Hello everyone,
 
I have the great pleasure to inform you that SB 89 just passed the
California State Assembly today and will now go before Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger!
 
At this time, the vote was 47 in favor, 12 or 13 against (with
approximately 20 votes outstanding).  I'll know the final vote sometime
tomorrow or the next day and will pass it along.  Hopefully the ayes will
grow but the nayes are a sign of heavy lobbying by CA Waterfowl and Fish
and Game.
 
This is an historic day no question about that.  It's taken eleven years
of hard, hard work for a ferret bill to go this far.  I have to tell you
though, that the Department of Fish and Game is vehemently against this
bill, whining that "regulating pets is not their job".  That's one of the
arguments I made to them eleven long years ago.  How dare they now claim
ferrets are not their job, of course they're not, they never have been!
 
In any case, I can tell you from our sources in the Capitol that the
Department and CA Waterfowl are lobbying the Governor's office very, very
hard and we need for each and every one of you to multiply your efforts
five fold to ensure that this bill goes into law and is NOT vetoed!
Don't make the mistake that just because the Governor was in a movie with
ferrets that he is not feeling pressure to veto this bill.  If you make
that assumption and do nothing to convince him to sign SB 89, it will be
a very costly mistake!
 
Many of you have already called the Governor's office so what I'm asking
you to do is to reach out to your friends and co-workers, extended and
distant family members, hey, even ex's if you're on good terms, and have
them call and write as well!
 
The Governor's number is:  916 445-2841
 
To respond to legislation, press #2, then listen for SB 89, press #1,
then to support SB 89 press #1.
 
You should also take the time to help friends and family write to the
Governor.  Make it easy for them, address the letters and give them a
sample.  Here's the Governor's address:
 
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor's Office
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
 
Make your letters short. For example:
 
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
 
Please sign SB 89 which decriminalizes current ferret owners.  These good
citizens own a domesticated pet that legal in the rest of the continent,
is not in the jurisdiction of a wildlife agency, and is safer to people
and the environment than a dog or cat.  The current ban is unfair and a
waste of taxes and governmental goodwill.
 
Signed,
 
Your name and city
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To those of you who have lists of people in California that we may not be
reaching, Ferrets Anonymous, Golden State Ferret Society, Capitol City
Ferret Club, Ferret Ware, Hyper Fur, etc.  please, get this information
out to all of your contacts, ASAP.  Consider a small first class mailing
so recipients have time to respond.
 
Come on folks, now is not the time to celebrate, it's time to work hard
so all of us can celebrate when the bill is law!
 
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
[Posted in FML issue 4615]