As many are aware, CDFEA (California Domestic Ferret Educational Alliance, Inc) was my brainchild in 2006 that eventually took on legal sheltering operations in Southern California. I resigned from the board last December because of health issues, and far too many irons in the fire. I received word this past week that CDFEA will be dis-incorporating and shutting down the only ferret specific shelter holding a DFG permit in the state. The current board members and shelter ops are disillusioned and burnt out, which seems to be common amongst those who truly put in more than lip service to ferret advocacy and protection in that democratically brain-dead state. I hear rumor that another ferret club in California is attempting to incorporate, which is a good thing, but that is only one small step toward actually obtaining a shelter permit through DFG. In a nutshell, in about 60 days California will once again go back to the old, and apparently comfortable, way of shuffling ferrets around through the "underground network" and seized ferrets will again be sent to wildlife centers or euthanized. Wouldn't it be amazing if every ferret owner in California suddenly became inspired and motivated enough to stand up to their tyrannical state government, a government that they pay for, and say "enough already"? One can only dream. If there is an organization in California that is seriously interested in pursuing shelter operations there and would like to avoid re-inventing the wheel, I would be happy to make time to provide information on how to go about it. Do understand beforehand that any ferret specific shelter in California, be it in a facility or a private home, would have to be subject to yearly inspection by DFG. This seems to be where those with a vague interest in sheltering fall off. Initially, DFG allowed us to have our veterinarian do our yearly inspection and sign off on it, but true to DFG's greedy nature, they now want to do the inspections and charge a fee for the "service". I will be sad to see CDFEA close its doors, not just because it was once my "baby", but because I know hundreds of ferrets avoided neglect, abuse and death through their efforts over the past few years. And I am even more saddened to know what the fate of hundreds more will be without a DFG approved shelter to save them. I sure hope there is someone, some group, over there that will have the cajones to step up to the plate very soon for these sweet, voiceless creatures. Legalization of ferrets is a long way off, the ferrets need advocates RIGHT NOW. For those thinking about, or planning on sneaking more ferrets into California because you "just gotta have" a new baby ferret....please don't be selfish, stop being part of the problem and become part of the solution. NAFAR is still available to meet at the I-40 border to take group rescues (shelter space permitting). We can no longer afford to run over to the border for a single rescue; it is a 9 hour round trip, we do not have the ability to drop everything at a moments notice and run over there. Bonnie Tormohlen Managing Director Northern Arizona Ferret Alliance & Rescue, Inc [Posted in FML 7439]