CA UPDATE 2/14 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL CALIFORNIANS AND TO PAT WRIGHT OF FERRETS ANONYMOUS..... (Pat already knows this) Californians for Ferret Legalization will assume the costs of defending Pat against the charges of illegal possession of a wild animal! So, now there are three fronts that DFG will have to address. Pat's lawsuit covers the judicial arena because a judge will hear it and can rule that the ferret is domesticated and set the whole department of Fish and Game on it's ear (hopefully). The lawsuit by Marshall Farms (though it is also in front of a judge) is more in the administrative arena because it is designed to compel the Fish and Game Commission (an administrative branch) to do their job and have a hearing on whether the ferret is wild or domesticated. The statute reads that the following WILD animals are prohibited.... AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION. In addition, we have our ferret legalization bill, sponsored by Californians for Ferret Legalization (that's all of you by the way, FA, Golden State Ferret Society, CDFA and LOS and the hundreds of thousands of people not affiliated with any group) and authored by Jan Goldsmith. Wow!! DFG has often complained about lack of funds, lack of time, now what are they going to do? The attorneys in Los Angeles are in the process of doing a great job of discovery regarding Commission and Department actions on the ferret issue in the past. They've literally asked for every document, every letter, every file, everything the department has on ferrets! They'll get to see it all, and it should be very interesting. Not only does this take time on behalf of DFG, but I was told by the Attorneys, that DFG pays for it, not the AG's office. So, it costs them time and money. Hopefully they will soon realize that it is time to let go of an issue that does not merit this kind of expenditure. When ferrets are legalized, they'll save hundreds of thousands of dollars, maybe even millions! In the meantime, THE WANTED POSTERS ARE IN! Californians, this is your opportunity to spread the word. These posters are 8.5"x11" and ask for the public's participation. All you have to do is to fill in the name, address, and telephone number of your local representative, photocopy the form, and distribute it to your local pet stores, veterinary offices, businesses, schools, etc. Please send me your name and address if you're willing to get it into the public arena. If you can help with some of our costs in photo-copying, mailing, or the litigation, please send a contribution. We have to go back on press with the posters soon because we're almost out. Thanks for all your support. Let's give 110% to get this done this year. Jeanne Carley Californians for Ferret Legalization [log in to unmask] http://www. ccnet.com/~beisners/gsfs/lobby.html CALIFORNIANS, YOU CAN FIND OUT YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER AND STATE SENATOR BY VISITING THIS SITE!! IT'S TIME TO CALL AND WRITE THEM TO CO-AUTHOR THE FERRET BILL, SO ACT NOW! [Posted in FML issue 1846]