Modern Ferret Magazine - Press Releases

Modern Ferret
Contact: Mary Shefferman
P.O. Box 1007
Smithtown, NY 11787
Email: mary

modernferret.com
http://www.modernferret.com

MARY R. SHEFFERMAN SPEAKS AT NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL'S HEALTH COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING FERRET LEGALIZATION

Smithtown, NY-- As part of Modern Ferret Magazine's commitment to making the world a better place for ferrets, Mary R. Shefferman (editor and co-creator of Modern Ferret) appeared at the New York City Council’s Health Committee public hearing on December 18, 2000 to testify why ferrets should be legalized in New York City.

Every attendee was allowed to make a three minute presentation to the committee. Below is the text of Mary Shefferman’s testimony at the New York City Council’s Health Committee public hearing on December 18, 2000.

My name is Mary Shefferman. I’m the Editor and co-creator of Modern Ferret Magazine and the author of two books on ferrets. I currently have seven ferrets, who I consider to be delightful members of my family. I would like to address the New York City Health Department’s opinion that ferrets are a wild species and, therefore, are unpredictable. The status of the ferret as a domesticated species is not a matter of opinion; it is a matter of fact. More than 155 zoos and zoological societies in addition to the US Department of Agriculture, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Museum of Natural History classify the ferret correctly as a domesticated species. These are the true authorities that have expertise in determining whether a species is domesticated. The differences observed in the ferret vis-à-vis the polecat — the ferret’s wild ancestor — are nearly identical to the changes that occur in just about every mammal species that has been domesticated. These changes tend to be similar regardless of the animal, and thus can be used as benchmarks in determining whether or not a species is domesticated. Like other domesticated species, ferrets have a smaller brain size and structural differences in the brain compared to their wild counterparts. There are differences between the skeletal systems and dental arcade, body size, and fur color. As a rule, domesticated animals are not as smart as their wild counterparts. The cranial capacity of the ferret is 15 to 20 percent smaller than that of the polecat. Albinism in a wild species is rare and is historically attributed to human selection. Thus, the abundance of albino ferrets is indicative of domestication. All these are clear, measurable signs that the ferret is domesticated. In addition to the physical changes, there are unmistakable behavioral differences between the ferret and the polecat. A main purpose of domestication is to make the animal less frightened of humans. Wild animals have an innate fear of humans — and even a polecat that is hand-raised and tame will trust only his own keeper. Ferrets, on the other hand, are gregarious. They are curious about all humans and about new surroundings— behaviors that are, again, virtually nonexistent in wild species. These physical and behavioral differences point to the same benchmark changes that are indicative of domestication. As a domesticated species, ferrets are no more or less unpredictable than other domesticated species, like the dog or cat. It is commonly known that dogs and cats may exhibit unpredictability only on an individual basis and not across the entire species; this is implicit in domestication. I urge the favorable consideration of Council Member Freed’s proposed legislation to legalize ferrets in New York City. It is incumbent upon this Committee to look to the true experts — zoologists — to discover that ferrets are, in fact, a domesticated species and to move to return the choice of ferrets as a household pet to the citizens. Thank you.