received this morning from Delegate Cluster and Boteler's office:

"...We wanted to let you know that we submitted an amendment for HB620. We changed:

1 (2) MAY NOT SPAY OR CASTRATE A FERRET THAT IS LESS THAN 6 WEEKS OLD;

to:

1 (2) MAY NOT SPAY OR CASTRATE A FERRET THAT IS LESS THAN 8 WEEKS OLD;

Below is a copy of the bill without the changes. The amendment will be handed out at the time of the hearing..."

UNOFFICIAL COPY OF HOUSE BILL 620

E1 5lr1477

HB 1136/04 - JUD

____________________________________________________________________________________

By: Delegates Cluster, Boteler, Bartlett, Boutin, V. Clagett, DeBoy, Eckardt,
Elliott, Frank, Frush, Glassman, Jennings, Kach, Kaiser, Krebs,
McComas, Montgomery, Myers, Parker, Shank, and Smigiel
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2005
Assigned to: Judiciary
_____________________________________________________________________________________
A BILL ENTITLED
1 AN ACT concerning
2 Ferret Protection Act
3 FOR the purpose of prohibiting certain commercial entities from transporting,
4 selling, or offering for sale a ferret that is under a certain age, has not been
5 spayed or castrated, or has been spayed or castrated within a certain time;
6 prohibiting certain commercial entities from spaying or castrating a ferret that
7 is under a certain age; requiring certain commercial entities to provide certain
8 certifications; authorizing certain commercial entities to transport, sell, or offer
9 for sale to a ferret breeder a ferret that has not been spayed or castrated;
10 providing for certain criminal penalties; and generally relating to the handling
11 of ferrets.
12 BY adding to
13 Article - Criminal Law
14 Section 10-623
15 Annotated Code of Maryland
16 (2002 Volume and 2004 Supplement)
17 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
18 MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
19 Article - Criminal Law
20 10-623.
21 (A) A COMMERCIAL ENTITY THAT PRODUCES, DISTRIBUTES, OR AIDS IN THE
22 WHOLESALE OR RETAIL DISTRIBUTION OF FERRETS:
23 (1) MAY NOT TRANSPORT, SELL, OR OFFER FOR SALE A FERRET THAT:
24 (I) IS LESS THAN 10 WEEKS OLD; OR
25 (II) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION,
26 HAS NOT BEEN SPAYED OR CASTRATED;
2 UNOFFICIAL COPY OF HOUSE BILL 620
1 (2) MAY NOT SPAY OR CASTRATE A FERRET THAT IS LESS THAN 6 WEEKS
2 OLD;
3 (3) MAY NOT TRANSPORT, SELL, OR OFFER FOR SALE A FERRET THAT
4 HAS BEEN SPAYED OR CASTRATED UNTIL MORE THAN 7 DAYS AFTER THE
5 PROCEDURE TO SPAY OR CASTRATE THE FERRET; AND
6 (4) SHALL PROVIDE CERTIFICATION DATING THE PROCEDURE TO SPAY
7 OR CASTRATE THE FERRET FOR A FERRET THAT IT SPAYS OR CASTRATES.
8 (B) A FERRET THAT HAS NOT BEEN SPAYED OR CASTRATED MAY BE
9 TRANSPORTED, SOLD, OR OFFERED FOR SALE TO A FERRET BREEDER.
10 (C) A COMMERCIAL ENTITY THAT PRODUCES, DISTRIBUTES, OR AIDS IN THE
11 WHOLESALE OR RETAIL DISTRIBUTION OF FERRETS AND TRANSPORTS, SELLS, OR
12 OFFERS FOR SALE A FERRET SHALL PROVIDE CERTIFICATION WITH EACH FERRET
13 THAT THE COMMERCIAL ENTITY IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
14 SECTION.
15 (D) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR
16 AND ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $100 FOR EACH
17 VIOLATION.
18 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
19 October 1, 2005.