Hello everyone, Some of you asked for the content of the letters of opposition from the Audubon Society and the Sierra Club. Here are the pertinent excerpts from those letters. From the Sierra Club: "Ferret fanciers have phone banks, write legislative alerts, and organize their campaigns just like other interests groups. For that they are to be commended. They also have dozens upon dozens of Internet sites, where their message is spread far and wide. (On the Internet, one can even wager on animated ferret races, if one is so inclined.) However, the judgment of the California Legislative Committee, the group of volunteers that guides the lobbying activities of this organization, is that the Sierra Club California should oppose this bill. California simply does not need to take the risk that a feral population of a non-native species could become established in this state or that this species will predate upon other species in the state." Sincerely yours, William J. Craven 1414 K Street, Suite 300 Sacramento, CA 95814 (I advise people to write to the President of the Audubon Society, and if they want to copy Mr. Craven, in Sacramento, fine. That way should Mr. Craven feel he can act independently and file these letters in the latrine, at least the president of the national organization will know what is up. Also, keep in mind, that usually change is only effectuated from above!) Please join a national campaign to correct the Audubon Society by having your members write to: Adam Werbach, President Sierra Club 85 2nd St. San Francisco, CA 94105 From the Audubon Society: "Our opposition stems from the threat posed to native California bird species should domestic ferrets escape and become established in the wild. If we could be certain that ferrets would not escape and become established in the wild, we would have no position on this issue. Audubon is not in the business of speaking out [on] the personal decision of pet owners in California. However, after considerable reflection on the issue, we are convinced that ferrets would escape, and possibly become established, posing yet another threat to birds, especially ground nesting birds in our state. As you may know, wild ferret populations stemming from released animals exist in several locations around the world with very serious negative effects on native wildlife.... Daniel Taylor State Director Audubon, California 555 Audubon Place Sacramento, CA 95825 Again, please direct your members to write to the head office and cc the Sate office if they wish. It is far too easy, and is even likely, for the State director to ignore your letters. After all, they are already in DFG's camp by the sheer fact that their opposition stems from the lies promulgated by this State Agency. They have had no independent, unsolicited complaints about ferrets! Please write to: John Flicker, President National Audubon Society 700 Broadway New York, NY 10003 Tell these organizations that since the ferret is domesticated, it does not merit being placed on a prohibited wildlife list. In addition, it is one of the safest pets to the environment and its prohibition makes no sense. Keeping people from choosing a safer pet to the environment than the cat, for example, ought not to be the goal of these organizations. Tell them that their opposition means that the people of California will continue to be fine, and even jailed for ferret ownership! If you live out of state, you are barred from moving or visiting with your domesticated ferret even though cat and dog owners (pets that have far more of an effect on the environment) enjoy this privilege, and, as an owner of a domesticated ferret (private property) you too should have this right. DFG has spent considerable time and expense digging up opposition and lying to them about the ferret. Help us set the record straight. Let these organizations know that their opposition may have consequences for them. If they are so willing to hurt good people for simply exercising a right they already have, then they might get hurt (financially) in return. TELL THEM THAT THEIR OPPOSITION IS BASED ON MISINFORMATION FROM DFG AND HURTS GOOD PEOPLE FOR CHOOSING ONE OF THE SAFEST PETS TO THE ENVIRONMENT THEY POSSIBLY CAN. WHAT RIGHT DO THEY HAVE TO TELL ANYONE WHICH DOMESTICATED PET TO OWN? WHAT RIGHT TO THEY HAVE TO HELP FINE FERRET OWNERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EVEN SENDING SOME TO JAIL? THEIR OPPOSITION IS OUTRAGEOUS AND OFFENSIVE! 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 1916]