I was introduced to two awesome little sprites that took our breath away when we first met them 10 years ago. Laverne and Shirley were 1 1/2 years old and needed a home, and we were fortunate enough have this woman tell us of the two beautiful ferrets when my wife was heartbroken when we had put our own pet down.

   We were not the first people to have been told of the girls in need of a home. I called and told the girl that me and my wife had rescued an unwanted pet rat. We took him in when it was left out in front of the Vons where my wife worked. Kids were kicking him around in the box that was left in. I came and picked him up, gave the little guy a bath got him a cage and started calling friends to see if they wanted a easy going pet. Indeed a friend did take Darius from us. He lived with dogs & kids in Ramona till he passed.

   That story made the difference, as we were asked if we wanted the two dookers. I will never forget the day we went to see the ferrets, having never seen one before. One look was all it took - my wife gave me that look of 'can we take them home?'  That one happy dance changed our lives. The two girls weren't wanted by the owners because Laverne did bite, Shirley was a perfect little fuzzy though. They got along very well.  

   We were asked to take in another special ferret from a young man that was going into the military. He couldn't keep the little sprite in the barracks. He was feeding her cat food, and didn't want to give her up. So we gave him ferret food for her. He eventually gave her to us knowing we would take care of her as we did our other two adoptions. Shirley passed in Oct 04, Laverne missed her friend and passed in Jan 05. Sukoshi lived with us until 7/21/08. Yes it hurts alot. Never would I ever imagined that something that small could have made me feel like this. I raced off road and have crashed and it doesn't compare.

   If ferrets become legalized in California a whole new problem will arise. Unwanted ferrets and ferret shelters becoming the norm. Just like around the country. I read about them online, needing help monetarily and volunteer wise. That needs to be avoided.

   I still feel that making people get licensed to own a ferret is the answer. I don't know how something like that would be accomplished but I feel that it would weed out the 'spirit of the moment' owners. When I took in the three ferrets I knew inside that they would have to be with us till the end. No one would want to take in abandoned animals. Just look at a community animal shelter, they are full of animals that need homes.

   My wife is astonished that I was looking online at ferrets again. She is still hurting/missing our little ones even though we still have our two rescued cats. They fill a certain need but those little fuzzies even though they are labor intensive are a miracle to behold. Seeing one happy dance is amazing, two or three dancing is even more of an incredible sight to see.

    Ferret legalization isn't the only way to go. I would happily pay to ensure that I am able to keep such awesome animals. I'm sure there are others that may feel the same way. I don't want to go to a shelter and see throngs of these terrific animals suffer away in conditions that lack the ability to entertain/care for them.

    Look online and you can see and read about this happening all over. My Shirley, Laverne and Sukoshi taught me that they need special care. Shelters can only do so much, I know they are trying to do the right thing. The veterinary care for ferrets is expensive. There are too many people willing to just give up on animals that take more effort to keep. Ferret shelters in California would pop up in no time. The people who run shelters trying to do the right thing are special too. Working to take care of little beings that are merely overlooked. Let's not make people in California endure that.

    I don't know how to make things better in the rest of the country, but making people jump through a few hoops might sift out the people on 'whim of the moment' purchases. Think of the bunnies and ducks that get bought around Easter every year. Kids lose interest in them in no time, not all of them but a certain percentage this does happen.

Please reconsider legalization, Think licensing/special requirements for ferret ownership.

I hope to be able to get another group of happy dancers in the future and not see them in a shelter.

Thanks for your time, Mike Y

A response from Lance M. to the letter from Mike Y.

Mike, as you may or may not know, there are already more ferrets in California than in any other state in the United States - where ferrets are already legal. It is true that there are ferrets still being confiscated by the Dept. of Fish & Game. Usually this happens because the ferret owner was flaunting their pets publicly, as any dog owner does without fear of being arrested and having their animal confiscated. Still, more ferret food, toys and other ferret-specific supplies are sold in California than in any other state in the Union. What does this mean? -It means that if there was going to be an unmanageable problem with ferrets in California once they were legalized - it would already have happened. There are many in this state already that fill the role of ferret guardians, and they take the burden away from city and county animal shelters. They already exist - because there is a need due to our society that loves to buy new things and then throw them away. The upside? - This also keeps city and local government from having to pay the vet bills and other costs of sheltering unwanted ferrets. The burden already lies with those who open their hearts and homes to ferrets who need forever homes. I know that you know this all to well, because you too were a wonderful home to ferrets at one point (and I'll bet you will be again one day).

Lance M.