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I think the ferret above is a bit optimistic, but we like that!

Tips for Introducing Ferrets (Tiffany's letter from last week)

I also have a similar problem. I have a 1 year old male ferret ( Moby) that gets along with the 2 cats, the dog and the ferrets that I bought before him. I got 2 more about 8 months later, and he's just down-right mean to the 2 newbies (Comet & Dante). It goes far beyond pecking order. He literally scares the poop out of Comet, if that gives ya an idea of what it's like between them. I also have tried every trick in the book, but nothing works except keeping them separated.

I tried different play times, but that was time consuming and didn't always work with my schedule and theirs.

When they are out playing, I have pressure-fitting baby-gates that I use to keep them separated in different rooms.

Hope this helps, good luck,

Sincerly LM

Please check out this site. It's a memorial page for pets of any kind. It is also for our pet owners that have pets that are terminally ill.

Please share this site with members.

http://www.rainbowsbridge.com/

Julie

Luv4Ferrets@sbcglobal.net

I just wanted to comment on that statement that one person made that says, "At least with them illegal, we know those dedicated to keeping them healthy and happy right now are those responsible enough to know how to take care of them correctly because they are willing to risk so much to be owners."

If only this were the real case. No doubt some of us who are willing to go through the risks of smuggling and/or keeping a fuzzy in our homes, for fear of them being taken, fines, etc., are dedicated, responsible individuals who do our research more readily and thoroughly than the average schmuck in a pet store. But some people like to go to Vegas, think the ferrets are cute, take them home with them (a lot of people still don't know they're illegal in this state and so might even carry a fuzzy across the border and get through by blind luck!), and then neglect the ferret, leaving them in the care of others who were not the primary caregivers, and who don't do research on simple but extremely important basic necessities, like thinking that you shouldn't give them food very often. Never played with and underfed, this was the case with the one i rescued. The previous owner got him in Vegas, then neglected him, moved out, and the owner's mother started taking care of him. And she told me that she didnt' think he should be eating so much. It was scary. So i would just like to correct that statement i put in quotes, just because these guys are illegal does not mean that they are any safer with their owners.

I wanted to respond to Morgan's question regarding treating adrenal ferrets with medicine, instead of surgery. We had a freind who recently lost her poor Monte to adrenal disease. Monte was the sweetest ferret I've ever met. Monte was diagnosed with adrenal disease two years ago and ultrasounds showed that he had a tumor on his right adrenal gland. Monte was 5 1/2 when he was diagnosed and his vet suggested treating Monte with lupron injections instead of surgery because of his age and because the affected gland was on his vena cava. The lupron injections worked well for Monte. He had a good quality of life for over a year and a half. Ultimately, his prostrate became too swollen for him to urinate adequately and our friend had to let him go so he would not suffer further discomfort, or worse, a ruptured bladder. (She had his bladder drained under anesthesia, but that was only temporary treatment.) It was very, very sad. Monte really was the sweetest ferret until his very last day, even when he was so uncomfortable.

Initially, Monte received lupron injections once every 3 months, then more often, once a month for his last few months. His vet, Dr. Frank Lavac at the Wilshire VCA in Santa Monica, is fantastic. Dr. Lavac has been treating ferrets and other exotics, including birds, for about 30 years, I think. He really cares and is dedicated to animals. Since he is so competent, he is really busy. Appointments can be made for the same week, but he is hard to get on the same day unless it is an emergency. The staff at his office is great, too, and there are other vets in the office who treat ferrets. If Morgan is interested in surgery, Dr. Lavac is an experienced surgeon. Our friend couldn't speak more highly of him. Our friend took both of her ferrets to Dr. Lavac for years.

Here is the website for the wilshire vca. There is a link on the bottom right corner of the page for a free visit for new customers.

http://www.vcahospitals.com/wilshire

I wish Morgan and Morgan's ferret luck.

Best regards,

Mariana

No Earth Shaking News This Week, But Here's an Update!

Anticipating the First Quarter of the EIR

Or more accurately, the preliminary study which will be the basis of the official Environmental Impact Report. Dr Geo Graening at Sacramento State University has sent out 50 state and 10 Canadian province surveys to find out what affects domestic ferrets have had on public health and the environment. We should be getting a report and a bill for $3200 shortly. Marshall Pet Products has agreed to pay half the cost of these quarterly increments. Keep your paws crossed!

We're Selling Calendars To Raise Funds for the EIR - Got Yours Yet?

Our Calendar is at the printer, should be done next week. Check them out. Order them here

Mr. March is my very own Fausto - more on him later. -We need to sell 400 Calendars to break even, we've ordered 2,500. So far we've sold 201 of them. Another 144 are going over to Ferret Depot at wholesale - so we're about 3/4's of the way towards breaking even. They'll also be available from other sources including Amazon and other websites. Besides raising funds, these calendars are excellent for building our grassroots. If the official EIR is ignored, which is a possibility, we are going to need everyone to help make noise so that our EIR gets a fair hearing.

