Hi everyone!  Thought I'd share my day with you...
 
6/14/95 - 9:45 - Left message with Rachel Lamb's voice mail at HSUS.
 
10:30 - talked to Pat (Irwin's office) and asked for the ferret file.  She
said she would talk to Rachel and was sure there would be no problem
releasing the file.
 
11:25 - left voice message with Samantha Mullen (VP of Companion animals) re:
phone call I made to her 6/1 and unanswered request for file.
 
1:30 - Rachel Lamb returned my call at work.  She was very sweet and said
that the HSUS does not have anything against ferrets, just does not think
everyone should have one.  I agreed with her, but told her that is not how it
came off in her CBS interview.  She is writing response letters and copying
the file, and is very interested in taking me up on visiting the ferrets at
my home, but it would have to wait for a few weeks.  I said fine.
 
Now, I will wait for a week or two and if I still don't have my hands on that
file, I'll start calling again.
 
In the meantime, if you STILL have NOT written the HSUS, I think you should
get your letter off.  I have the feeling that the HSUS has been flooded with
complaints and Ms. Lamb is doing some backpeddling.  Remember, her exact
words were:
"We do not support the legalization of ferrets in CA and we have tried to
stop and prohibit the ownership of ferrets in other states."
   ...and they have failed except for CA.
 
A new angle you might want to try - Rachel told me that the HSUS is not
against any animal, but is for the responsible care and ownership of animals.
The HSUS is against the sale of pets in pet shops (and who knows where else)
and likes PETSMART and shops like it.  If you want to "win" points with the
HSUS, tell them you plan on getting your next ferret from a shelter, and that
you tell your friends to get their pets at shelters, and that you know how to
get in touch with ferret clubs and shelters and ARE a responsible pet owner.
Tell them you support the sterilization of animals kept as PETS, and that
includes your household (assuming all of your pets are spayed/neutered). Just
a thought to show ferret owners are responsible with their pets.  Remind her
that unspayed females can die and that unaltered males smell and mark their
turf, so nueter and spay are the only way.
 
In case you misplaced the addresses:
 
Paul Irwin, President (has been out of town until now)
(e-mail:  [log in to unmask])
Rachel Lamb, companion animals
(e-mail:  [log in to unmask])
Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
tel 202-452-1100
fax 202-778-6132
 
Thank you for your support.
 
Pam Grant
STAR* Ferrets
[Posted in FML issue 1226]