4 1/2 (out of 100) Sacramento Politicians Agree to Work With Us

Looking over last week's election returns - we find we have 4.5 friends who will be in the state assembly or state senate next year. These are prime candidates to carry a ferret legalization bill.

These are our friends in Sacramento and what they told us while running:

• Senator Dave Cox, Republican - 1st State Senate District
• Senator Robert Dutton, Republican - 31st State Senate District
• Assemblyman Anthony Portanino, Democrat - 44th Assembly District
• Assemblyman John Perez, Democrat - 46th Assembly District
• Assemblyman Chuck Devore - Republican - 70th Assembly District

Assemblyman Portanino is our 1/2 friend - but his answer is greatly appreciated. A lot of politicians tell us what we want to hear, then disappear after the election. Assemblyman Portanino gets kudos for actually answering our question and giving it a common sense answer.

Our candidate survey was a great tool. I can't imagine anyone running for office and not answering questions from the voters. I'm still cynical, California is the land of special interests, but we sure aren't giving up!

Also, it is important to note that these elected officials are waiting for our EIR. It is a good sign that we are being treated with a little respect.

Orange County Ferrets Holiday Party

The date for the OCFerrets Holiday Party has changed.  The new date is December 20th.  Party information:

Date:  12/20/08
Time:  11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location:  Lago Santa Margarita Beach Club, Fiesta Room
Address: 21472 Avenida de los Fundadores, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Entry Cost:  $10.00

Lunch will be served, and remember there will be a white elephant holiday gift exchange.  We will have two categories - human and fuzzy, please feel free to participate in one or both.  Gifts should be new and price range should be no more than $20.00.  Please bring your gift(s) wrapped, and labeled "human" or "fuzzy."

We are requesting RSVPs no later than December 13th via email to Dawn at: ocferrets@yahoo.com or by calling (949) 241-1189.

Medical Question Submitted - Any Ideas??

looking for someone who might have suggestions or someone who has seen a similar problem.  I have seemed to have stumped my vet.  He has suggested I go to UCDavis. 

Gracie, almost 3, shows signs of adrenal disease (loss of hair, brittle hair).  Anyway, the problem is her lack of using her hind legs.  Her hind legs are very lazy, when she runs there is more of a waddle then normal and she keeps her legs straight.  Occasionally, they will give out while walking and her back half will just roll over.  Climbing into boxes, she mostly uses the front legs to pull up, there is barely any movement to jump or push from the hind legs then drags them over the top to get into the box.  She is not as active as I think she should be.  Eats and drinks plenty.  So my question is, has anyone else seen this?  And what did they do? 

Thank you,
Morgen

Checkpoint Updates

Last week we asked if anyone had recent experience crossing one of the state's agricultural checkpoints - here's what we heard:

