 |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Vol 6 • No 1
January 2nd, 2011 
 In Conclusion This year marks a new beginning in ferret legalization. Past efforts are paying off. Dr Graening research should open the doors to us. Please don’t think for a moment that anything will happen if you just sit back and let others do the work. Our strength is in numbers. Previous ferret legalization efforts saw us able to flood legislator’s offices with letters. At one point Senator Burton wondered out loud what well funded lobby was working for ferret legalization. If he only knew… or as the San Francisco Chronicle wondered – was he looking for campaign contributions? To be honest – I fear people reading this are counting on me to do all the work. (Thank you Julie E for contacting Senator Pavley, you don’t know how important the results were!) I also want to step up the game. CLIFFNotes has been a wonderful tool. I’d like to get others involved. I’d love a co-editor. Someone who could learn how this is done, someone who could take over if something happened to me. Someone to bounce ideas off and occasionally say “Pat – you can’t put that in CLIFFNotes!” I would dearly love to have an editor who could write about ferret care. My focus is on legalization. I know most people reading this are more interested in ferrets in general. Don’t be shy – if you like to write, if you want to get involved, you’re needed! And a big thank you to Heidi Ames, our graphic artist who donated the new banner for 2011. Notice all those hurdles still ahead of us? Hurdles – obstacles, it isn’t a free ride. But we can do this – Yes we can!
|
-
Yes We Can!
Yes we can achieve ferret legalization this year. We still need to put in a ton of work but the tools are in place for it to happen. Imagine, after all these years, I'm predicting success in 2011.
The most important tool is the report done by Dr Geo Graening at Sacramento State University. His unbiased report proves and documents that ferrets pose no threat to public health, agriculture or the environment, and most importantly the conditions for ferrets to go feral are not present in California. They need an abundance of prey and a scarcity of predators. The report is online for all to see here.
The second thing in our favor, and I am so grateful for this, is Matt T. He is our CEQA Consultant. California state bureaucracy is notoriously mysterious. Environmental reports are used to kill projects (they're doing it to Walmart Super Stores in San Diego - quite interesting). But Matt is determined to make a project out of this and so far he's done a great job!
Also important is the fact that CLIFFNotes now goes out to 4,880 people and that a lot of people support our efforts. Thanks to everyone in 2010 who donated to get the preliminary EIR report finished and get the first payment of to Matt T.
Speaking of Work
One of our members finally heard from State Senator Fran Pavley, the chair of the State Senate Natural Resources Committee - the ideal place to originate a ferret legalization bill. They emailed over a Legislative Proposal Worksheet. It appears her office has been closed this past week. It gives me an "in" and hopefully I can talk to someone in her office.
If you live in Senator Pavely's district,please use this web form and ask her to introduce a ferret legalization bill. If you don't live in her district you won't be allowed to send the form - please email her at Senator.Pavley@outreach.senate.ca.gov
Simply say something such as "Because you are the chair of the Natural Resources and Water Committee, I'd like to add my voice to those who have asked you to introduce a ferret legalization bill this legislative session."
Regardless of where you live, please sign and pass along the petition. I don't have a lot of faith in e-petitions but who knows? We'll use every tool in the book to get this accomplished.
 Don't Forget to Contact Your Own State Senator and Assemblymember!We have until January 28th to find a sponsor. There seems to be chaos as newly elected representatives put their offices together. If you need any help convincing your representatives you need an appointment, please let me know. I've already sold my soul to get into Assemblyman Brian Jones' office.
  |
Advertisers
Don't Forget Your 2011 LegalizeFerrets.org Calendar
Of course in a week or two we'll mark them down as we get into 2011. But if you'd like to support our cause, this is a great way.
 Get Ready for another Passing of the Hat
A few weeks ago a ferret was found in Joshua Tree. Someone rescued the ferret after is was harassed by two dogs. The ferret seemed thin and dehydrated but that has been taken care of. Then it was noticed the ferret couldn't urinate freely. A vet exam shows adrenal disease and prostrate troubles. He was given lupron over the New Year's weekend and more treatment is scheduled. We'll have an update, pictures and an appeal for funds in next week's CLIFFNotes. The ferret is being taken care of by Dr Jenkins at the Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital.
|
|||||||||||||||||
