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Vol 6 • No 2
January 9th, 2011
Animal Planet Discovers Ferrets
 click here to view
Ferret Advice Note - as mentioned last week, we want to expand CLIFFNotes and include some ferret care information. So please welcome our new columnist, Deeda L. You can reach her by email here OK. Hello fellow ferret lovers!! I thought I would start out with a few tips on ferret care. I’m sure most of us know all about these already, but there may be some new ferret parents out there who have not learned these things yet. So, I am going to call this series “Ferrets 101”. There are certain diet and supplemental items that a ferret MUST have. The first is a good quality ferret food. Look for as much meat protein as possible and as little grain as possible. Ferrets do not have the enzyme in their digestive tracts to digest grains properly. The grains just pass though and create more waste (poop) and smell. I, personally, use EVO Grain Free ferret food. The only place I have been able to find this is on line at ferret.com at a reasonable price. Ferrets also need Ferrevite ( a vitamin paste supplement). You take a daily mulit-vitamin - so why not your little fuzzies? They also need Ferretone or Furrotone. If I ever questioned the need for this skin and coat supplement, I was given the answer with my newest addition, Buddy. When he came to me, his coat was coarse and felt sort of ‘wirey’ like a terrier dog. After a week of getting daily doses of Ferretone - his coat became soft and silky, just like my other 3. They also need an odor control product in their drinking water. I use Bi-Oder. About 12 squirts in a 32 oz water bottle. OH and I only use bottled water for my fuzzies. Our water here has a lot of chlorine in it and it just doesn't’t do well in their systems. If you won’t drink your water straight out of the tap, please don’t make your little ones drink it either! They will love these supplements, in fact, mine believe these are treats and eat them right out of a spoon for me. They know that after playtime is over, they get their spoonful of Ferrevite and Ferretone (in the same spoon) and then it is time to go to bed. I know I’m getting really basic here - but for the new ferret families or even people thinking about getting one or more ferrets, this is must know info.  Lil-Sis was adopted by me as a gift in Dubuque, Iowa. I paid for her, along with a new home - a "ferret estate home." Lil-Sis lover her big house. All though seh is in Iowa, I pay her bills now, my sister is thinking of another, she had no idea how lovable ferrets can be. My sister, Ruth Rote's 3,000 Club number is 1056 so another ferret found a good home.
Armand R - Chula Vista.
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Please Note - we are having an abundance of technical difficulties with CLIFFNotes tonight. Our motto is now "CLIFFNotes, never perfect but always on time!"
I have added people who signed the petition for Senator Pavley. If you would like to unsubscribe, please click on the "unsubscribe button." If you haven't signed the online petition, please do so here. Eeks, An Invoice Arrives!! Matt Trask, our CEQA consultant has sent over his final invoice - a bit earlier than expected. So now we step up our fund raising effort!
Matt has been a god-send. Without him we'd be in deep trouble as we struggle to get past a hostile, indifferent or ??? Fish and Game Commission. Matt has directed us to this part of the Fish and Game Code which says we do not need to go through CEQA:
 To Sweeten the Deal 2011 Calendars are half price - now only $7.50. So every calendar you buy reduces our debt by $7.50 (tax and shipping included). And you can make a donation on this same link.
Click the calendar to view the entire calendar.
The Chairwoman of the Senate Natural and Resource had this to say:
Thank you for your letter concerning legalizing ferrets in California. The last time the legislature dealt with this topic was in 2004 with Senate Bill 89. Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 89 (Alpert), for two reasons. First, he was concerned with the risks of ferrets living in the wild. Second, he wanted to make sure that California’s environmental laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), were followed. CEQA requires an environmental study before state actions are taken that could have a significant effect on the environment. Note: We sent Senator Pavley the preliminary EIR which documents why domestic ferrets cannot establish in the wild. Current law requires an evaluation by the Department of Fish and Game. Governor Schwarzenegger made this specific point in his veto message of SB 89. To view the veto message you may visit http://www.sen.ca.gov/ and type SB 89 into the search engine. As the chair the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, I am aware of the budget cuts that have been made at the Department of Fish and Game and the strong likelihood that this department will acquire even more cuts in the ongoing legislative session. In this economic downturn, it is unlikely that California can find funds for an environmental impact report on the effects of legalizing ferret ownership. Thank you again for your correspondence. Please do not hesitate to contact my office for future questions or concerns, (916) 651-4023. Thank you, Fran Pavley
One of our junior members got her parents to get an appointment with Senator Ted Gaines. Mr. Gaines was previously an assemblymember and was just elected to the state senate in a special election.
