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Thank you again for ALLL of your tremendous support!

Back in May, while I was undergoing radiation therapy, I received the newly updated rule book from Vermont F&W.
To begin with, the new rules as they are written, state that animals that can't forage for themselves shall be euthanized. This is wildlife rehabilitation. Most animals that come to us can't forage for themselves initially. They are either too young or too severely injured. There is no wording that allows for the "eventual" ability to feed itself. While this seems like it's splitting hairs, the reality is that Fish and Wildlife CAN enforce it just as it is written if they so choose. The animals that Vermont rehabbers take in, even if they will be able to be independent and returned to the wild in short order, are at the mercy of the department.
But there was a bigger problem.
There is, essentially, a gag order.
Governor Phil Scott, I have to say that looks an AWFUL LOT like the government putting restrictions on Vermonters' speech, doesn't it? ACLU, what do you think?
Anything that I said might be considered "criticism" and in speaking up, I would be putting my permit at risk and, subsequently, Peanut's life in danger.
When a Freedom of Information request was made to inquire as to how these rules were crafted, we received many files BUT I found it interesting that some emails were excluded due to attorney/client privilege. What on Earth is in those emails that need to be hidden from the public? This is supposed to be about how rules were created. What's so secret? Who is accountable for this department?
Fortunately, there was a rule that allowed transfers to a licensed facility "with approval". So while still undergoing cancer treatment, we began looking for a new location outside of Vermont. We finally found a property that would work but had to purchase the property while still owning our Vermont property so we could apply for state AND federal permits and do immediate renovations to make the rehab space comfortable and safe for the wildlife we will be admitting...as well as for Peanut. I received my NH Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit in late October. When in preparation for our USDA inspection, USDA staff requested that we have Peanut there for the inspection. At that point, after multiple contacts with Vermont F&W, Peanut was transported to NH. (They initially suggested I transfer Peanut to a VT rehabber but the rules are clear - any rehabber taking her in would be forced to euthanize her so I persisted with the plan.) Again, through all of this, I couldn't discuss our plans because it might be considered "negative" towards the department.
I am giving up my Vermont permit. I haven't yet but just posting this is a violation of the new rules so... there's that.
So now you know WHY I took so few animals this year. I was afraid for the life of any animal I took in. Those two 5 week old orphaned squirrels that I found on my own property in May could not forage for themselves. They were perfectly healthy and eventually were released back into the wild but would have required euthanasia if the rules were followed as written. Every Vermont rehabber is breaking those rules when they accept an animal that is too young to feed itself.
These are just some of the problems the new rulebook presented. There were others but this convinced me that I do not want to rehabilitate wildlife in the state of Vermont. I would have spent more money defending my permit than I would in rehabilitating animals.
Governor Scott, Vermont F&W should be under the supervision of the Legislative Committee for Administrative Rules. Somehow they were excluded under the LCAR's umbrella. These rules should be subject to public scrutiny and comment before being accepted and implemented.
While undergoing cancer treatment, and at the CONSIDERABLE financial expense, we left Vermont. I couldn't even tell you about it until we had left.
I hope that in submitting my paperwork in the next day or two, VT Fish and Wildlife will remain in my rearview mirror permanently.