I want to thank everyone who wrote me about Scooter. I could never understand what sympathy cards did for the person who lost someone until now. It is a great comfort to me to get a note from those who truly understand. To most people who see me in tears he was only an animal and I should "get over it." To me he was the best part of my life. Getting him up in the morning he would stand at the cage when I went into the kitchen. He was saying "mom come pick me up and love me." When I would take him into the bedroom I would pet him and his tail would fluff up like a big caterpillar. All it would take to get his tail started is for me to say "oh look at my scooter bug" and "you're the best bug in the world, my little boy." He would then roll over and put his head in my hand waiting to be petted all over. He would come up to me when I got home and beg for a treat all I had to say is "what do you want little boy" and he would get excited - it was a mini-marshmallow- his favorite treat. He got iiams cat food all day and cooked cocktail shrimp at night - his night time treat. I got much more out of giving him a treat than he ever did - he was so kind and wonderful - a treat wasn't so much. I hate the way California was towards my little boy. I know he was happy inside most of the time but I really wanted him to see the Ocean and run on the beach. California never gave us that chance. Why aren't animals accorded the rights of humans if properly supervised and of no danger to anyone? Why can't we treat them with dignity? Why do some feel that only humans deserve the earth? Why can't they just let us love our ferrets? I am so hurt and angry that he never had the experiences God has to offer the creatures of the world. I am human and it is my right to live like I want and Scooter was a big part of that life- no one has the right to threaten to destroy something I love so dearly just because he existed in California. The government has got to let us have some freedoms- they allow ferrets and other animals to be used in medical experiments but draw the line in California when we just want to love them. What does that mean??? Why do they care and want to hurt us so. If they feel animals don't matter don't we as citizens? The state of California doesn't really care for us citizens - it just pushes us out and will destroy something we love if we don't agree with their policies. We want ferrets legalized so bad and yet we worry about making our feelings known publicly just in case they want to torture us be putting our babies to death. Please help support Ferret Legalization in California - I hope to have another baby someday and we don't want to live in a Gestapo world- we want to walk the beach and play in the sun. I want to show him the world and I will see it anew though my baby boys eyes - isn't that what life is about. Freedom to love and be loved. And not worry about it. [Posted in FML issue 1910]