Ferrets in Calif. I think CDFA1 is being attacked unfairly here. The original message from the person wanting information on getting a ferret in California was posted to a public bulletin board on America Online. ANYBODY with AOL access could read it, including our pals at Fish and Game. Several people, not just CDFA1, told the poster that it was a bad idea to post on a public board because 1) Fish and Game could come after them and their possible future ferrets and 2) because no one would be likely to help anyway since the poster could have been a "plant" from Fish and Game. Then CDFA1 and the poster had the e-mail conversation that CDFA posted to the FML. THEN the orignal poster posted more messages on the public boards telling us all to get lives (have one, thanks) and making some sick jokes about catching and eating ferrets with his Fish and Game buddies. Now, to the points: 1. Ferrets are illegal in California. Several each year get killed by the state for no reason at all, in spite of the best efforts of ferret rescuers to convince the various state agencies to send them out of state at no expense to the state. The danger to California ferrets is REAL, not imagined. 2. California ferret owners MUST, *at the very least*, take all possible precautions to safeguard their own ferrets. The original poster in this tempest showed no interest in doing so, and called us all paranoid when we suggested he should be careful. 3. California ferret owners SHOULD contribute to the legalization effort. Obviously not everyone could or would devote as much time and effort and money to it as people like CDFA1 and others do. I don't think CDFA1 is asking us all to become ferret saints. HOWEVER, to take NO interest in the legalization efforts, which the original poster stated clearly, to NOT CARE, to not even want to hear important information to keep his own future ferrets safe, is completely reprehensible. I don't devote as much time as I feel I should to ferret legalization, but I do keep up on it, I do donate what money I can, I do write letters to politicians. I *care*. The original poster clearly said he *doesn't* care: and if you have ferrets in California and don't even CARE about the legalization process, you're putting those ferrets in danger. Could education of the original poster have been handled more tactfully? Perhaps. And that is where the effort should be placed: education of ferret owners and potential ferret owners in California. It's something to remember next time we're approached this way, but I can understand CDFA1's postings completely in this case: I wouldn't have done a bit better at holding my temper when the original poster was being so completely irresponsible. For those who are getting so angry at CDFA1, I suggest you look to your own heart: what have YOU done for ferrets lately, Californian or not? Are you involved in public education? Ferret rescue? Do you at least take exemplary care of your own pets and set a good example? Casey's Mom [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1591]