the ferret, an animal the butt of jokes in movie. >> what happened to your dog? >> this is not a dog. that's a ferret. >> oh. >> reporter: apparently, no joking matter to new york city mayor bill de blasio whose office wants to lif the ban. aerial jasper started the petition to. >> it's just to have the five boroughs excluded doesn't make sense. >> reporter: the health department added ferrets to the list of animals such as pythons, lions, that cannot be kept as pets. that same year, former mayor giuliani learned how much some people just love their ferrets. >> something deranged about you. >> no, there isn't, sir. there's more states -- >> excessive concern that you have for ferrets is something you should examine with a therapist. >> reporter: the current mayor did not return our e-mails or calls, the board of health confirm, it received a petition