login   home : 2. ferret care : licencing licencing In the ACT you must have a licence to own or sell a ferret, as well as if you visit the ACT with your ferret/s. Licences are issued under the Nature Conservation Act 1980. Licences are issued by the Licensing and Investigations Unit, Environment Protection and Heritage, which is part of the ACT "Territory and Municipal Services" department. All animals in the ACT need to be licenced under this Act, except those on the exempt list (including dogs, cats, some birds, some reptiles, guinea pigs, mice and various other animals). Because ferrets are not on the exempt list, they require a licence. Dogs are exempt from licencing under the Nature Conservation Act 1980, however they must be registered in the ACT. Dog registrations (also called dog licences) are issued by Domestic Animal Services (DAS) under the Domestic Animals Act 2000. DAS do not deal with anything other than dog registrations and animal nuisance complaints. Ferret licence application forms are available from the "Licencing of Plants and Animals" page on the Territory and Municipal Services website. If you have any questions not answered here, contact us or the Licensing & Investigations unit on 6207 2138 or email TAMSEPHLicensing@act.gov.au. It is a legal requirement for owners to apply for a licence BEFORE obtaining a ferret. We highly recommend complying with licencing requirements as penalties include fines of around $5000, imprisonment for 6 months, or both! A few points about visiting the ACT with a ferret If you are visiting the ACT from interstate with a ferret, you will need an Import & Export licence. * If you don't reside in the ACT, you cannot hold a standard licence. * An import/export licence is free of charge (for non-commercial) * A new import/export licence is needed for each visit to the ACT. STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FORM This information is applicable to owners who reside in the ACT, or those who live interstate and wish to visit the ACT. It does not apply to businesses or any other commercial setup. Download the "Standard Licence Application Form" from the Territory and Municipal Services web site (link provided above). Complete your name, address, date of birth and phone numbers. Q. "Business Name and Address" A. N/A Q. "Specify location that will be available for inspection" * For an import/export licence: specify the main location the ferrets will be staying during your visit (such as a relative’s address or hotel address) * For a standard licence: provide the address where the ferrets usually reside (or "as above" if the ferrets reside at the address written at the top of the form) Q. "I hereby apply for a licence to:" * Keep an animal - most owners will tick this box (COST: Standard licence fee - approx. $12 for 5 years - check the Territory and Municipal Services web site (link above) for exact amount) * Import an animal into the ACT - tick this box if you wish to visit the ACT with a ferret. Please also tick "Export an animal from the ACT". (COST: Free) * Sell up to 10 animals, Sell between 11-100 animals or Sell more than 100 animals - tick the appropriate box if you wish to sell ferrets (eg if you are a breeder). (COST: From around $18 to $190 per year depending how many ferrets you wish to sell - check the Territory and Municipal Services web site (link above) for exact amount) Q. "Please indicate below, the purpose for which the animals are being kept" * private collection - most owners will select this option * breeding - some owners will select this option Q. "List species of animal/live fish/native plants including numbers - Common Name/Scientific Name" A. Common name: Ferret, Scientific name: Mustela furo, indicate how many of each sex you currently have by marking the relevant number in each column. Q. "Supplier’s/receiver’s name and address and details of licence to import/export issued by relevant State/Territory Authority" * For a standard licence: specify the supplier - either the name & address of the business, name & address of individual; or "Ferret Society of Canberra" if the ferret is to be adopted through us. If you are not sure where you will be getting a ferret, write "TBA". * For an import/export licence: mark as N/A Q. "Duration of activity/Expected date of activity" * For a standard licence: mark as N/A * For an import/export licence: specify the approximate duration of your visit, such as "10 - 17 January 2009" or "5 September 2007" Q. "If convicted of any offences involving native animals or animal welfare matters, please provide details" A. Provide details Q. "Provide details of membership in avicultural/herpetological society or other animal group/society" A. "Ferret Society of Canberra" if you are a paid member. Q. "Provide details of Veterinary Surgery/Appropriate assistance if health problems arise with species" A. Write the name of your local ferret-knowledgeable vet (contact us if you don't yet have one), and "Ferret Society of Canberra" (we are always available for assistance with health issues). Q. "Proposed keeping arrangements and feeding requirements" A. Specify the main location the ferrets live. eg "Ferrets will be kept in ferret-proofed rooms of house" or "Ferrets will be kept in ferret-proofed area of backyard". A. Specify your planned feeding regime, such as "Ferrets will be fed twice daily (with enough food to last until the next meal time) with small whole prey (mice & chicks) and small raw meaty bones (chicken necks & quail)" or "Ferrets will be fed twice daily (with enough food to last until the next meal time) with variety including chicken frames, wings & necks, quail meaty bones, and occasional organs." Q. "Enclosure type and dimensions" Ferrets are not enclosure animals (they require a living area large enough to run across - a room or two of your house as a minimum) - this question is worded for reptile keepers. A. List the rooms your ferret will be living in and their dimensions. For example: "Living area will be ferret-proofed dining room, kitchen & office approx. 25 sq metres" or, "Living area will be ferret-proofed spare bedroom and hallway, approx. 16 sq metres, and ferret will have access to ferret-proofed loungeroom, kitchen & bathroom while we are home", or "Living area will be ferret-proofed double garage, approx. 30 sq metres, and ferret will have access to ferret-proofed loungeroom, kitchen & main bedroom while we are home" If you have ferret-proofed part (or all) of your backyard, provide dimensions & list fencing type (eg. sheet metal below ground 50cm deep). Also describe the method you plan to use to keep the living area cool, such as "These rooms are air-conditioned" or "The house is well insulted and these rooms have cool tile flooring". Q. "Furniture for enclosure". The wording of this question is also aimed at reptile keepers, however you should provide some information about where you plan to put things like the ferret's bed & water. For example: "Water bowl and feeding box will be located in kitchen. Cat litter trays will be placed in corners the ferret decides to use as toilet (1-2 per room), plastic sleeping box with blankets will be located in office." Q. "Statement regarding previous experience and details from individual/business supporting these claims" A. If you have owned ferrets before, state when, where, duration, etc. Attach any reference. Note that having experience with ferrets isn't a necessity for obtaining a ferret licence, so first time owners shouldn't be put off by this question! The Licencing & Investigations unit just want to make sure that if you haven't owned ferrets before that you are fully prepared for bringing a ferret into your home and have adapted your home to make sure the ferret will be safe & happy. SENDING IT IN You can either post the application form in (if paying by cheque, money order or credit card), or fax it in (credit card payments only). The postal address and fax number are shown at the top of the form. THE LICENCE You will be sent a licence book once your application has been approved. If you buy, sell, obtain or lose a ferret, his/her details must be recorded in the book, so that it is always up-to-date with your current ferrets. LEGALITIES AROUND AUSTRALIA Ferrets are illegal in Queensland, and the Northern Territory. Penalties in Queensland include $60,000 fines, imprisonment and euthanasia of any found ferrets (even if the animal is healthy). Ferrets are legal in all other states in Australia, and do not require a licence. If you are bringing a ferret into Western Australia, quarantine inspections are required. Contact us for further details. LEGALITIES WORLDWIDE Ferrets are illegal to keep as pets in New York City, USA [more info], California, USA [more info], New Zealand, and various regional localities throughout the USA.   Ferret Society of Canberra  www.ferretclub.org.au  For more information or to make comments please email mail@ferretclub.org.au