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The email newsletter of LegalizeFerrets.org View this email in your browser Vol 13 No 20, May 14th, 2017

Joe Ferret Fish and Game President Tells us They Can't Do It - Find a Legislator I had a phone conversation with Eric Sklar, the President of the Fish and Game Commission. He explained that their hands are tied on ferrets because it would require a full-blown EIR. He said (and I think he meant this unofficially) that we would have to pay $200,000 but when all finished it would be $600,000. And afterwards the Commission would be sued by environmental groups opposing it. (Is he calling the California Waterfowl Assoc an Environmental group?). He said that is a position that neither they nor us wish to be in. Our best option he said is to find a legislator. I explained the past futility of our efforts. So, we’ve explained before you have a couple of paths available. The current path is not a workable one. It isn’t if we think it is right or wrong, it’s a matter we all took an oath to uphold the constitution of California and uphold the laws of California. We’ve explained before how and why you must pursue a certain path.

The two paths are open to you. Going to the legislature for specific legislation on this species that would absolve it from other rules that are in place or fund an EIR on the issue. Fish and Game President Eric Sklar at the April 26th meeting.



Source The California Constitution guarantees its citizens certain inalienable rights, one of which is the right to acquire, possess and protect property. Property in California encompasses a broad class of "things" and is defined in terms of ownership. Accordingly, California's Civil Code includes "all domestic animals" as property subject to ownership. LegalizeFerrets.org has been in front of the Fish and Game Commission with petition for regulation change. Our first petition simply asked them to remove ferrets from the prohibited species list. That petition was rejected without conversation by the Commissioners.



The second petition asked them to issue permits for ferrets as they had done for neutered male ferrets prior to 1985.

Short Description Staff Recommendations Requests FGC issue permits for ferrets under certain circumstances. Deny: FGC has previously indicated that it will not authorize wild animals to be possessed as pets. The Fish and Game’s position, that ferrets are wild animals was met with laughter by people at the April 26th meeting, and this was from people not affiliated with ferrets.



A few days later, President Sklar called me, which was a surprise.



He also told me that he doesn’t care if people have ferrets or not, that he doesn’t support the current “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. At our first conversation, I asked him for a letter of support or at the very least a letter I could send to legislators saying that he believes the issue belongs in the legislature where there would not be an EIR requirement. He seemed open to the idea. But yesterday he called and said he can’t do that and suggested I pull his comments from the official tape of the meeting, which I will do. Go Ahead, Sign the Petition! We are very grateful to Senator Scott Weiner and Assemblyman Todd Gloria. Let's hope we can close the deal and get them to officially come on board.



Please click here A Recent Victim of the Ferret Ban Completes Anger Management?! Kelli at the April 25th Fish and Game Meeting Koko during happier times. So my story as a whole...



I had a ferret, more than a ferret.... my best friend.



March 2017, I went on vacation to go camping in Kaua'i for our anniversary. My Mom takes care of our pets, 3 dogs and the furrito on this occasion. While it is difficult for her because I live on land and she lives in a condo, she loves my animals and knows how to care for them.



Upon returning home to pick up everyone, my Mom says that the ferret ran out the back door when it was open and went under a fence. After tirelessly knocking on neighbors doors, she came up with nothing. Some neighbors even let her search their yards. By the time I got there, she had already found out that animal control had picked up a ferret and had a picture on their website looking just like mine.

My first instinct was "thank God she is safe and alive!" Then reality sunk in that a darker fate awaited her.



I, immediately, called animal control the next morning. I was well aware that if I spoke up, I was in trouble.... and if I stayed anonymous, she might die. I don't even think there was a contemplation.... I owed this animal so much that claiming ownership was the only option.



They obviously had not seen many ferrets before and they were sympathetic to my situation.... it was obvious to them that she was a pet, in every sense of the word. A beloved pet. They apologized as they told me I would not get her back.



So I contacted a ferret rescue to help advocate for her life. They were quickly successful in telling me she would not be euthanized and also reported that the animal control staff "are enjoying her a lot and taking very good care of her"... another huge relief to me. I began to accept that she was no longer mine. I started to agonize over what her life would be, would they let her out as much? Will she get depressed? Will she trust another person and/or forgive me? These are things I would take to the grave, locked up in the middle of my heart, agonizingly. Things I truly felt would not be resolved until I was in another realm answering for my life, if even then.



