Hello everyone,
 
Some of you asked for the content of the letters of opposition from the
Audubon Society and the Sierra Club.  Here are the pertinent excerpts from
those letters.
 
From the Sierra Club:
"Ferret fanciers have phone banks, write legislative alerts, and organize
their campaigns just like other interests groups.  For that they are to be
commended.  They also have dozens upon dozens of Internet sites, where their
message is spread far and wide.  (On the Internet, one can even wager on
animated ferret races, if one is so inclined.)
 
However, the judgment of the California Legislative Committee, the group of
volunteers that guides the lobbying activities of this organization, is that
the Sierra Club California should oppose this bill.  California simply does
not need to take the risk that a feral population of a non-native species
could become established in this state or that this species will predate
upon other species in the state."
 
Sincerely yours,
William J. Craven
1414 K Street, Suite 300
Sacramento, CA  95814
 
(I advise people to write to the President of the Audubon Society, and if
they want to copy Mr. Craven, in Sacramento, fine.  That way should Mr.
Craven feel he can act independently and file these letters in the latrine,
at least the president of the national organization will know what is up.
Also, keep in mind, that usually change is only effectuated from above!)
 
Please join a national campaign to correct the Audubon Society by having your
members write to:
 
Adam Werbach, President
Sierra Club
85 2nd St.
San Francisco, CA  94105
 
From the Audubon Society:
"Our opposition stems from the threat posed to native California bird
species should domestic ferrets escape and become established in the wild.
If we could be certain that ferrets would not escape and become established
in the wild, we would have no position on this issue.  Audubon is not in the
business of speaking out [on] the personal decision of pet owners in
California.
 
However, after considerable reflection on the issue, we are convinced that
ferrets would escape, and possibly become established, posing yet another
threat to birds, especially ground nesting birds in our state.  As you may
know, wild ferret populations stemming from released animals exist in
several locations around the world with very serious negative effects on
native wildlife....
 
Daniel Taylor
State Director
Audubon, California
555 Audubon Place
Sacramento, CA  95825
 
Again, please direct your members to write to the head office and cc the
Sate office if they wish.  It is far too easy, and is even likely, for the
State director to ignore your letters.  After all, they are already in DFG's
camp by the sheer fact that their opposition stems from the lies promulgated
by this State Agency.  They have had no independent, unsolicited complaints
about ferrets!
 
Please write to:
 
John Flicker, President
National Audubon Society
700 Broadway
New York, NY    10003
 
Tell these organizations that since the ferret is domesticated, it does not
merit being placed on a prohibited wildlife list.  In addition, it is one of
the safest pets to the environment and its prohibition makes no sense.
Keeping people from choosing a safer pet to the environment than the cat,
for example, ought not to be the goal of these organizations.  Tell them
that their opposition means that the people of California will continue to
be fine, and even jailed for ferret ownership!  If you live out of state,
you are barred from moving or visiting with your domesticated ferret even
though cat and dog owners (pets that have far more of an effect on the
environment) enjoy this privilege, and, as an owner of a domesticated ferret
(private property) you too should have this right.
 
DFG has spent considerable time and expense digging up opposition and lying
to them about the ferret.  Help us set the record straight.  Let these
organizations know that their opposition may have consequences for them.  If
they are so willing to hurt good people for simply exercising a right they
already have, then they might get hurt (financially) in return.  TELL THEM
THAT THEIR OPPOSITION IS BASED ON MISINFORMATION FROM DFG AND HURTS GOOD
PEOPLE FOR CHOOSING ONE OF THE SAFEST PETS TO THE ENVIRONMENT THEY POSSIBLY
CAN.  WHAT RIGHT DO THEY HAVE TO TELL ANYONE WHICH DOMESTICATED PET TO OWN?
WHAT RIGHT TO THEY HAVE TO HELP FINE FERRET OWNERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS,
EVEN SENDING SOME TO JAIL?  THEIR OPPOSITION IS OUTRAGEOUS AND OFFENSIVE!
 
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home Road  Woodside, CA  94062
(415) 851-3750   <[log in to unmask]>
http://www.ccnet.com/~beisners/gsfs/lobby.html
CALIFORNIANS, YOU CAN FIND OUT YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER AND STATE SENATOR BY
VISITING THIS SITE!!  IT'S TIME TO CALL AND WRITE THEM TO CO-AUTHOR THE
FERRET BILL, SO ACT NOW!
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[Posted in FML issue 1916]