I want to start out by making it very clear that I am making this commentary
as Marie, not representing the CDFA.
 
One year and one week ago to the day I was flying, bouncing on clouds so
high nobody could see them to confirm their existance.  Fish and Game had
finally finally after all these years agreed to hear testimony on the
Domestic Ferret issue.  How, after hearing the testimony could they decide
they were anything but domestic right?
 
You have to dig pretty deep to find the hole I'm in today......... the
Commission just agreed to accept Mr. Christenson's opinion that the
Commission did NOT have the legal authority to make that decision...........
THUD!  As I understand it at this time, no open window for commentary from
the public no nothing........ we have been removed from the agenda of the
Fish and Game Commission.
 
My PERSONAL opinion is that this puts us back to worse than square 1.  The
one redeeming thing that happened in the 30 (approx) minute discussion on
the subject (no public commentary allowed, discussion was between the
Attorney General and the Commissioners only) Mr. Boren, a member of the
Commission pointed out that the 'ferret community' of CA was getting very
frustrated, that they had spent lots of money on legal fees, filings, etc.
This law (the right to make the decision on the status of the domestic
ferret or not) needed to be clarified.  He suggested a sub-committee that
included at least one member of the commission, and the AG (who said he
would act as legal council only) work with the CA legislature (haven't we
been here before) to get the law clarified one way or the other...... Can
they or can't they legally make the decision?  The subcommittee proposal was
accepted and Mr. Boren is the representative from the DFGC, HOWEVER his term
expires in Jan.  Now if he is re-appointed to his position no problem, but
if not someone (who is not as familiar with the situation as he is) will
have to take his place.................. I personally stopped Mr. Boren in
the hall and thanked him for acknowledging that it was getting very
frustrating and for treating this issue as something more than a joke.  It
hurts when some of the authorities out there laugh at our fight........ like
it's not that important so what's the big deal right????  He reaffirmed he
knew how I felt (couldn't hide the tears in my eyes) and went on.
 
That's where we stand from what I saw in the hearing today.  Guess it's back
to the legislature...... Oh Mr. Christenson's comment on the passing of HR37
was "as much as I would like to give it a lot of weight, the fact is I
can't".  I am not angry with Mr. Christenson.  He did his homework, he
presented what sounded like a very solid arguement for his position, my
frustration stemms from dangling that carrot in front of me and yanking it
away just as I reached for it......... Couldn't they have come to this
conclusion a year ago, so we could have a years worth of work on it behind
us............
 
Okkkkkkkkkkkk so I've whined enough.  I'm going to go curl up and take a nap
(11hrs 15min of driving and a 30minute meeting.......... I'm tired).  We
won't give up .......... no matter how many times they knock us back........
we won't give up.  Just sometimes it takes a little umph to get us back into
the fight right away..........
 
Marie.....................
[Posted in FML issue 1748]