Hildy Langewis CDFA Rescue Coordinator P.O. Box 1991 Los Altos, CA 94023 (650) 917-0346 Phone/Fax January 26 1998 To: Anonymous Re: California Rescue I was distressed to receive your anonymous post soliciting donations for your underground shelter & rescue in California. Unless you have a permit from the California Department of Fish & Game, I ask that you refrain from billing yourself as a ferret rescue person. To my knowledge, the only permit issued is to William Phillips, the Executive Director of the California Domestic Ferret Association. I was originally appointed by Mr. Phillips to oversee the CDFA rescue program. This is now an elected board position, although I still answer to Mr. Phillips because the permit is issued in his name. Concerning confiscations at the state agricultural inspection stations, the CDFA is the only organization authorized to transport ferrets from the stations to destinations in Nevada, Oregon, and Arizona. ALL RESCUE FERRETS ARE TRANSPORTED OUT OF STATE. For you to imply otherwise compromises our permit and relationship with Fish & Game. For example, the situation with the babies that were bitten in Orange County. The ferret's owner claimed they got the ferrets from a rescue person. No way did they get the ferrets from a CDFA volunteer, but because someone claimed to be a ferret rescue person our rescue program was jeopardized. Because of this, in Southern California we are required to hire a courier and transport ferrets by commercial airline. Each ferret we save costs the CDFA approximately $200. We just shipped out 27 ferrets at a cost of $400. These funds are paid out of the CDFA treasury, which is funded by memberships and donations. If you really want to help rescue, please join CDFA and allow us to concentrate on handling rescues through official channels. Although I believe you have the best intentions, please do not ignore the big picture. To save a handful of ferrets you may be placing hundreds of ferrets in jeopardy. I hope the laws will change soon, and then you will be able to realize your desire to run a ferret shelter. In the meantime get involved with the CDFA, Ferrets Anonymous, and Californians for Legalization. Together we can accomplish so much more than one person alone. Sincerely, Hildy Langewis CDFA Rescue Coordinator CDFA Membership Director [Posted in FML issue 2200]