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The email newsletter of LegalizeFerrets.org View this email in your browser Vol 13 No 19, April 30th, 2017

<<First Name>> <<Last Name>> <<Custom1>> <<Custom2>> We Were Awesome at Fish and Game Committee Meeting And we had friends We did a lot of preparation for this. An open letter to the Commissioners was published. Letters of support was sought from all members of the Legislature’s Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. Ads were run on Facebook and Bing. We made signs and encouraged as many people to come as possible.



A few days prior to the meeting, Fish and Game wildlife research staff published their recommendations:



Short Description

Requests FGC issue permits for ferrets under certain circumstances.



Staff Recommendations

Deny: FGC has previously indicated that it will not authorize wild animals to be possessed as pets.



It takes a lot of something to call our ferrets “wild animals” and personally I found that line to be very offensive.



So we put out the word; email or call the Fish and Game Commission and let them know you’re not happy. And apparently, many people did.



About 20 ferret lovers came to the meeting, but since we didn’t know when our issue would be heard it was an all-day affair some people had to leave.



And we listened to a lot of testimony on bull frogs as invasive species and gps for hunting dogs. And finally, at about 3 in the afternoon they got to our issue.



President Sklar limited our comments to 1 minute per person which I thought terribly unfair. Yes, we’d heard a lot of people testify, many not making that much sense on other issues.



13 people signed up to testify. Many of the people who testified on other issues testified on our behalf. Only Bill Gaines from the California Waterfowl Association testified against ferrets. He waited outside the room and then came in last minute to say how ferrets were introduced into New Zealand and how much damage they did.



Then they went on to other petitions. And adjourned. What is going on?



I was there and I didn’t see it. But apparently they lumped all the petitions together and voted them all down.



But people aren’t laughing at us. They’re laughing at the Fish and Game Commission for insisting ferrets are wild animals. Despite all the facts to the contrary, everyone, including people at the Fish and Game Commission understand these are domestic animals. Big Surprise at the End Fish and Game President Erik Sklar called me on Friday afternoon to schedule a talk. I have his permission to say that much. But I don’t think he would call me if there weren’t major cracks in ferret ban.



I’m back to thinking what a big party we’ll have once this is over!







Last minute update. My conversation with Mr. Sklar went something like this. We thought he was a good person listening to him in action on other issues but didn't see it when he got to ferrets. He replied the issue was more complicated than I thought or realized.



Then this email was forwarded to me:



Dear Ms. O,

Thank you for your comments regarding owning ferrets in California.

The comment deadline for this item is now closed,however the Fish and Game Commission will have further discussions on the matter when the Department of Fish and Wildlife reports back to the commission.

You may go to our website at www.fgc.ca.gov to sign up to receive electronic agendas for future meetings, as well as sign up to receive notices regarding any regulatory changes. These notices include the dates for receipt of public comments.



Next Ferret Round Up

Finally we have plans. If anyone has suggestions for speakers or programs please let me know and I'll pass it on to the organizers. Mark your calendars! More details to come!



June 3rd Castro valley Moose lodge. 20835 Rutledge road. Castro valley ca 94546. Set up at 10:00 start at 11am till 4pm.



More Details Are Coming - I've been Promised. But Someone is Cutting it Close Join the 3000 Club Thanks Claudia, Melinda and Sharon for OC Pet Expo The Huge Southern California Pet Expo was this weekend at the Costa Mesa Fairgrounds. My thanks to Claudia, Melinda and Sharon for running a ferret booth. That is a lot of work! "The most asked question used to be "why are ferrets illegal in California?" Now it is "Are ferrets still illegal in California." In Conclusion What a week it has been for ferret legalization efforts. What does Eric Sklar wish to discuss? The President of the Fish and Game Commission personally doesn't care if people have ferrets? What a topsy turvey world we live in. (Love that line from The Simpsons.)



Mr. Sklar did say we need to reach out to the legislature. Gee, why didn't we think of that? And so I ordered the entire list of emails of legislators and staff, no copying and pasting this year. I'll wait to see what Mr. Sklar says before I send out that email.



And it's time to think of the 2018 LegalizeFerrets Calendar Photo Shoot. It should be a National Holiday because it is the most fun day of the year. I think the date will be June 17th and the location will be at the Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital, Dr Jenkins, in San Diego. And I hope Yvonne R will be our photographer again. I haven't asked her yet - what do you say Yvonne?!



The 2018 Theme will be Simply Ferrets. Last year's theme of ferrets in the movies didn't work and caused more than a few problems. Our graphic artist Heidi is also planning on using more submitted photos because the quality is getting better.



Good Times Ahead!

Thank you,



Pat Wright

CLIFFNotes@legalizeferrets.org

619-303-0645 Thank you!