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We're at 526 Members!
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Vol 3 • No 3, January 20, 2008
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Vol 3 • No 3, January 20, 2008
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Member Submissions
 Here's one way to keep you ferret smelling fresh and clean - a little Arm & Hammer anyone?
Note: Dr. Gandolfi's note below is in response to one of the goals posted in last week's CLIFFNotes.
It is completely unnecessary to push for ferret info, introductions, etc. at the vet school. Ferret medicine is now a part of the curriculum (in fact, I taught one section of the course last year.) Dr. Hawkins is very pro-ferret and is doing some major genetic research with them, has the full cooperation of Fish and Game, and ferrets are being seen at the teaching hospital on a referral (and probably) walk-in basis. F&G has promised to not harass owners who bring them in for care. So far, they've kept to their promise. LMK if you have any questions. I'll see you at the FA roundup in couple of months? Rene C. Gandolfi, DVM, Dip Rene C. Gandolfi, DVM, Dipl. ABVP
Castro Valley Companion Animal Hospital
2509 Lessley Avenue
Castro Valley, CA 94546
510 582-6311
 I'm sending this picture because its a ferret that she is holding. Leonardo Da Vinci painted it in1485 its called Lady with an Ermine. I thought it was cool that there was a ferret in the painting, and it shows that ferrets have been around domesticated for 100s of years.
thanks amanda
 This is two sides of the same coffee mug - and my wonderful ferret Augie. |
In Search of a CEQA Consultant
As you may recall we might have a windfall coming our way and there has been discussion of how to spend it to advance our cause of ferret legalization. After some reflection is appears doing the CEQA study would be our best option.
What is CEQA?
Going back to notes of the April 6th, 2000 DFG meeting I found this:
Normally, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required if the CEQA study was positive; this is if there were any reason to believe ferrets may pose a threat to the environment. We would find it hard to believe an impartial study would find any threat of impact - but we are dealing with the California Department of Fish and Game, not exactly a beacon of fairness and scientific integrity.
 It took me a long time, but a CEQA consultant did call me back and we had a very interesting conversation. I probably sounded like a nut case describing our past history, but if he reads the documents I sent him, he too will fall down the rabbit hole. I warned our hopeful consultant that this issue has more to do with politics and than ferrets - and unless he comes to the conclusion that legalized ferrets will result in child-eating ferrets running loose, he will probably never work for a California agency again. So we'll see if we get a proposal.
We also got a caveat of our own:
Getting Going on Our Offer For Funds
Next week's issue of CLIFFNotes will have my proposal for how to spend the $50k that an anonymous donor has asked how we would spend it if were to be donated. I've asked around, received some great advice and have my own ideas. I like things to be transparent, not cloak-and-dagger, and I think I can make the case that the money might actually tip the scales in favor of legalization. The CEQA study is the first step. My guess is that DFG will ignore any CEQA study we do - but the study is long overdue and if we have to pay for it, so be it!
No Responses From ... Anybody!
Our search for a legislator seems to have come up empty. Not even my own legislators wrote letters that came from my house. Pretty disappointing and we will remember in election time. Districts in California are drawn for the benefit of the political party in power - not disgruntled constituents. To be honest, I didn't think any legislator would step forward, but we had to ask and at least try make our point.
There has also been no response yet from the DFG legal counsel regarding their use of anti-tobacco funds to fund yet another bogus study on the perils of legalized ferrets. Our attorney had expected an answer this past week but it doesn't look like anything has happened. So we may be in court on this one, and it appears our lawyer is happy to file suit if need be.
It's time Lance Got Some Credit
Lance M over at OCFerrets, and I hope the next president of Ferrets Anonymous knows to expect my phone call every Sunday at about 5 pm when I ask him to look over CLIFFNotes before I send it out. Lance not only checks for spelling and clarity - he has been putting in some content. I'm thrilled because I don't want CLIFFNotes to be a one-person project. So from now on Lance's info will be included.
In Conclusion...
I am very excited in getting this CEQA study done and the prospects that lie ahead. Last year was supposed to be "Year of the Ferret" but this year could see some solid ground work - solid grass roots backed by solid research.
On a personal note - is there a computer hardware person in the San Diego area. My five year old computer is just about to crap out. The cost of a new computer is not too bad, but getting all the software, hooking the thing up to the peripherals, a new edition of MS Office and Adobe Writer would break my budget - so if anyone can help please contact me.
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