Hello everyone, The following was forwarded to me so I'd like to respond: >I am ashamed at the ferret community here in California. I have only >known Pat for three years - but I have never seen anything in him that >would cause the rest of the ferret community to turn against him. In >fact, I would love to know why so many people have turned against him - >but all I read / hear are very nonspecific opinions. Even Jeanne Carley >whom I respect very highly seems to have turned on him (if I read her >letters correctly). I would like to know why. I haven't turned against Pat Wright, unless disagreeing with him is considered a form of betrayal. If it is, then this certainly is not news since Pat and I have often disagreed on how best to handle the legalization issue here. One example was when our lobbyist first came to me in 1994 complaining that Pat had alienated an Assemlbymember by demonstrating/picketing outside his office. The lobbyist told me that this Assemblymember was a supporter of legalization but was having second thoughts about that support because of the behavior of these ferret enthusiasts. Needless to say, I quickly passed this important information on to Pat because neither he nor I are experts in lobbying or in the intricacies of the state legislature. Instead of learning from this, Pat simply defended his actions and continued to be pretty militant. It was not the response I'd hoped for from someone trying to help get a bill through the state legislature. Later, Pat was involved in at least three very public bite circumstances, one of which sadly resulted in Rocky's death. I have never supported public displays of ferrets in CA and have only organized two public appearances of a ferret at state hearings at the request of the author of our bill. The ferrets in question had absolutely no inclination to bite and were not handled by anyone without supervision. When dozens of ferrets make a public appearance in CA, the potential downside is too great, in my opinion, and includes the possibility of confiscation. I have never wanted anyone's ferret to suffer needlessly so have never supported that kind of event. Pat disagrees with me on that one. Finally, with regard to the lawsuits that Pat has brought, they have certainly been expensive. I have also not been terribly impressed with the representation or with Pat's judgment. Here's an example. Pat's earlier lawsuit was dismissed "with prejudice". What that means in that the judge felt that the lawsuit "had no merit." To spend the time and $$ to bring a meritless lawsuit is, needless to say, pretty sad. This expensive exercise in futility led to legal bills totalling somewhere around $13,000.00 I believe. Fundraising letters were sent to ferret folks to help pay for the lawsuit. Then, incredibly, Pat and his attorney decided to appeal this decision. That meant that they went before the same judge and asked him to overrule himself! I don't think most rational people would do this and even Pat's attorney at last year's Round Up said chances were slim to none for winning this appeal. So why do it? Another example, in my opinion, of poor judgment and throwing good money after bad, some of it yours. Now, with this additional trial, Pat's boyfriend asked me to hold a fundraiser to help cover Pat's bills. As much as I feel sorry for Pat, I felt that this was out of line and told him so. If anyone wants to help Pat for Pat's sake, please do so, but to expect an organization like CFL, or any of the other ferret organization, to raise money in their name to cover Pat's legal bills is outrageous. Neither CFL nor any other ferret organization that I know of had any input in the selection of Pat's attorney, nor any input in the course or direction of the trial. We were never even asked if we thought the lawsuit had any merits in terms of the legalization effort-- something I would expect from anyone asking an organization to help pay for such an endeavor. To continually expect the ferret community to fund these lawsuits, now totaling somewhere around $20,000.00 is very self-centered in my opinion. Has Pat done some excellent things for ferret legalization. You bet. He founded Ferrets Anonymous which has grown tremendously since it's inception. Pat also gathered a whopping 13,000 signatures for a legalization petition delivered to the Fish and Game Commission in 1995. That's a huge and impressive undertaking. For years Pat did the FA newsletter virtually all by himslef, and he still works on the website. Pat wants the same thing all Californians want: ferret legalization in California. But, in my opinion, and in the opinion of many others, including some of our supporters in the State Capitol, his actions are simply not always helpful and can be quite hurtful to the effort. In the past, his actions have even been damaging to Ferrets Anonymous itself. Some of you who are new to the issue may not know the stress previous the Rocky incident and Pat's legal bills put on the organization before the leadership changed and the fact that some members and chapters talked seriously about leaving FA. So, there you have it. I don't think the comment that I have turned against Pat is accurate but if, by declining to help pay for his legal bills, some of you believe I have, then so be it. I will continue to disagree with Pat, as I have in the past, on several issues, including public displays of ferrets in CA and the assumption that the ferret community bears any responsibility for his legal fees. I feel sorry for him but feel that most of his problems are the result of extremely poor judgment and sometimes irrational behavior. I think Pat's done some very good things for legalization and some pretty bad things. But I have always wished him well and was delighted to hear from him when he was released from jail. I hope this clears things up for anyone who doesn't know some of the history or background of the controversy. Jeanne Carley Californians for Ferret Legalization P.S. Due to time constraints, I don't receive the FML so if anyone wishes to speak to me directly, please e-mail me. [Posted in FML issue 2977]