To Cobra and others living in CA: I know a lady living in CA who owns 6 ferrets. She lives in the general area of SanFrancisco Bay. This woman is careful not to give her ferrets public exposure, is associated with CDFA, but she did do a newspaper interview on ferrets that was supposed to have been kept anonymous by the writer. The writer. however, printed the woman's town of residence and at least her first name, maybe the full name (I don't remember for sure). Fish and Game have showed up at her home at least twice now, demanding to be allowed in to search for ferrets. She has put her babies into a "safe house" twice for a period of several weeks each time to protect them. Fish and Game did NOT have a warrant and were therefore turned away. They showed up at her vet's office one morning as she was taking in her bunch for vaccinations, but the vet's staff helped her get out of sight with her precious cargo. DO NOT take the safety of your pets too lightly! While you may take them out safely dozens of times, wouldn't you kick yourself for taking them out the one time you did run into some kind of official who would take them from you and possibly destroy them? It's worth noting that my friend was visited by Fish & Game the second time after someone she considered to be a friend reported her, so take care in who you allow to know about your pets. I would think there would be a need to be especially careful after all the negative publicity from the press during the time the Assembly Bill was under consideration. As far as the reports of ferrets being asphixiated at the border stations, I (of course) have not personally witnessed this, but I have heard the same thing from the woman mentioned above. She told how the CDFA had been informed that confiscated ferrets at the CA borders were placed in plastic garbage bags that were filled with CO2 (though carbon monoxide seems more likely, as it would be readily available). In either case, and otherwise healthy animal is destroyed, and in a less than humane manner. Please be careful with your little furry ones, we don't want to hear more tragic stories here! ___________________________________________ Michelle & the MASKateers: Vivat!! Well done! I'm really pleased that this came out so well. I know if I had been in your place, I would have had that sinking feeling that something was up that I wouldn't like! It's terrific that you seem to have won the woman over so completely, and I hope this can be used for the good of ferrets in your area. Debra in Ft.Worth, TX [Posted in FML issue 0830]