About three years ago, Felix the Albino cuddle made it to the great outdoors, in San Mateo. I searched all over the day he got out, didn't find him. So the next morning, I called the local SPCA, to see if any small albino weasels had been brought in...anonymously, of course. In SM, as with most places, the SPCA is under local gov't contract as "animal cops", and hence, enforce the ban. They act as "minions of the forces of darkness", Fish&Game. Anyways, someone there *had* got a call from the family that found Felix. Once the SPCA staffer heard how gentle he was, they abandoned policy and told the finder to feed Felix kitten food, and put up a "found ferret" sign. Then when *I* called, they told me to go look for that sign. It was a block away. I had Felix back inside of two hours. Many thanks to all involved, even when they knowingly broke the bad law they were paid to enforce. NOTE: In San Francisco, the SPCA is *totally* private. You can go there with your ferret on shoulder - I've done it. They are also a "no kill" shelter for cats and dogs, but only because the City runs an "Animal Care and Control" division of the SFPD - AC&C *will* confiscate a ferret after a "complaint" - which usually means a neigbor ratted on ya. NOTE2: If the cops come around without a warrant, let them know that not only do they need a warrant, you know that the warrant won't be valid unless it's got the full name of the "complaining party" - a human who spotted the weasel directly - on the warrant. No moron snitch coward of a neigborhood snitch will *ever* come forward in the open, so this can shut the confiscation process down completely. Of course, I'm 6'4", wear black leather and cutlery, and drive the world's nastiest lookin' Harley, so that adds a certain unstated element. And if not - revenge is sweet. (Bike=Buell S1 Lightning - see www.buell.com. Also, any other biker weasels out there? Felix loves to hang his head out of my jacket - on the freeway! Don't worry, he's trained to stay in while in motion.). [Posted in FML issue 1536]