Great going Kiki!
We have until January 28th to get a ferret legalization bill introduced. Time is definitely running out. So now is the time to get on the phone. You are a constituent - these people work for you. And there is a lot new on this issue.
Stress that a new, unbiased preliminary EIR is out and it demonstrates none of the negative things Fish and Game is concerned about are viable concerns. And with the loss in economic activity and sales tax, the ferret ban is costing California $1,000,000 a year!
We are Starting to Get a Little Press  A story should be coming out in the Sacramento Bee about our effort to legalize ferrets. According to Julie E:T
he reporter was here for 1 hour and 45 minutes. We all had so much to say. I think they are going to use me as an anonymous California ferret owner with just my first name. Lots of pictures were taken and I think they will just show the ferrets and not them giving me kisses. The reporter was very interested in everything that we had to say including how if the ferrets are legalized it will benefit California and our economy in so many ways. We want to be on the front page but we will have to wait and see. She said it will be in the paper sometime next week and she will let us know when. Thanks to Debby, Christine and Jeremy! They are so educated about ferrets and passionate about them. I sent out a Media Advisory (click here) which led to a radio interview on KSRO in Sonoma. Jody B taped it, it is available here.
All the interviews will be on Joe Ferret's Facebook page first and on CLIFFNotes that Sunday. Sometimes one media story creates enough interest to generate more stories so maybe we're finally catching on.
Information on This Year's Ferret Round Up The Ferret Round Up is Ferrets Anonymous' annual meeting with speakers, officer reports, business etc. It is required by the bylaws. Here's what we have so far, thanks to Claudia.
Saturday March 26, 2011
Pasadena Humane Society, 361 South Raymond Ave. Pasadena, CA 91105 626-792-7151 For more information, call Claudia T at 626-358-6027 or 626-327-2917 the day of the event. Guest speakers Pot Luck Lunch –paper goods and lemon aid and ice tea provided Doors open at 10:00 11:00 Pat Wright 12:00 Lunch 1:00 Melinda T. 2:00 Dr. Sari Kanfer 3:00 Business meeting and election of officers 4:00 Clean up 5:00 Those wanting to can go to dinner together to finish visiting Vendor tables – please let Claudia know if you are interested in selling
Photo contest Silent Auction
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Introducing WeaselPads
 These are cage pads not tray covers. They are reversible anti pill fleece pattern/solid ramp color in picture is the sets solid color. I'll also make custom sets to order including matching hammocks, sleep sacks and cubes.
Snow with a Chance of Vet Bill
 Above is Snow, who was found in Joshua Tree before Christmas skinny and dehydrated. Someone rescued him from two dogs and called us. Jami B took over. It turns out Snow has some medical problems, an adrenal pushing on (what's that called again?) anyway adrenal surgery is in the future and a lupron injection was in the recent past.
We, (ok me) is responsible for the vet bill. When it arrives expect another passing of the hat.
And if they knew how broke I am (actually the do) at the Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital in San Diego they might not take my appointments. I'll be in there Wednesday. I'm pretty sure Fausto has an adrenal problem of his own. My mom is lending me the money to take care of it (how embarrassing!)
In Conclusion - Boy I sure did stuff a lot of info in this CLIFFNotes. I'm very happy with the effort everyone is putting into this though I am disappointed with the response of our legislators.
They probably think it is an old issue they've seen before. We need to frame the issue differently. We used to have to respond to the argument "ferrets eat babies." I hope to go on the offensive with "the ferret ban costs California a million dollars a year." If only the legislators will listen. It was so discouraging to get Senator Pavley's response - and it is nothing but a brush off. She really isn't interested and hopes we'll go away. Don't get mad, and its not about getting even. It is about changing mind - the challenge ahead of us. And we can do it.
Don't forget - we're still working the Fish and Game Commission. We'll be up there Feb 2 or 3rd in Sacramento. I'd like to do a ferret meeting the night before - anyone wish to help with the plans?
We will have my presentation on Dec 16th on YouTube and Vimeo shortly. What was really interesting is President Jim Kellogg's statement that "ferret owners are breaking the law and need to be punished." A lot of people will chaffe at that remark.
Pat Wright
email me
619-303-0645 |
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