Hi everyone! Thought I'd share my day with you... 6/14/95 - 9:45 - Left message with Rachel Lamb's voice mail at HSUS. 10:30 - talked to Pat (Irwin's office) and asked for the ferret file. She said she would talk to Rachel and was sure there would be no problem releasing the file. 11:25 - left voice message with Samantha Mullen (VP of Companion animals) re: phone call I made to her 6/1 and unanswered request for file. 1:30 - Rachel Lamb returned my call at work. She was very sweet and said that the HSUS does not have anything against ferrets, just does not think everyone should have one. I agreed with her, but told her that is not how it came off in her CBS interview. She is writing response letters and copying the file, and is very interested in taking me up on visiting the ferrets at my home, but it would have to wait for a few weeks. I said fine. Now, I will wait for a week or two and if I still don't have my hands on that file, I'll start calling again. In the meantime, if you STILL have NOT written the HSUS, I think you should get your letter off. I have the feeling that the HSUS has been flooded with complaints and Ms. Lamb is doing some backpeddling. Remember, her exact words were: "We do not support the legalization of ferrets in CA and we have tried to stop and prohibit the ownership of ferrets in other states." ...and they have failed except for CA. A new angle you might want to try - Rachel told me that the HSUS is not against any animal, but is for the responsible care and ownership of animals. The HSUS is against the sale of pets in pet shops (and who knows where else) and likes PETSMART and shops like it. If you want to "win" points with the HSUS, tell them you plan on getting your next ferret from a shelter, and that you tell your friends to get their pets at shelters, and that you know how to get in touch with ferret clubs and shelters and ARE a responsible pet owner. Tell them you support the sterilization of animals kept as PETS, and that includes your household (assuming all of your pets are spayed/neutered). Just a thought to show ferret owners are responsible with their pets. Remind her that unspayed females can die and that unaltered males smell and mark their turf, so nueter and spay are the only way. In case you misplaced the addresses: Paul Irwin, President (has been out of town until now) (e-mail: [log in to unmask]) Rachel Lamb, companion animals (e-mail: [log in to unmask]) Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037 tel 202-452-1100 fax 202-778-6132 Thank you for your support. Pam Grant STAR* Ferrets [Posted in FML issue 1226]