I always am bothered by comments by people like Ben Stiller and Jennifer
about ferrets - I have had / have a total of 5 ferrets and am in love
with all of them (2 have died).
 
But - all Ben is is a powerless actor with a soundstage.  Sure, he is
wrong and misguided, but in this country he is allowed to spout whatever
he wants to.
 
It doesn't matter if Jay Leno talks to Swartsintegger (or whatever his
name is), because Arnold is a powerless figurehead.  I am a firm believer
that in the end, legislation will FREE FERRETS and legalize them.  The
reason will ultimately be for the WRONG REASON, but will yield the right
result:
 
You see, legislators are interested in supporting policy that does "good"
(not so much) and also seems to keep them in office.  Therefore, as a
ferret owner, I feel our best defense is through economics.  When a guy
like Ben Stiller sends out a negative message, if we had a lobby with
power over media, we could, the VERY NEXT DAY something negative comes
out about our furry friends issue commercials and newspaper ads...
 
I can see it now:
 
 ...a ferret is in jail overlooking a serene landscape of cats, dogs and
horses playing.  The announcer says:
 
"ferrets are improperly designated in some states as a wild animal,
although they are no more wild than your more popular household pets"
 
 ...then the dogs and cats get jailed also...
 
"fair is fair"...
 
then have a couple of cute young kids with their household dogs and cats
have them taken away...
 
"lets end this sillyness... contact <email address> to help.
 
The email would have instructions on letters to send to legislators on
behalf of ferrets...
 
Mark h.
[Posted in FML issue 4396]