Don't Forget To Sign Up For the Ferret Legalization Revival

Dr Geo Graening

Oct 11th in San Diego is our big meeting where we will decide if we are going to pursue our Environmental Impact Report. At great expense (at least by our standards) we are bringing down our proposed EIR Consultant, Dr Geo Graening.

Dr Graening is going to have to give his talk on the fly, we won't know our direction until just before he arrives. But he will outline our options.

There is a group of people working on an unofficial environmental study, hoping that will persuade Governor Schwarzenegger to legalize ferrets, but we haven't heard anything about the status of their efforts. We have given them until Oct 11th to provide a report.

I have received Dr Graening's permission to have his talk taped. A number of people have commented at how I've managed to screw things up when I try to explain this process. They saw right through me, I don't seem to have the process down. But be a little sympathetic - look at this to see what is involved. The goal is to have this video tape up on our websites. If there is anyone out there who can do this, please let me know. Otherwise, I will spend some precious funds and hire a professional.

There are other speakers as well. Milo Shapiro will provide a workshop on working together and Dr Jeff Jenkins will give us the latest on ferret veterinary care. Lance M, president of FA will give us a report on what is happening on Ferrets Anonymous.

Complete details are available at http://www.ferretsanon.com/revival3.html. Prices are $30 for dinner and program, $10 for the program only. Prices go up Oct 1st to $35 for dinner, still $10 for the program only. This will be a very meaningful and rewarding event - I hope you can attend!

And Don't Forget the Ferret Legalization Ride

Proceeds of this charity event will benefit:
CDFEA - California Domestic Ferret Educational Alliance - CDFEA is a 501(c)3 non profit corporation dedicated to education. Your donations are tax deductible

Ride Date: Saturday, September 27, 2008
Alternative Rain Date: Saturday, October 4, 2008
Registration: Starts @ 10:00 a.m.
Ride Starts: @ 11:30 a.m.
Entry Fee: $15.00 per rider & $10.00 per passenger
Entry Fee for Non-Riders: $15.00 @ Kennedy Park in El Cajon - 1 p.m.

Click Here For More Details

Ferrets Are More Fun - But They Are Also Camera Shy

We've been trying to launch our new merchandise line for ever. Finally, let me ask for your help. We need photos of ferrets for our new t-shirts, coffee mugs, and whatever we decide. The theme is "Ferrets Are More Fun."

Our graphic artists asks you follow these guidelines.

1. definitely high resolution (so at least 300 dpi)
2. most important factor is that the entire ferret is in the frame (no cut off paws or tails)
3. poses: we are going to have them interact with the letters FUN! so.... sitting, standing, peering around an object, climbing on an object, leaning on an object, crawling under an object- anything really goes it just needs to be a clear clean shot
4. the less background clutter the better (especially other animals with fur or ferret-colored carpet/flooring/furniture since that makes it harder to isolate the image you are using)
5. Please send your photos to Heidi at heidi@hihodesign.com

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Time to Survey the Candidates

The California Secretary of State's office has released the list of everyone running for state assembly and state senate. We want to send everyone on the list a letter asking them to support ferret legalization. Their responses (or lack of a response) will be posted on our web site. Would anyone like to help (well, actually do) this project? Please let me know.

Help Keep Our Vet List Accurate and Up to Date

Last week I mentioned our vet list is now searchable on our website (http://www.ferretsanon.com/vets.php) If your vet isn't listed, or we don't have their phone number, please send it in! We will be sending all the vets a letter in next month or so. We are also going to give people the chance to rate their vet and add comments.

An Important Question

I would like to know if Fish and Game Department were to come to our home, do they need a search warrant to search for our ferrets? If they don't have a warrant what are our legal rights? And do we have to let them in without one? I am sure after reading last week's CLIFFNotes, there are many other people in California that would like to know also.

My answer - yes, they must have a search warrant. Ferret confiscations have become quite rare these past couple of years. But we've had reports of Animal Control (hardly ever DFG) coming to people's doors - and people just turning their ferrets over. If they don't have a search warrant - don't say anything and don't let them in.

There is one exception -

The Plain View Doctrine (from Nolo.com)

Police officers do not need a warrant to search and seize contraband or evidence that is "in plain view" if the officer has a right to be where the evidence or contraband is first spotted. For instance, the police may search for and seize marijuana growing outdoors if they first spot the marijuana from an airplane or helicopter, since the marijuana is deemed to be in plain view. Similarly, if an officer walks by a car and spots evidence or contraband through the car window, a search may be conducted without a warrant. The same rule would apply if an officer is in your home for other valid reasons and spots drugs on a table or cabinet.

My lawyer tells me ferrets are like drugs.

This Letter Came in Just In Time to be Included:

I'm a new ferret owner who just recently had an experience with one of the places listed to buy ferrets on the ferretsanon website, namely C&D feeds. Nobody should buy there if they can help it, or at least unless they are experienced enough to rehabilitate a kit. While I was examining a little sprite she nipped me rather hard and I scruffed her (no biggie), but the owner of the feed store took her out of my hands and bit her ear so hard the poor thing screamed! No wonder every kit I held bit me...one even held on for a good minute or so, but I kept my mouth shut for fear the owner would punish her as well.  Needless to say I was appalled and my boyfriend and I ended up driving to Pet Kingdom in Las Vegas to get our pair, where we were greeted by knowledgeable staff and friendly, trauma-free ferrets. Anyway, just wanted to give a heads up to people planning on getting a kit from C&D...their website may look professional, but their staff is decidedly not!

If you'd be interested, we also took a different route from Arizona than the one you have posted with no trouble at all, no ag stops and practically police free! Let me know and I'll send it along. Your site and newsletter are fantastic! Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication for us fugitive pet owners.

Warmest Thanks,
Gabrielle

My Comments: Some very experienced ferret owners (Melinda T comes to mind) believes in biting back as you saw at C & D Feeds. Personally, I don't think it is a good idea. In many years of recommending C & D Feeds I've only heard two negative comments. But I love Pet Kingdom 2000 and I hope you enjoy your new ferret!

And This Ferret Just Came in From Chula Vista

I received a call this afternoon about a ferret found by two dogs in Chula Vista. They said it appeared the ferret broke his back. After a trip to the emergency room it turns out the ferret has a puncture wound on one hip. A much better prognosis!

The ferret will stay at the vets until at least Monday. Unless the owner comes forward, and they rarely do, I'm going to need someone to foster and probably adopt the ferret. The vet bill will be between $50 and $100 (not bad, I have a credit there from giving blood). Please let me know if you are interested.

Conclusion

I still don't have using this new email software system (IContact) down as well as I would like. But I don't have the problem ending up in spam folders like I used to have with EmailBrain. Expect more technical improvements over time. The list is growing gangbusters. We had a net gain of 70 people last week. About 25 unsubscribed.

Finances are a bit tight - but all bills are paid, and we are ok. Thank you again to everyone who donated last week, I was holding my breath. The economy is certainly in the tank, I don't know how easy or difficult it will be to raise money we need for an Environmental Impact Report. That money was offered but it is not in the bank as we've spent so long on the unofficial version. Whatever it takes - we will raise the money if we need it for the EIR.

Thank you for your support.

Pat Wright
CLIFFNotes Editor
CLIFFNotes@legalizeferrets.org
(619) 303-0645

Lance M.
Founder, OCFerrets /
President, Ferrets Anonymous
Website: http://www.ocferrets.org/
OCF Email: info@ocferrets.org
(949) 303-8481