Hello everyone,
 
There's a new time set for the Fish and Game Commission Hearing on the
ferret issue.  The time is now changed from 10:00 A.M. on Thursday,
April 6th, at 1:30 PM.  The meeting will be held at the Resources Bldg.
Auditorium (first floor) at 1416 9th St., Sacramento.
 
We will be allowed one hour of testimony, the opposition will be allowed
one hour and then there will be some time allowed for rebuttal.  If you
plan to testify, you must make your comments brief and to the point.  Do
not repeat what was already stated by someone else-- if you have nothing to
add specifically, simply state that you are in support of legalization.
 
Some of the many arguments in support of legalization:
 
***Ferrets are domesticated and DO NOT belong in the hands of a wildlife
agency.  This is our strongest argument.  The state has no right to tell
citizens which domesticated pet to own.  Fish and Game was never intended
to control, let alone ban, domesticated pets.
 
***Domesticated ferrets are here already in California in large numbers
because the public knows that this law is based on fiction, that ferrets
are domesticated, not wild, and are for that reason legal in every other
state on the continent.
 
***Domesticated ferrets are safer to the environment than other
domesticated pets (1996-97 Nationwide Ferret Survey of State Wildlife
Agencies results, no feral ferrets).  Interesting note: CA Waterfowl, who
will testify in opposition, has sponsored the introduction of non-native
game birds so they can be hunted, and uses dogs for this purpose.  Their
"pets" and their activities have more impact on the environment than do
those of ferret owners!
 
For those of you who cannot attend the hearing, I urge you to write to the
Commission urging them to removed the DOMESTICATED ferret from the list of
prohibited WILDLIFE--(Should be a no brainer, I know).  Please ask all of
your friends and family to write as well.  Here's the Commission's address:
 
CA Fish and Game Commission
1416 9th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
 
I again urge everyone to obtain a copy of the Fish and Game survey on feral
ferrets.  This is information that must be used against the Department's
ludicrous opposition to legalizing a domesticated pet that is far safer to
the environment than dogs, cats and other domesticated pets.  The survey's
results: NO FERAL FERRETS DOCUMENTED IN ANY STATE IN THE US NOW OR IN THE
PAST.  NOT EVER!
 
You can obtain a copy of the report entitled, 1996-97 Nationwide Ferret
Survey of State Wildlife Agencies, by writing to:
 
Ron Jurek
Department of Fish and Game
1416 9th st. #1266
Sacramento, CA  95814
 
I plan on attending the hearing but have been ill recently-- it's meant for
some rearrangement of my workload so I don't know yet but my father will be
there.
 
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization (CFL)
410 Mountain Home Road  Woodside, CA  94062
(650) 851-3750   <[log in to unmask]>
http://www.ferretnews.org-- CFL Website
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For pure ferret fun, check out http://www.ferretcompany.com
or e-mail your address to <[log in to unmask]> for a free Ferret
Company Catalog.
[Posted in FML issue 3006]