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]