Ferret lovers in New York City may have a chance to obtain one as a pet in the future. For the past 15 years, the city has prohibited the ownership of ferrets as human companions, but now, a petition has been sent to the Department of Health, asking the organization to repeal the ban.
Ferret lovers in New York City may have a chance to obtain one as a pet in the future. For the past 15 years, the city has prohibited the ownership of ferrets as human companions.
But now, a petition has been sent to the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, asking the organization to repeal the ban. In a positive turn of events, they are considering doing just that.
An amendment to the health code will allow ferrets into the homes and hearts of New Yorkers. A Brooklyn College student, Ariel Jasper is responsible for writing up the petition.
She further remarked “I looked into the Health Code and I saw that they were labeled as wild, dangerous animals, and that confused me becauseferrets have been domesticated for over 2,000 years. They were actually domesticated before the cat.”
Changes to the current policy have to be approved by New York City’s Board of Health, which is comprised of former mayor Michael Bloomberg’s appointees. That complicates matters given that his administration previously stood behind the ban in court.
However ferret fans hope they have current Mayor Bill de Blasio on their side, given his apparent support of animal rights including his opposition to the horse-drawn carriages in Central Park.