As the week narrows towards Sunday and I think I don't have any earth-shaking news to report in CLIFFNotes, I always wonder how can I make it interesting. This week an email came in. - The subject of which is a pet peeve of mine.

What Scares You About Owning Ferrets in California?

The gist of the email was a comment was about being afraid of getting a ferret and then having it confiscated. I've owned ferrets for twenty years. If I waited for them to be legal I'd still be waiting. Because I am outspoken (and maybe a little foolish at times) I have had multiple visits from Animal Control and the Department of Fish and Game - but I wouldn't want to not have the experience of living without my ferrets, dogs or cat (I'm down to only one cat - and she is a loaner).

The rule now is the ferrets don't go anywhere except to the vets. No one has bothered me for nearly ten years. But what am I afraid of - what should you be afraid of? I'm beginning to think owning ferrets is akin to raising rare and exotic orchids.

Fausto above continues to scare me to death. He quits eating and drinking, almost if he has a switch on him. We've had three episodes of heliobacter infections. He's left me bloody foam at the bottom of the cage. I was going to take him to the vet on Saturday so I called at 8 am, and they don't open until 9. I go downstairs and he eats & drinks for five minutes straight.

Quito had a hairball. The estimate was up to $1700 for the life-saving surgery. I went into Dr Jenkins looking pathetic (not hard to do) and got it done for much less than that. Quito scared me to death again earlier in the week when I couldn't find him. I use a squeaky toy and finally I heard noise from behind the dryer - where I couldn't reach him. I dropped a towel down so he could climb up - d**n ferret - and I should learn to keep them out of the laundry room.

Of all the dangers facing a house ferret there are -- diseases (adrenals, insulinomas, lymphosarcomas and so many more) trapped in the dishwasher, washing machine, squished by the recliner, stepped on, doors slammed on them, getting outside, heat, dogs, husbands/boyfriends/children --- and way down there is trouble from Animal Control or Fish and Game. We just can't take our ferrets outside yet.

So if you are a responsible person with lots of money in the bank for vet bills - go get a ferret.

And This Call Came in This Morning -

A call came into our office this morning from a member of law enforcement who had her ferrets confiscated at Truckee. She actually got a court date. In twenty years of doing this I know of only three people who had actual legal trouble with ferrets. Usually you say "I didn't realize they were illegal in California" and they take the ferrets out of state. Most likely this person is in trouble because she is in law enforcement, We will keep you informed on the outcome.

Regarding Last Week -

Last week CLIFFNotes was a tad later than usual - I like to have it released no later than 7:30 pm every Sunday.

Lance M, the President of Ferrets Anonymous proofs it most weeks, time allowed. He called me at 7:30 and asked if having the "horrible" literature in CLIFFNotes was such a good idea. I assume everyone reading CLIFFNotes knows ferrets don't actually eat babies, drink their blood and shred their tissues - as outlined in the official report (go to page 3 if you haven't read this before) from the state of California. You know what they say about "ass - u - me."

It was too late to make any significant changes but here's what a few people thought on the subject:

I thought that the bad literature was funny, not negative - Sheri D
I think that as the moral and financial supporters of this movement, we have a right to know what we are collectively up against. This gives us all (on the email list) a chance to contribute ideas and solutions. I'd hazard a guess that there are more than a few Internet detectives getting CLIFFNotes - Lori L
Shortly after that I got your newsletter and was worried that the negative articles would put people off. I know this stuff has to be brought out since it may be used against the ferret cause but I also wonder what effect it has on people with no knowledge of ferrets - Christine B
I think that people need to be informed. Maybe it will keep some of the would be pet owners from purchasing a ferret. (I'm talking about the ones that want a ferret because they are "in") - Stephanie
I feel that it would be good to publish the bad for now. There are still people out there that don't take their fuzzies and their safety seriously enough. "Yes" on publishing it all! - Becky

Which makes it kind of awkward to ask for someone's help and then not use it. Thanks for being a good sport, Lance.

In Conclusion

If this issue of CLIFFNotes is a little loopy, please blame DayQuil. I've got a terrible cold.

But things are going right along. The EIR is underway (the pre-EIR study to be 100% correct), our numbers continue to grow, and even in this bad economy our finances aren't too bad.

So thank you for your support and keep it up.

Pat Wright

CLIFFNotes@legalizeferrets.org

(619) 303-0645

Lance M.
President, Ferrets Anonymous
(949) 303-8481
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LanceM_FA
Web: http//www.ferretsanonymous.org

Here's a photo of a Black Footed Ferret courtesy of the Los Angeles Times (right click and go to properties if you don't believe me). Hello... this is not a Black Footed Ferret, it is a Domestic Ferret, aka - one of our PETS! - Sigh, we still have a lot of work to do. I found this looking for a ferret used in advertising for Coca Cola - which I've heard about but can't find.