	When I picked up my hedgehog "Houston" in late September,  we had him flown in to Las Vegas from Houston, Texas (hence his name). We got to the checkpoint coming back into California on a Saturday around 2:30pm,  and they were just waving people through- not even stopping us. My husband started slowing down the car and rolling down the window!  "ARE YOU CRAZY??????  DRIVE THROUGH!!!!!!!" So it was pretty smooth getting him here.
	I recently acquired 2 ferrets that I bought in Reno Nevada along with my sister in law adopting 2 ferrets also.  The first 2 ferrets were bought while we were up in Reno for Hot August Nights.  We put the ferrets in their traveling cage that we bought and put the cage in the back seat on the floor and just made it look as though it was just another piece of luggage.  The agent did not even bother looking in the car.  The second set of ferrets were bought about 3 weeks later and again we just put them in their cage and put it on the floor.  Again no problems going thru the check point.  I hope this helps.
	I drove back from Vegas on a Sunday about 3 weeks ago and had no problems at the checkpoint. There were people in the booths who theoretically could be doing checks - I guess if you look suspicious somehow? But nobody looked closely at my car and I was just waved through. I'd recommend that people transporting a ferret didn't have the cage easily visible b/c they may then be stopped, but if someone just threw a blanket over the cage or something right before they got to the checkpoint I'm pretty sure they'd be fine.
	In August 2008, I found myself with eight baby ferrets in the car, trying to get past the newly re-opened checkpoint on hwy 101 from Brookings, OR. Beforehand I had made a quick stop at Dollar tree for some air freshener. A few quick spritzes and we drove up to the checkpoint. "Any fresh fruits or vegetables?" "Not today!" And we were waved through. The babes were in the back with a lot of blankets over their carrier (they had plenty of air holes on the side). I think people will be ok if no ferrets or ferret paraphernalia are visible. Drive around before you get to the checkpoint so the ferret(s) will fall asleep and not make noise. Note: If you are planning to get babies from Brookings, call ahead because the owner was selling the store and it might not be a pet store anymore. Good luck!
	I bought a new fuzzie in Arizona last week and brought him into California via I10. I passed through the check point without incidence. They didn't ask me any questions or even completly stop my car for that matter.
	I don't know about the Las Vegas ag station, but the checkpoint from Oregon down I-5 is clear.  You are no longer required to stop unless you are in a truck.  We have made the drive with our fuzzies 2 or 3 times and haven't had a problem yet.  Just don't break the speed limit or drive carelessly, giving them a reason to stop you!
	I just went through the Reno/ California checkpoint a week ago Monday(Oct 27th) at 11:00 AM and stopped the guy just said have a nice day and i went right through.

Also, this came in;

The map and directions listed on FA's website to get around the Needles (I-40) checkpoint is very misleading.  I went through there with one of my ferrets in July and had I not been using a satellite navigator, I would have been hopelessly lost in the middle of the desert, and it was only 114 degrees.  It is a dusty 43 mile drive to take the Needles checkpoint bypass.  Much of it follows the Colorado River, which is fine. However, there are several places on the road that take you through very sandy, dry river beds (don't even try to take this route during the rainy season!), making me thankful I was driving a 4-wheel drive.  There are no road signs, no markers whatsoever, and the road splits off in several different directions.
I guess what I am saying is, be careful using this bypass, take a sat nav with you, and a 4-wheel drive vehicle is a good idea also. I would not recommend trying this route in a compact type car. I would also recommend taking emergency supplies with you, such as fresh water.

More on C & D Feeds

Back in August a member wrote in to complain about the treatment baby ferrets were receiving at C and D Feeds in Mojave Valley.  Her complaint was that the employees there were "biting" the ferret's ears.  I wanted you to know that I checked out C and D Feeds last year because of complaints about the filthy conditions in the store.  Indeed, when I went in there last year, the place smelled awful, and I found two older ferrets living in the nastiest, feces encrusted cage I had ever seen.  A complaint to animal control resulted in the response that if the ferrets had clean food and water, and were not being abused, there was nothing they could do.

So I went to check on C and D Feeds once again, on September 9th.  I was encouraged when I entered the store that it did not smell as bad as the year before.  The animal cages were clean, and the animals had clean food and water.  Then I went to see the baby ferrets, who are still being kept in a small livestock tank as they were last year when I visited.  I began a conversation with the young male clerk about the ferrets, and while we were talking, he reached in and quickly scooped up the cutest little panda/mix sprite with a spotted belly.  She immediately responded by biting the dickens out of him.  What happened next broke my heart.  This clerk proceeded to bite the baby on the ear so hard she screamed and whimpered.  I could not stop myself from loudly telling him, "No, Stop!".  His response was, "What? That's what you're supposed to do".  I proceeded to pick up the baby, who had been unceremoniously dropped back into the tank, and of course, she filleted my thumb because she was still upset.  I demonstrated how to appropriately deal with biting ferrets without physically assaulting them, purchased this poor baby and left the store.  I do not make a habit of buying ferrets from pet stores, but there was no way I was leaving this baby in that place.

