Paragraph 6 of Wayne Pacelle's interview says they have 8 areas thay plan to focus campaigns against. One of those is "keeping exotics as pets". I don't know bout the rest of you but while ferrets are considered a "domestic" animal. Most veterinarians, pet shops and other animal experts label ferrets as "exotic"! So now what do we do? Do we establish a lobbying group to prove to politicians that ferrets have been domesticated about as long as cats have been? But unlike a cat - ferrets don't go feral. Hasn't been a very successful argument for ferret advocates in California. Personally I have a hard time taking "vegans" seriously when vegans try to impose their views upon other animal caretakers, especially those that care for carnivores. When I see all the BUNK that vegans attempt to pass off as good alternatives to feeding a carnivore meat - well, it just doesn't wash! The fact is that some animals evolved to eat other animals and usually there is yet another animal that will prey upon the predator. Comments further into the interview about the HSUS amassing personnel and funds necessary to present their position in acceptable ways to politicians as being legitimate is laughable as if there is such a thing as an honest politician - HAH! Only proves what most of us already know: Those with the most gold make the rules! I perused several of those Satya pages and didn't see mention of ferrets. But did see reference to exotics. So maybe we as ferret owners should take the tiller to hand and steer the ship to get ferrets taken off the "exotics" list? What will be definition of an exotic? An animal NOT bred by man but captured in the wild? I'm not a fan of this idea - stripping the wild to get pets. Although my corn snake, Slinky, was found over 10 years ago as a fingerling snakelet in a hedge bush and thrives within my home as a "pet". Being an Okeetee Corn Snake, she is indigenous to Florida, but still considered an "exotic" pet by a vet and other people. How about an animal not indigenous to a specific area? Well for the U.S. that certainly rules out parrots, parrotlets, macaws, cockatiels, parakeets, cockatoos, lorikeets, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, cats, pigs, most bovines and even horses, not to mention a multitude of snakes, frogs, toads, lizards. Does that mean only dogs could be considered domestic pets? Well only if the breed originated in the U.S. Many people would consider anything other than a dog or cat to be exotic. Then again, some dog owners would consider a Chinese Crested to be an "exotic". Some cat owners would consider the Hairless Sphynx to be an "exotic". How many ferret owners think an angora ferret is "exotic"? Who will define this term? What will you do if your beloved pet becomes an exotic outlawed companion? Will you leave this decision up to a group of vegans? Cheers, Kim [Posted in FML 7024]