It's a Ferret Life

Ogden to review wild-animal code

Standard-Examiner
Friday, August 26, 2005

OGDEN -- The city may stop enforcing its ban on pet ferrets while its administration examines other areas of Ogden's animal code.

"There are parts of that policy that haven't been reviewed for many, many years," said Mark Johnson, Ogden's chief administrative officer.

"It's time we take a look at what other cities are doing, see what information we can find and see what parts of our policy are outdated."

The council recently received a petition with hundreds of signatures asking officials to legalize ferrets in the city.

The administration will take 60 days to examine the animal code, but the City Council may approve a temporary ordinance that would stop enforcement of the ferret ban until the study is complete. After the city's legal staff has examined the issue, the council will vote on the temporary ordinance in a public meeting, said Bill Cook, City Council executive director.

Councilman Rick Safsten said, "It (would) just allow those critters to be here until the study is done."

Officials expect to review animal-licensing provisions; rules on restraining pets and livestock; and definitions used in the city's animal code, including the definition of wild animals. Currently, any animals defined as wild, including ferrets, wolf-dog hybrids and venomous snakes and lizards, cannot be kept as pets in Ogden.

Johnson said it was too early in the process to say which, if any, animals will be affected.

The city began examining parts of the ordinance after Ogden resident Mary McDonald came before the council Aug. 9 to protest an order from Animal Services that said she had to get rid of her ferret, Einstein, because, under city law, he is a wild animal.

Although broadening the investigation has delayed Einstein's case, McDonald said it could help many animal owners.

"I think it's great," she said. "I've had many people come up to me and ask, 'What about my lizard, what about my snake?' "

McDonald said she has spent more than 70 hours in Ogden parks in the past two weeks, asking passers-by to sign her petition to legalize ferrets. She believes the 620 signatures she has so far will help the council decide in her favor.

"I hope this will give them an idea of how many people know what a ferret is and how many people really care about this," she said.

Einstein is back at McDonald's apartment, recovering from a stress-induced illness, she said. The ferret lost nearly half of his body weight after she took him to live with family outside of Ogden on Aug. 10 after receiving the order from Animal Services.

McDonald said she knows she is violating the ordinance, but fears Einstein will die if sent away again.