No Answer From Fish and Game Commission
Question:
Do you have the authority to remove ferrets from the prohibited species list? We have yet to hear back from the California Fish and Game Commission's Executive Director, John Carlson, Jr. regarding a simple question - can they (CDFG) de-list ferrets from the prohibited species list without legislative approval? They received the letter on March 4th, so it is still possible we'll get a reply, but I am beginning to have my doubts. This was prompted by our checking to see if Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger could do this on his own as a way of fulfilling a campaign promise he made to us when he was first elected governor. According to informed sources, the Senate Natural Resources Committee says ferrets can only be legalized by an act of the state legislature (with the Governor's signature - he vetoed legislation in 2004). Where we are now ? We are waiting for the 3rd of 4 reports on the research being done at Sacramento State University before the Environmental Impact Report is officially filed. Governor Schwarzenegger called for an EIR when he vetoed a ferret amnesty bill in 2004. We could get the third report any day now. So far, no negative impacts from domestic ferrets have been revealed anywhere in the United States or Canada. An extensive literature review will also be completed, to counter all of the pseudo-scientific studies done by legalization opponents over the past many years. (For examples, click here)
Ferret Round Up Wrap Up Yesterday, Saturday March 20th was the Annual Ferret Round Up. The Round Up is the required, annual meeting of Ferrets Anonymous for conducting business and getting together. All of the officers with the possible exception of the membership chair were reelected. 
From Left to Right, Kimberly B. Vice President, Lance M. (top) President, Anita H. Secretary and Claudia T. Treasurer. About 40 people attended and people had a good time and spirits were high. The low turnout was due to Lance M.'s recent medical problems from which he's still recovering.Dr. Sari Kanfer spoke on various ferret diseases and Dr. Bruce Levine went into detail on adrenal disease on ferrets. Dawn M. represented CDFEA (California Domestic Ferret Educational Alliance) and spoke on some recent successes at CDFEA, which she doesn't want published just quite yet. Personally, what I liked about the Round Up is the speakers didn't go on and on. Things ran on schedule, just like last year's Round Up. What I would have liked to have heard were reports from the officers and goals for the upcoming year.
A Note from Lance M.
Thanks to all who made it to Round Up yesterday in Brea. Although the event was small in attendance, due in no small part to my medical condition and inability to do much these past few months, it was a good time for all who made it out. It was wonderful to see everyone that came from up North. I hope you had a good time! Kimberly & Lili from the Northern California Ferret Alliance (NCFA), I know you're still having a good time at Disneyland as I type this! Thanks to everyone you for your confidence in your officers. We have plans for 2010 that include updating the 501 status for Ferrets Anonymous, as well as pulling the organization together even tighter now that we've been together for awhile as a group of leaders for the organization. Other tasks for 2010 include expansion to the website and a determined effort to expand the participation of others in the completion of the FA newsletter - the Paw Print, expanding the mailing list for the newsletter and fundraising to further the educational and legalization goals of Ferrets Anonymous.
So, where's the 2011 Round Up happening? - Any takers?
- Again, thanks to all !
Good and Bad Emails We Get These are in response to ads we run on Craigslist. The Good: "Does anyone worry about what will happen once they are legal? I worry that we are gonna get a million people breeding and then we many homeless ferrets, I love them too, but its a legitimate worry."
Yes we worry, but ferrets don't breed like cats and dogs. Most ferrets are sold pre-sterilized. Ferrets will still be abandoned though - I thought this was an intelligent question. The Bad: Having ferrets in CA is illegal for a reason! Why would you want to change that? "What's the reason?" I asked - "A ferret ate a little girls face!" was the response.
I thought this was a stupid comment.
All My Kids Have Fur This is not our project but certainly worth sharing. 
Help a Ferret Win the Photo Contest
Hi Ferret Fans,
I don't usually enter photography competitions but there is a well respected one that is called FACES and has an animal category so I entered 3 images to be judged by professionals thinking it would be nice for my business to win. But then I noticed that there is a People's Choice Award (free to enter) so I entered that as well hoping that a ferret face might capture the imagination of folks and win. Problem is I entered rather late but within a week am in 4th place and in striking distance of the leader! I think it would be great PR if a ferret face won this award and wonder if you can help by voting for my image of two ferret hot rodders and letting other ferret fans know about the competition so they can vote as well. Please also ask friends and family to participate. I think these two adorable foofies represent all of our sweet pets. The contest ends April 5th so time is of the essence. Here is a link to The People's Choice Section where you can see that the two little fuzzies on the cover of the 2010 calendar are in 4th place. http://facesphotocontest.com/bin/Rate To vote for them go here: http://facesphotocontest.com/bin/Rate?image_id=1009403978 Wouldn't it be awesome and terrific PR if a ferret face (well two ferret faces) won the People's Choice Award? Many of you live outside CA and maybe ferrets are given such a bad rap but they are so misrepresented here I think it would be AWESOME!!  Thanks in advance for any help you can give. Feel free to repost this.
Jeanne Carley
Still Looking for a Northern California Meeting Location We have a number of people working on meeting locations for our hoped-for September 25th meeting. We've got leads in Walnut Creek, Suisun and Sacramento. I hope we can wrap up something quickly and start working on an exciting program. By that date, the actual EIR should be filed and we will be in the heat of the 2010 election.
In Conclusion - It hasn't been an easy week. I took Quito back to the vet on Monday thinking this was the end. But in talking to Dr Jenkins we decided to try one last attempt of antibiotics, fluids and nutrients. And Quito picked up a bit, but by Friday afternoon he crashed. Quito was one of my all time favorite ferrets (I know, we're not supposed to have favorites, but lets be honest) He was always such a scrawny ferret with a positive attitude. The two new babies treat me like I'm room service, but Fausto (who is still with me) and Quito always are happy to see me. I don't miss the medications and syringe feeding and I'm grateful everyone is healthy and happy. In fact, the joke is these ferrets aren't from Marshall Farms, there from Foster Farms! Fat and plump! I just wish I could take everyone out once and a while, it would be good for them, but it certainly isn't worth the risk! With my luck, I'd run into Leatrice Koenig! I'm looking forward to our third EIR report. -Just think, we're going to be 75% of the way through very soon. - But what happens after the EIR, do we have to go through the legislature? We couldn't even get an answer out of any of them two years ago, much less find someone to sponsor a bill. With superior organization and an EIR filed, we're confident that things will be different in 2010. Thanks as always for supporting our efforts. Pat Wright | 
