I got a response from the Sierra Club on my earlier letter. Here is their response. And my followup response: >From: [log in to unmask] >Dear Ms. Burkard: > >Thank you for your recent comments about Sierra Club California's >opposition to AB 363 (Goldsmith), which would permit the ownership of >domestic ferrets as pets. I am sorry to hear of your disapproval of our >position. Our position on this issue, like all the positions that the >Sierra Club takes on legislative issues, was carefully considered by a >committee of volunteer member activists. > >The Sierra Club believes that California cannot take the risk that a feral >population of a non-native species could become established in this state. >California has the highest number of endangered species in the continental >United States, and the Sierra Club opposes any measure that would weaken >protection of native wildlife. Though AB 363 calls for all ferrets to be >spayed or neutered, that would be difficult to regulate; and even >individual ferrets could have an impact on biodiversity. California has >strong public policy restricting the import of non-native species, and the >legalization of ferrets would set a dangerous precedent for weakening that >policy. The Sierra Club spends a lot of time trying to repair the damage >done by non-native species in fragile ecosystems, and we feel that, where >possible, we must try to prevent any further such damage. > >Sierra Club California's policies are created by the California Legislative >Committee, a group of volunteer activists, under the guidance of local >chapters, regional groups, and the statewide Conservation Committee. The >Club's positions are extensively reviewed and discussed and democratically >decided upon, but they cannot always reflect the opinions of every member. > >I will forward your concerns to the California Legislative Committee. >Thank you again for communicating your view. > >Sincerely, > >Megan Mullin >Legislative Aide >Sierra Club California My response: >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: California Legislative Alert #97-5 > >Thank you for your reply and thank you for forwarding on my concerns. I >sincerely hope that the Sierra Club will reconsider their position on the >legalization of ferrets. > >If your organization is truly concerned about non-neutered ferrets and the >possibility that they may establish wild populations, I would think you >would support AB 363 which does call for the neutering and spaying of >ferrets. > >There are many thousands of ferret owners currently in California. >Regardless of whether AB 363 passes or is defeated, there will still be >thousands of ferret owners in California. With ferrets growing more popular >as companion animals every day, the numbers of ferret owners will increase >in California just as they are in other parts of the country. These ferret >owners, rightly or wrongly, will go out of state to buy ferrets and then >will "smuggle" them back into California. These animals may or may not be >fixed. May or may not be vaccinated or any number of other things. > >If ferrets were legally sold in California, I'm sure much, if not all, of >this smuggling would stop. This would help to insure that the pet ferrets >in California would not be able to reproduce, would be vaccinated, etc. I >think this is a definite improvement over what is the current status of >ferrets in California. > >Thanks again for your response. -kim Kimberly Burkard | _ Everything I needed to know in life, Eastman Kodak Company| _____C .._. I learned from my ferret: Rochester, New York | ____/ \___/ Frolic and dance for joy often, have [log in to unmask] |<____/\_---\_\ no fear or worries, and enjoy life. [Posted in FML issue 1951]