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Equal rights

04Mar08

Ferret owners are calling for changes.

PET ferrets which escape or are stolen may never be re-united with their owners thanks to a "bureaucratic and uncaring" Campbelltown Council.

Hundreds of pet ferrets across the city will no longer have their owners' details uploaded to a companion animal central log which is used to trace owners when pets are dumped, stolen or missing.

The council is refusing to enter ferret owners' details because it is not legally obliged to under the Companion Animals Act which covers cats and dogs.

But pet store managers and ferret owners say ferrets, and even rabbits, are fast becoming legitimate family pets and should be given the same courtesy as dog and cat owners.

Pet store worker Kristie Gilford, who is also the proud owner of three-year-old ferret Bandit, said the council may not have a legal obligation to register owners' details but they had a moral obligation.

"Just because the law says you don't have to doesn't mean you shouldn't offer the service to pet owners who want to use it in case their pet does get out," she said.

"It's just a stupid bureaucratic system and they just don't care.

Ms Gilford said her pet store sold as many ferrets as it did dogs and all owners wanted the peace of mind of registering their ferret.

"We've sold about six ferrets in three weeks," she said. "The demand for ferrets is huge. I know if my ferret got out I would be devastated but Bandit is microchipped with Liverpool Council, thankfully, so if someone takes him to the vet I could get him back."

Campbelltown Pet and Aquarium Centre owner Ron Norman said he encouraged new ferret owners to have their pet microchipped and while registering ferrets was not compulsory, it would be a good community service from the council.

Campbelltown Council's acting planning director Andrew Spooner said the companion animals register "prevents council from adding ferrets or other pets".

"There is no obligation to pet owners or council to register or microchip animals other than than those identified as companion animals," he said.

"Should a need to include ferrets ... be identified, a submission could be made to the local MP."

* Should ferrets have the same rights as dogs and cats? Email editor@macarthurchronicle.com.au