Hello everyone, Another unfortunate and AVOIDABLE event has occurred in California regarding ferrets. This is exactly why I've never supported this kind of public event. And sadly, yes, ferrets lives are endangered, a ferret owner is suffering, and the issue is receiving more unwarranted negative publicity. Please, can we finally learn from this? Our effort can best be advanced by the polite letters, e-mails, and phone calls from supporters to their respective representatives in the State Capitol. Our issue can also best be represented by owners being responsible when it comes to their ferrets' and that does not include interaction with the general public-- which, given the current legal status should be zilch in my opinion! When this kind of thing happens (of course the little girl wasn't seriously hurt but for detractors that doesn't matter), we are all harmed in the process and the issue we've worked so hard to advance suffers the inevitable setback. We also suffer a setback because as a group, our meagre resources, both time and financial, are diverted from the legalization process to fight something that was, I'll say it again, AVOIDABLE! I may very well get flamed for this (If you want me to see or respond to your comments you'll have to e-mail me directly), but it's clear that when these unnecessary and very negative events happen, we do more damage to our issue than the opposition ever can. Jeanne Carley Californians for Ferret Legalization 410 Mountain Home Road Woodside, CA 94062 www.ferretnews.org [Posted in FML issue 2736]