(Sorry BIG, this is a bit long) [Not at all. :-)] Hello all, Blessings to those who have lost or have ill fuzzies, I'm thinking of you, though I'm a bit distracted at the moment. I'm not a confrontational person, believe me, I've done things I'm ashamed of just to AVOID confrontation, but I will be more ashamed if I sit back and do nothing about the proposed ban in Chicago. I KNOW there are people in the area that get this list, yet I have only heard back from one person about this. I've started collecting info to send to the media, but I don't want to be an individual amongst many that does this, are there others doing this? We need to present a unified front. I will be attending the city council meeting next Tuesday, though I do not live in the city. Who else is going? Will there be signs and handouts? Is there anyone going to speak on behalf of the ferret community in Chicago? Has anyone started a petition? I'm looking into starting an online one, but I'm afraid it will take too long to get alot of sigs by Tues. and if there is already one circulating I want to know. There isn't much time, are we all too busy? I've heard rumors there are those that live in the suburbs that think this is not an important issue for them, I live in the suburbs, with no plans to move to the city, this is not about where you live, this is about the continued slander of our beloved pets, our babies! Do you think it will end at the city limits? There are already too many FFZs in this country. Places where ferret lovers are criminals and their pets taken from their loving homes to languish in a shelter or be destroyed! CJ gives regular reports on how many she rescues from CA (you're an angel, CJ), do you think that is all the ferrets that are confiscated? Can our shelter handle the task of more rescues? Where will we put them? (I will NOT put ferrets in my pants!) What about the ferrets willingly surrendered because people will think that's the best option and they're afraid of confiscation and fines? What about those that are dumped to fend for themselves because someone believes they ARE wild animals? This is NOT just an issue for the city of Chicago! I'm ashamed to say I haven't given much thought to CA or NYC, I don't really want to visit there, so why should it concern me that ferrets are not allowed? Now I wish I had gotten involved sooner. I'm sorry to admit I did think someone else would handle this, but now I'm afraid that what I might start might be too little too late. A friend told me, "Don't worry, it will never pass." But it already has, in NYC and CA, and alot of people fought it. It can happen here too! Are we going to let a bunch of ignorant politicians tell the world that our babies, our snugglebugs, and yes, even the nippy ones (who we love anyway) are DANGEROUS, WILD ANIMALS? ===== Lisa Fuzzies Frank, Pikachu, Godiva and Timmy and the Beige Kitty "We are led, when we share our loves, to an enchanted life of inner happiness, which unsharing others cannot know." Antonius Ferret, Fables Richard Bach, Ferret Cronicles [Posted in FML issue 4218]