Ferrets are wrongfully classified as wild animals under California's Department of Fish & Game. They should have no more authority over ferrets than cats or dogs, as the ferrets we buy and keep as pets are completely domesticated.

This is important to our freedom to choose a companion that fits our lifestyle. It is important for all the ferrets whose owners are afraid of taking them to get medical attention because they might be taken away. This is important because the state has no right to take and euthanize my harmless and loving friends.

There has been a grass-roots movement to make ferrets legal, (please see www.legalizeferrets.com) but they have faced unfair discrimination from the DF&G. An environmental impact report has been completed and submitted to Jim Kellogg, the DF&G's commissioner, but he has refused to review it. In fact he has given our cause a 'catch-22' ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weYGDhLlhYI ). We need your voice with ours so they will hear!

Here are a few ferret facts because the more you know, the more you'll love them:

Ferrets always come spayed and neutered, and usually descented too, (unless you have a license to breed them) so there is no chance of them breeding in the wild, or making any feral populations. In fact, people have TRIED to create feral ferret populations and they have all failed miserably.

They do not hunt birds or other small animals instinctively as they are completely domesticated. Whereas some cats and dogs maintain a level of 'instinct', every ferret I've met would not survive if they were let out in the world.

They have a reputation for being intensely stinky; I would say it has been embellished too far. Ferrets smell no worse to me than a cat or a dog. Of course, they have their own distinct smell, what small furry animal doesn't?

Did you know, that Egyptians domesticated ferrets before cats?

Ferrets sleep up to 18 hours a day, but are super playful their entire lives when they are awake. Making them a perfect companion for me, because I don't have to worry about them ruining anything when I'm gone, they just go to sleep.

Ferrets usually live around 6-8 years, babies are called kits, and a group of ferrets is known as a 'business.'

Ferrets were brought to the U.S. over 300 years ago. There is also a native cousin known as the Black-Footed Ferret, which is sadly an endangered species.

I believe people that know ferrets are illegal just assumed there was a good reason for it and filled in the blanks themselves. IF there was good reason to not have ferrets as pets WHY hasn't any other state, (save Hawaii which has its own special flora and fauna to worry about) made them illegal?

We need your help signing this petition and spreading the word! This is about our rights as much as about little friends! We deserve to choose a companion that matches our personalities and our lifestyles! Ferrets are our friends! Do it for the little guy!