The Kansas City Council has passed an ordinance, at the urging of Dr. Hoff of the Health Dept., which requires licensure for all Kansas City MO. ferrets.

We must have our ferrets vaccinated for rabies and apply for a license that will cost $7 if the ferret is spayed ore neutered, more if it is not. We are allowed to have up to 4 ferrets, in addition to up to 4 cats or dogs, per household. We are told, but have no seen in writing, that those of use who have more than 4 ferrets are "grandfathered" in and are not at risk for fine or ferret confiscation. We are not allowed, however to replace ferrets that die.

Bobbi testified before the council that ferrets are rabies resistant. She presented documentation from Dr. Ruprect whose research at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) demonstrated that ferrets are safely quarantined, following a bite, rather than having to be killed for rabies testing. CDC literature also notes that there has never been a recorded case of ferret to human rabies.

Never the less our ferrets are now a source of concern, and revenue, for Kansas City, MO. If you live in Kansas City, MO you may wish to give K.C. Animal Control a call, fill out an application, and pay for a license. On the other hand we are told that application forms have not yet been developed or printed.

The Kansas City Star published a nice article about the ordinance on Wed., August 29th, featuring Jamie Hughes and her fearless 14. The pictures are great and we thank her for being willing to do this.