To Cobra and others living in CA:
 
     I know a lady living in CA who owns 6 ferrets.  She lives in the
general area of SanFrancisco Bay.  This woman is careful not to give
her ferrets public exposure, is associated with CDFA, but she did do
a newspaper interview on ferrets that was supposed to have been kept
anonymous by the writer.  The writer. however, printed the woman's
town of residence and at least her first name, maybe the full name (I
don't remember for sure).  Fish and Game have showed up at her home
at least twice now, demanding to be allowed in to search for ferrets.
She has put her babies into a "safe house" twice for a period of
several weeks each time to protect them.  Fish and Game did NOT have
a warrant and were therefore turned away.  They showed up at her
vet's office one morning as she was taking in her bunch for
vaccinations, but the vet's staff helped her get out of sight with
her precious cargo.  DO NOT take the safety of your pets too lightly!
While you may take them out safely dozens of times, wouldn't you kick
yourself for taking them out the one time you did run into some kind
of official who would take them from you and possibly destroy them?
It's worth noting that my friend was visited by Fish & Game the
second time after someone she considered to be a friend reported her,
so take care in who you allow to know about your pets.  I would think
there would be a need to be especially careful after all the negative
publicity from the press during the time the Assembly Bill was under
consideration.
 
    As far as the reports of ferrets being asphixiated at the border
stations, I (of course) have not personally witnessed this, but I
have heard the same thing from the woman mentioned above.  She told
how the CDFA had been informed that confiscated ferrets at the CA
borders were placed in plastic garbage bags that were filled with
CO2 (though carbon monoxide seems more likely, as it would be readily
available).  In either case, and otherwise healthy animal is
destroyed, and in a less than humane manner.  Please be careful with
your little furry ones, we don't want to hear more tragic stories
here!
___________________________________________
 
Michelle & the MASKateers:
 
    Vivat!! Well done!  I'm really pleased that this came out so
    well.  I know if I had been in your place, I would have had that
    sinking feeling that something was up that I wouldn't like!  It's
    terrific that you seem to have won the woman over so completely,
    and I hope this can be used for the good of ferrets in your area.
 
           Debra in Ft.Worth, TX
 
[Posted in FML issue 0830]