This is when my Father spoke up, who lives in Kansas, that he could take her. So this prompted me to ask animal control the same thing. They said they would look into it.



Next thing I hear, Fish and Game Warden is calling me. She wants to meet me at animal control to do paperwork. So I drive up at that time, she is outside already with my ferret in a box. She asks me if the box is sufficient or if I have a carrier for her. I was confused, I asked if she was taking her away now. She answered 'no' and that she was releasing her to me with a time limit to get her out of state. I signed a form agreeing to that and then she cited me for having the ferret. She gave me directions to have the Kansas Fish and Game staff verify she was there by contacting her and writing a letter.



Once this had been done, the warden emailed me and said so. The next day I received a call from a diversion service. They stated that the DA was offering to dismiss my case if I attended a one day class of diversion. I paid $350 happily. I am so very grateful that I was given this opportunity to keep a clean record. My suspicion is that the DA laughed at my charges and said "why is this even on my desk?" and then gave me a way out. I am eternally thankful.



I just completed the class today. The sum of curriculum would be best described as "for criminals on the edge of real crime". We covered alcohol and how it affects your actions and thoughts. We covered ways of thinking and how your reactions can shape your success. We covered anger management. We covered petty theft and how to rewire the mind to not steal. We covered addiction. I think the one thing that stuck with me most.... the other people's stories. There was people there for littering, racing on freeway, minor in possession, drunk in public, conspiracy to steal, destruction of property. 90% were alcohol related. I learned that mostly young adults get misdemeanors and our little college town has a drinking problem.



How I felt it helped me? I have been enlightened to, what things, others do to be "happy". What the others learned in my class.... I didn't belong. Simply.



I was met with a lot of sympathy and sorry's and a lot of "I didn't even know they were illegal!"



In this whole experience, I learned that I could have chose many different things to make me happy and some would have ended in the same diversion from the law.... somehow I still believe I made the best choice, especially compared to my fellow classmates. Having Koko the ferret will forever be a fuzzy feel good place in my heart because she loved me the way, only a best furry friend can. I can't... won't ever regret that. She stole my heart along with all the little shiny and squishy toys she could find, and she will have it forever! Flight or fight.... I choose fight! FERRETS ANONYMOUS PRESENTS… THE ANNUAL FERRET ROUND UP Hosted by: Golden State Ferret Society







WHEN

Saturday, June 3rd

11am – 4pm (Vendor setup @ 10am)

WHERE

Castro Valley Moose Lodge

20835 Rutledge Road, Castro Valley, CA 94546

WHAT

This is an annual meeting of ferret enthusiasts throughout California and Nevada.

Please join us to meet new people, learn from ferret experts, and have fun!



ADMISSION

$15 cash at the door



REFRESHMENT

Lunch and water is included with ticket & cash bar is onsite



GUEST SPEAKERS Dr. Rene Gandolfi

Dr. Richard Smith

RSVP

Let us know that you will be attending: https://goo.gl/Qy0gqJ Get Ready for the 2018 LegalizeFerrets Calendar Ferret photo shoot set for San Diego, tentatively June 17th. But Heidi will take a lot more submitted photos and here are her requirements: Send only your best quality photos.

Photos must be in focus.

Limit submissions to 3 per ferret (not per owner).

Rename generic file names with the ferret’s name(s): for example: “fuzzy.jpg" or "fuzzy-bandit-simon.jpg”.

Email photos to ferrets@hihodesign.com

The theme for 2018 is simply ferrets.



The 2017 theme, "Ferrets in the Movies" didn't work too well. Ferrets got such lousy parts! Join the 3000 Club In Conclusion So dear legislators and staff - can we talk about a bill to legalize ferrets? That is the only option left to us according to Eric Sklar.



We already produced an Environmental Report, commissioned by Sacramento State University. Quite throrough, too. Read it here, if you have time!



I have found legislative staff to be very supportive of our efforts. It is worth noting that the last sponsor of a ferret bill had a ferret owner on staff. That certainly helped. The bill passed only to be vetoed by Governor Scharzenegger.



With ferrets legal in 48 states and no harm to anyone or anything documented, it's time to move California in that direction. Sure, we're not your big money special interest, but we're a dedicated group of people trying to safeguard our pets and liberties.



Can we count on you?



Pat Wright

CLIFFNotes@legalizeferrets.org

619-303-0645