Hello everyone, There's at least some good news for AB 363. Some of you who have been following this issue may have noticed that there was not a single opposing voice from any animal or humane group-- the first time ever this bill has not been opposed by someone in an animal rights organization! We have just received a fantastic letter of support from the California Animal Control Director's Association which states, in part, "We do not feel that the objections raised by the opposition to the legalizaion of ferrets are valed nor see the benefits of keeping this animal "underground". The reality is that ferrets have been and will continue to be cared for and owned by citizens of California...." I'd asked one of their directors for a letter in time for the WPW hearing but the board had not voted in time. Finally, years of attending animal rights meetings in Sacramento have finally paid off with a very rational response from this organization just in time for our Appropriations Committee hearing. We have also just received a letter of support from the Peninsula Humane Society who had opposed legalization several years ago. I take a lot of personal satisfaction from this since I have, over the years, presented our issue to their board, and to their staff at two or three meetings, and had asked the director personally to take another look at the situation. I also rescue ferrets at this facility and have come to understand their concern for the general welfare of ferrets and all other animals. To other ferret folks in California who have good relations with local humane agencies, why not approach your humane agency with a plea for their support? Mandatory spay/neuter is a good thing for ferrets and is sadly a necessity for other pets that are faced with euthanasia as young ages due to over-population. Let me know if you are willing to contact your local humane agencies for their support and I will help you if I can. Thanks to eveyone on the FML who has taken the time to respond to the rabies questionnaire. This will be a very interesting hearing. BTW, Jan's office asks that only the people invited to testify come to this hearing since seats will be availble on a limited basis. Now, one more question for the FML readers. Last year, when I was asked by Ferrets, USA to write an article about the legalization efforts in CA, I really wanted to broaden it to include other states, cities and counties. At that time, recent legalizations included Massachusetts, the county of Davis, Utah, the city of Plano Texas and the city of Grand Island, Nebraska. Recently the city of San Antonio Texas (boy do the Texans know how to do things, or what?) legalized ferrets. ARE THERE ANY MORE CITIES, COUNTIES OR LOCALES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED FERRETS IN THE LAST YEAR THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT??? Please let me know ASAP since this will be a part of my testimony on May 7th. THanks in advance for all of your help and support. Jeanne Carley Californians for Ferret Legalization 410 Mountain Home Road Woodside, CA 94062 (415) 851-3750 <[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 1912]