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Vol 3 No 14 • April 6th, 2008
Help Needed At The Orange County Pet Expo
Pet Expo runs from Friday, April 11th to Sunday April 13th 
Pet Expo snuck up on us again! Its always so soon after the Ferret Round Up!
OC Pet Expo is next week! We are in booth # 836. There is another Ferrets Anonymous booth at #1708.
I ordered a 10'x3' banner (above) and we'll have hand outs regarding ferret legalization in the Legalize Ferrets booth. The major goal is to sign people up for this newsletter. Last year over 300 people signed up!
There are two shifts for each of the three days. The Saturday shift actually goes to 7pm. The last shift on Sunday has to close up, haul tables, chairs, banners, etc away. So far, I have one volunteer.
If you can help, please email or call me. The sooner you call the better slot you can get. I'd like to have two people per shift.
Parking may be free, but last year it was pretty scarce! -Get there early to find parking and enjoy a bit of the show! Its huge!
SFGate Article Looks At the California Ferret Issue and Asks - What Does More Environmental Damage:
Just one of Arnold's Hummers or all the ferrets in California?
Read the entire article Here
The San Francisco Gate, the online newspaper of the San Francsico Chronicle published a article taking a critical look at the California ferret issue. It is not often our cause is taken seriously by the press. This article gives us great insight into the issue.
A Blast From The Past - The Difference Between Massachusetts & California
We received an email this week from somone on the East Coast from when Massachusetts legalized domestic ferrets.
 Governor Weld signed the act making ferrets legal at a ceremony on December 12th, 1995.
What a country !!!!
A whole bunch of us including Geri Collins who worked so hard on the bill for many previous years, got fresh haircuts, put on our Sunday best and went to the signing ceremony today. We had a truly wonderful time and Gov Weld couldn't have been nicer .... We were waiting in the entrance way to his office when he came in and remarked that these must all be ferret people due to how nice they seemed and all. He went into his true office, and we were ushered into the 'show office'which has a fireplace, lots of tv lights, a desk for him to sign documents, and a podium for him to talk about them. Shortly afterward he came busting in wearing a T shirt with the lettering "Have you seen these outlaws?" It was adorned with two of the cutest ferrets with little stubby arms who can't reach their six shooters standing on top of additional lettering that said "Crimes:Unknown". Really stole the show. Thanks California and especially Jennifer from the 'Ferret Stash' Then he launched into his speech. This is what he said (he left his text on the podium): "As of today, Massachusetts is no longer one of the last three hold outs in the country immune to the discrete charm of the domestic ferret." 'For sixty years, Massachusetts has treated these creatures as if they were outlaws on a level with Billy the kid. Ferrets may wear masks that make them LOOK like bandits, but the consensus is that they're usually law abiding, litter box using types." "Still, the state not only made it illegal for people to harbor them we even threatened to yank vets' licenses if they so much as gave a ferret a rabies shot. A typical big government move: endangering public health in the process of protecting it. The ferrets were still with us by some counts, there are 20,000 such fugitives in the state only our meddling left them vulnerable to rabies." "The bill that I am about to sign addresses public health concerns more intelligently. It legalizes pet ferrets, but requires them to be inoculated and spayed and neutered and requires breeders to be licensed." "With this law, ferret owners will finally be able to step out of the shadows. For years, they have lived in fear that an officer of the law would bang on the door late at night, grab the family ferret and arrest them." "Search and seizure may make sense if there's a crocodile in the tub, or a cougar in the closet but a ferret on the barco lounger ... well, that's what domestic bliss is made of, and any government that interrupts such benign happiness is going too far." "And ferret owners who wanted to meet, celebrate, and show their pets were forced to travel to Rhode Island and New Hampshire to exercise the simple right of assembly." "Ladies and gentlemen, Massachusetts is the birthplace of American Democracy. As long as public health and safety are not compromised, it's our duty to allow ferret fanciers the greatest freedom possible. This bill accomplishes that end." "Therefore, in the name of liberty and justice for all on four feet as well as two, I'm delighted to sign this bill..." He did sign it, [for the cameras this time] and then stayed around and told everyone that he had a cat, a dog, a goldfish, a rabbit, a hamster, and a (I think) a guinea pig in his home. We agreed that a ferret might get along with at least half of them. We gave him lots of information including Debora Jean's book and yet another ferret calendar. Miss February was most certainly his Favorite. Thanks everyone, sure is a great time (Governor Weld sent Governor Schwarzenegger a letter asking him to sign the California ferret amnesty bill into law back in 2004, but it wasn't enough)
Ferrets Magazine On Line FerretsMagazine.com is now online. We understand Lance, the new president of Ferrets Anonymous will be interviewed shortly. Check out the new website - that is coming along nicely!
http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/ferrets-magazine/default.aspx A Note from Lance M. - President of Ferrets Anonymous Thank huge you to all who have supported me, and the ideas I hold dear for the past several years. Last year, at the Ferret Round Up, I lost my bid for the Presidency of Ferrets Anonymous by a very slim margin. This loss was still a huge win to me in my opinion - and I put that energy into OCFerrets and into CDFEA - The California Domestic Ferret Educational Alliance during the previous year. Since taking over the office of President for FA last weekend, I realize that there is much to do. To be honest, its a bit staggering, but I will remain undaunted. I believe that a group that is united, informed and driven will succeed where all others have failed. Still, no matter how motivated the Board of FA becomes, we can't move ahead until all FA members unite as a single group with motivated purpose. I'm looking forward to helping FA be the organization it can be, with new chapters being formed all over California. If you have any ideas or suggestions that you feel will help to improve Ferrets Anonymous, however small - please email me at LanceM_FA@yahoo.comand let me know. I promise to respond to every email. I don't pretend to know it all - but I do promise to make sure that each and every idea is taken seriously for use in furthering the goals of Ferrets Anonymous. In Conclusion... It's going to be a very busy week, I'm looking forward to a lot of sign ups from the OC Pet Expo. Big changes are afoot at Ferrets Anonymous and I hope to have an up-to-date report on our Environmental study next week.
I will be driving up to Costa Mesa to set up our booth Thursday evening. We are going to have expenses for copying, tables, supplies, etc. If someone would like to help, please give me a call. I haven't been able to transition our new treasurer, Linda R to take over the finances just yet.
A quick look at our checking account shows:
We ran out of checks so I've had to pay for our $180 banner out of my account.
So if you haven't made a donation lately - it would be appreciated!
Last Minute Addition - Lost Ferret in San Jose
April 3, 2008 San Jose (Santa Clara county) Lost Small female with dark brown paws pink nose and two marshall's ferrets dots on her right ear. Her body is brown mixed with white fur underneath. Contact bunnyfoofoo26@yahoo.comif found. |