On September 16th a formal letter was mailed on behalf of California Domestic Ferret Educational Alliance to the owners of C and D Feeds asking them to cease and desist this abusive treatment of ferrets in their care.  To date, no response from them has been received.  C and D Feeds has been advised that CDFEA will no longer refer people to their store to purchase ferrets until the abuse stops.  I feel to do so would be condoning the continued abuse of ferrets. I was advised by animal control that under Arizona law, unless the ferrets are "severely physically injured" no charges would be filed against C and D Feeds.

I am well aware that many people bite the scruff of their ferrets as a form of discipline.  What happened to this ferret was not discipline, it was abuse. To this day, Mitzi cannot tolerate having her ears touched, and scruffing her results in panicked screams.  She is, incidentally, completely deaf.  She is also one of the sweetest little ferrets I've had the pleasure of being owned by.  Attached are some pictures of Mitzi.

Kind regards,
Bonnie Tormohlen/Director
CA Domestic Ferret Educational Alliance

Does Anyone Know the Answer to This?

how can i contact DR. Sandra Snell.. i read that she did alternative health treatments for ferrets?
i am in alabama..but would like infor before my ferret ungoes adrenal surgery.

moonshadow801@hotmail.com

We Get These Letters All The Time

I currently live in Illinois and have had a pet ferret for over a year now.  The closer I get to graduating from college the more nervous I become that I may have to move to California, since that is where so many businesses in my field are located.  I know that it is possible (though I would prefer not) to smuggle my ferret  into the state, but I was recently told by a Californian that if someone has to move to California and already has a pet ferret it's okay to keep it, how true is this?  She claimed it was only illegal to buy and sell ferrets in the state of California.  My other question was simply this: if I was to get my ferret into the state, had it come to that, and it were to get sick would I be able to find a vet to treat him or would I be turned in?  Is there any way to buy ferret pet supplies in the state?  I'm really worried, the last thing I want is to give up my little guy, but even more I don't want him to be put down because I'm caught owning an "illegal pet".  Please email me back!

-Anna

My Answer:

Don’t worry.  There are more ferrets in California than any other state – by far.  27% actually.  I can refer you to a good vet.

There is no way to legally possess  a ferret in California.  The San Diego zoo once said off all their animals, the permit process for their ferrets (labeled European polecats and the last time I saw them, years ago, they had a large hamster wheel to play in and eucalyptus branches in their cage) was the most difficult to obtain.  There was an instance where Fish and Game broke into someone’s house, confiscated their ferrets but issues a permit for their pet alligator on the spot.

We haven’t had any confiscations for a long time.  Know your rights – law enforcement needs a search warrant to enter your house.  Don’t take the ferrets out side and you will be fine.

In Conclusion ...

I started writing this worrying that I didn't have much content. That wasn't the case. While I'm still impatient over the status of our pre-Environmental Impact Report, there's lots going on. I did get a lot of feedback from all of my requests.

We're still growing, lots of people signing of up for CLIFFNotes every week. Finances are still a struggle - but isn't it for everyone.

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

On a Very Personal Note - Re Prop 8

I would rather not put Prop 8 material in CLIFFNotes - so it is at the end and if you don't want to read it - stop here.

But a lot of people wrote me back when I sent out an email asking people to Vote No on Prop 8. And a lot of people have written me now that it has passed.

I now realize there are a lot of gays, lesbians, at least one trans-gendered person and lots of friends on this email list. I'm not surprised. I felt and shared their pain over the rejection we have just suffered.

Two people told me they couldn't see the connection between the ferret issue and the Prop 8 issue. And on Wednesday the connection became perfectly clear. It is the sickness in my stomach from having rights denied or taken away.

A lot of well meaning people voted Yes on Prop 8. The issue means something entirely different to them and I will respect that. But it reminds me of what one member of the San Diego Animal Advocates said about ferrets. "Don't legalize them - we don't need another pet." I know this person (Jane Cartmill) - what gives her the right to speak for us?

To those who wished me well - thank you. I'm tempted to start a "Ferret Owners For Marriage Equality" group.

Pat Wright