The good old days

[Furrball]

Hi guys. Just joined the site. I often think back to the days when ferrets were legal to keep. I remember walking mine down the river with a little harness and people coming over and asking what type of animal it was. When I told them it was a ferret the main answer was "really I have never seen one before" or " gee they don't seem vicious" I guess people read about things and automatically think the worst. Years ago I remember showing my ferret along with many others and having the chch ferret man as the judge. The public were coming over all the time to ask if they can hold them etc and everyone loved them. Its a shame to see how much things have changed

[happyferrets]

HiYa Furball and welcome to this Forum.
Too ashamedly right...
Much has changed in these current "politically" and "PC" correct days.
I too had similar reactions walking mine with leashes on the beach - it was really fun diagnosing the reactions of people who only knew about dogs and cats. Many foreign tourists would come over and strike up a conversation while vigorously snapping photos.
These days I am forced to confine their walks to my garden and in the shadows of neighbours.
They don’t call the “good old days” for nothing – fighting the system is futile and makes me feel like a fugitive in my own country which I have given my heart and soul to.

[Tezza]

The government/councils are bringing in new laws for cat owners to Register, de-sex, microchip, supervise and keep their cats in a secure enclosure! and some new housing estates now even have cat bans!! maybe they have just realized that cats are the true killers and not domesticated ferrets? why can't we ferret lovers be given those same opportunities and rights?.
I've noticed that the cat owners stick up for there beloved cats and make themselves heard against the higher powers that be unlike us ferret owners.

[Furrball]

Hiya
Thanks for the reply. Yea I read that as well somewhere. I guess it comes down to strength in numbers at the end of the day. The amount of pet cats verse pet ferrets would be huge. The government would change the minority over majority every time.
It comes down to what people hear and read. Its very rare to read anything positive about ferrets.
I would be happy if there was a licensing system that ferret owners had to have.

[Tezza]

Hi Furrball
Yes you are absolutely correct people believe everything that DOC and MPI tell them and they never seem to question it its unbelievable, I cant believe that pet Rat owners have no restrictions on them either especially seeing that DOC’s new project (Pest Free NZ 2050) which started last year have rodents and possums as their number 1 pests to be eradicated it’s ironic!!, I really can't see doc’s logic or any rational thinking?.

[Furrball]

Yes you are right. How could a country eradicate all rodents anyway?? Pet rats/mice would surely be on the same page as stoats. But then cats should be on there as well which would never happen. I still say its a numbers game. When I joined this site I was expecting to see a vast amount of people talking about there old pets and finding ways to resolve the issues were facing. I was shocked to see there wasnt any conversation at all. If there was a thousand people on here talking about it then the chances of a possible law change would be greater than just you and me. Laws can be changed when majority of people decide on them. It was only 76% of voters that went against pet ferrets which isn't that high.

[Tezza]

Good point Furrball they would definitely be on the same page as stoats/ferrets but we are the only ones that are persecuted, I had my own ferret group called (The Ferret Republic of NZ) it was going for 2 years and had lots of people chatting and sending in photo’s and videos etc but had to closed it down because of to many nasty comments and belly aching about what dangerous indiscriminate killers ferrets were!! I bet most of them were cat owners who looked the other way when their cats bought home dead fantails and Tui etc.
Just like you I though that there would be a few ferret groups out there trying to resolve the issue but no such luck, maybe we need someone of standing like a celeb or politician to speak on our behalf.
You are totally right it is a numbers game mate it all comes down to the majority!, I’m really surprised it was only 73% of voters who went against pet ferrets maybe we would still be in with a fighting chance if we could actually get the numbers.
We had a ferret farm up here in Northland before the ban in 2002 I wish I would have got a couple of breeding pairs now before it closed.
 

[Furrball]

yea I was wondering if there would be any negative comments/people on here. the thing is im not here to cause any trouble and I especially don't want to have any nasty comments thrown my way. its a shame you had to close your site were the comments that bad??

[wirehunt]

"Good point Furrball they would definitely be on the same page as stoats/ferrets...."

See even doc acknowledge they are two very different animals with stoats being far worse. People just don't get how different they are.

[Furrball]

Hey wire hunt.
I don't understand why the household moggy isn't part of the list I would imagine it would cause an interesting argument in regards to banning cats