Is Now The Time To Ask Goveror Schwarzenegger to Legalize Ferrets?
California is in such a mess - just maybe he'll want to make at least one group happy - us!

Pity our Governor - he's got the weight of a lot of problems on his shoulder. He is not making many people happy. His own Republican Party doesn't like him and the Democrats are more powerful than ever.

The state is broke. The governor is about to try to raise our sales tax another 1.5% - most areas of California could find their local sales tax rate an unprecedented 10%

He was elected to fix things, but the state is right back where we were. The odds of things improving soon are pretty bleak. Governor Schwarzenegger is unlikely to be regarded as as sucessful leader.

Perhaps in his last years in office, he'll do the right thing - legalize ferrets. Watching his career, I have seen him express decency. He has come out for the little guy when popular sentiment was in the other direction.

So Why Don't We Ask Him - Have a Heart Gov, Legalize Ferrets!

	Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-445-2841 Fax: 916-558-3160

Please write the Governor and ask for an early Christmas present. He knows ferrets and he must realize there is no reason for them not be legal, and they are already in California in large numbers.

Let's Make A Contest Out of This

Take a look at the column on the left - "How the Gov't Stole Ferrets," which we used last year. Put your letter into poetry or whatever creative message you can craft. We'll use that as the official Legalize Ferrets appeal to Governor Schwarzenegger and send it out officially, including to the media. Please get your response to us by Dec 6th. Winner will receicve all sorts of fame and glory (unless they wish to remain anonymous) - and a LegalizeFerrets.org coffee mug!

Veterinarian Suggestion

The last time I saw a ferret like the one you described the owners had brought it in for euthanasia due to paralysis below the waist.  I put the ferret on raw diet (Natures Variety Beef) puree and the ferret was walking again in about 2 1/2 weeks.  We had to bottle feed the puree for the first week as raw diet is very bland.  My assumption was that the ferret had injured his back somehow (he was very overweight) and/or he had insufficient back and lumbar muscles to protect his back.  He gained muscle and lost fat on the diet, and got healthier overall.  If that hadn't worked I would have used acupuncture or laser therapy in his spine.  Good luck with this little one.  :-) Dr Jordan

Here's the question

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? 

Ferret Food Comparison Chart

One of our members came up with this interesting spreadsheet on ferret food.

http://www.dontbestoopid.com/FERRET/ferretfoodcomparisonchartfinal.xls

More on C & D Feeds

I am glad you wrote that on C&D Feeds. I had a very bad experience with them - they DEFINITELY tell you to bite your baby ferret's ears to stop them from bitting, and they lied to me, telling me they had variety of baby females before I made the drive out, and then when I had been driving for hours and called to check in/make sure, the story was completely different - they didn't have any baby females (even though I was assured 3 TIMES in the previous 2 days that they did, and it was no problem). When I told the woman on the phone that I had already been driving for hours (in heavy rain), and that I was assured left and right that there would be a large selection of females, she couldn't have cared less, wouldn't help me figure out an alternative, and then very, very rudely hung up on me (and trust me, I was not raising my voice at all - it was entirely un-called for!). This was a place where I had previously purchased 2 ferrets, and had distemper vaccine shipped from (per my vet's recommendation) twice, and they treated me like that - ended up making a detour to Las Vegas - just glad something told me to call them ahead of time!!! I would never, ever purchase a ferret or anything from that place again. They were awful, and do not deserve the business - I just feel for the little buddies that they sell - hopefully they will change their tune.

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: R.S.V.P. for directions
Entry Cost: $10.00

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

We are requesting R.S.V.P.s no later than December 13th sent via email to Dawn M. at: ocferrets@yahoo.com or by calling (949) 241-1189

What a Nice Letter to Get!

I hope you will post this in the next newsletter, it is something you don't really do, but someone should mention.
We all subscribe to CliffNotes and ferrets anonymous for the same reasons, we either have or have had ferrets in our lives and know the joy they provide us everyday, and know that would be greatly enhanced if we didn't have to hide our beloved pets. A lot of work goes into "our cause" and Pat puts a lot of time and effort into this for all of us, including going into personal debt to get things done for the betterment of ferrets. On the last news letter he mentioned that he was $150.00 or so in the red, I contributed to help him out, but I think more can be done. There are currently 649 members....I don't think that $5.00 would disturb our lives a great deal, and would rebuild the "coffers" so Pat can continue to lead the charge. 649 members x $5.00 each would mean $3245.00. Like any great cause there is always some sacrafice, look deep and ask yourself, is it worth $5.00 to me?
 
Thanks, David B, father of 2 fuzzies

My Comments - I appreciate the letter but it does bring up a certain weakness in how things are run. This organization is run by one person, me, through the San Diego Chapter of Ferrets Anonymous. The weakness is there is no accountability. I do things as I see fit. I consult with other people, mostly Lance and try to get things done. I should produce a financial report, hold meetings, etc.

But there is also a lot of efficiency to the ways things get done.

I had to go back a year to find the ferret poem on the right. A year ago we had 2760 subscribers. Today we have 3,854. Not bad! A year ago I mentioned a credit card debt of $1300. Currently it is $300. The end of the year is always harder on our bank account as annual fees come due.

A lot of people are hurting financially. If you can contribute - great! If you've already done so recently or don't have the funds - don't feel bad. But please stay involved.

Click Here To Donate

In Conclusion

I hope everyone and their fuzzies are safe as Southern California endures another horrible fire season.

Both the LegalizeFerrets.org and the FerretsAnon.com website should have changes next week. I am still anxious to hear the status of our environmental studies - it would be nice to have them done now as we ask the Governor for an early Christmas present. I've always been lacking in the patience department.

Please do write the Governor and ask for that present. I'm sure he could use some friends right about now - and he'd be our friend if he'd do that!

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