Reader's Column

Ferrets Needing Homes

Coincidentally after the debate about getting baby ferrets from a pet store out of state, or adopting shelter ferrets - I received a request to run this flyer from a couple who need to rehome their ferrets by October 28.

click on the flyer to open it up in full size

Regarding tattoo's of our pets in the past few CLIFFNotes, I wanted to respond.

I have cats and ferrets. While I do believe ferrets are very special, it wouldn't be fair to say I love one (species) more than the other, so I do have a tattoo for both. I got a set of ferret paw prints and cat paw prints on the top of my foot two years ago. I would love to get a portrait done of my ferret Wiley who has passed, but it would have to be done by an exceptional tattoo artist.

Jamie

Where is the Ferret Whisperer?

I'm not sure if this is where I should ask a question, but I'm in a dilemma. I rescued a young ferret (he's about 8 months now), and he's wonderful. I let him out of his cage as often as I can. However, when he is bad, I yell no, and put him back in his cage. He refuses to learn, although I know he can, because he HAS learned how to do something good to get what he wants. So far, the only major problem is that when I put him in his cage, he throws a fit and yanks at the cage bars with his teeth, or scratches at them. Not only is this extremely annoying at 2 in the morning, but I worry he will chip a tooth or something. I yell really loud at him, and sometimes tap his nose, but I don't want to hurt him or have him resent me. For the sake of my sleep cycle, and thus my attendance at work and school, I beg for advice. I have tried a spray bottle with water, but he loves that. I have considered maybe putting vinegar in it, or something that tastes bad without harming him, so that he will learn. Also, when he does something bad out of his cage, I scruff him and tell him no. But then he thinks I'm playing with him, and I don't think he gets the message. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thank You!

Kit H

We'll print any answers we get next week

The First of Four EIR Reports Arrive

Dr Geo Graening has sent in the first of four reports regarding the status of the Environmental Impact Report - or more accurately the research being done in support of filing an EIR.

Click Here To Read The Report

The report is pretty much as expected - survey have been sent to all the states and Canadian provinces. But already we're told:

Questionnaire response content to date has been rather benign; those agencies that have responded treat the ferret as a regulated or non-regulated pet. None of the questionnaires received to date have
documented the establishment of any feral breeding populations, or negative interactions with wildlife, or significant impacts on human health or safety. Several agencies have attempted to quantify the number of domesticated ferrets in their State; this will assist us in creating a national estimate of ferret ownership, which is important baseline data for performing a future risk analysis of ferret ownership/legalization.

We're well on our way to achieving our goal and a big "I told you so" from me that we have nothing to fear from an EIR done legitimately.

Calendars Arrived - Most People Should Have Them

The 2010 LegalizeFerrets Calendars arrived on Monday and the LegalizeFerrets.org office became a sweat shop getting those orders shipped! About 150 packages left this office shipped using PayPal. If you don't have your order at the end of the week, or if your order arrives wrong, please let me know. Towards the end I was beginning to lose it.

Hmmm - Calendar, EIR, How Can You Help?

Shortly we will have an invoice for $3,200 from Sacramento State University. Marshall Pet Products is going to pay half of it. We need to have the other $1600. We've got about $600 in the bank available for the EIR - so we're $1000 short at the moment.

Contribute to the EIR -> If everyone who read last week's CLIFFNotes sent in a dollar - we'd be done! But there are some out there who just don't realize how much $1 can actually help. How about sending in $5, or more?! - Thank you!

Purchase a Calendar -> We've sold 256 calendars and actually we won't be making money on this project until we sell 400. We have brought new people into our organization with the Calendar but I have about 2,000 sitting in my garage not doing a whole lot of good - so if you haven't bought your calendar yet - please do so. Click here to see the whole calendar, not just the gorgeous Faust, Mr March.

Michelle Bowers Resurfaces

Another example of why the EIR is so critical is the story of Michelle Bowers, who at 29 days old was seriously mauled by a ferret. Read the recent artcle. We mean no disrespect for this young woman and we wish her nothing but the best. Her story, however, could be used again to argue against ferret legalization.

But what's wrong with this story? Read this paragraph from the article:

At 29 days old, in a playpen 10 feet from her sleeping father, Michelle's face was devoured by her family's pet ferret.

The point is, her parents were passed out drunk. Why doesn't that ever make it into the reports? Her grandmother has been the one to used to promote the ferret ban, where are Michelle's parents and why doesn't the press ask?

West Coast Pet Expo
at The Fairplex in Pomona

November 14th & 15th
Saturday & Sunday 10am to 5pm

Don't miss the opportunity to meet with an estimated 15,000-20,000 pet lovers under one roof for the weekend! A unique indoor event including horses, cats, dogs, small animals and a fun schedule of featured events!

- "AirBud" will playing basketball and giving "pawtographs" on stage
- Meet the producers of National Geographic's "The Dog Whisperer"
- Ramon Becerra performing a roping and miniature trick pony show
- Famous artist, Fred Stone will be signing prints
- Enjoy a one-of-a-kind cat agility contest
- Help over 200 adoptable pets that need forever homes
- Stop by Honda's booth showcasing the new "dog friendly" Honda Element

Ferrets Anonymous will be there, please come & see us!

For more information, please go to www.westcoastpetexpos.com.

Beware of Imposters...

Apparently, its now fashionable to want to rescue ferrets that may be in poor health. Why? -Because OCFerrets has recently found out that there are people out there who are claiming to be affiliated with the organization who are picking up ferrets in the name of OCFerrets. Unfortunately, when this happens - the ferret does not necessarily receive adequate vet care and may be re-sold to someone who has little or no knowledge about ferrets whatsoever. When this happens, it tarnishes the name of organizations that have worked tirelessly and selflessly to keep the best interests of unwanted ferrets at heart. If anyone should ever contact you about taking a ferret that you can no longer keep - please check out their story. -They may not be who they say that they are! Today, I added the following information to the OCFerrets.org website:

OCFerrets does not actively seek animals needing to be rehomed, and will NEVER post on Craigslist or other sites looking for animals. OCF only takes action when contacted by an existing owner in need of assistance.

If you are contacted by a person claiming to be a representative of OCFerrets, please contact us to verify that the person that is contacting you is indeed a bonafide representative of the OCFerrets organization.
OCFerrets contact information: http://www.ocferrets.org/ocferrets-contact.html

Just How Many Ferrets Are There?

One question that comes up occasionally is how many ferrets are there in California? The Department of Fish and Game, many years ago used the number 500,000 which somehow stuck. That was a made up number. Are there any statisticians out there who could think up a way to come up with a verifiable number? We know 27% of the nation's ferret supplies are sold in California - but 27% of how many. Come up with a good answer and win a calendar!

In Conclusion

My poor dog Bear, now on five different medications.

It has been an exhausting week! I'm so glad to have shipped the calendars and everything else to everyone we owed them to!

I took a temporary job just as my own business took off! How nice to be in demand - is the recession over? I don't think so, I'm still not making much money, but it keeps me out of the pool halls or watching Jerry Springer!

Fausto, my great ferret and Mr. March in the calendar is on medication for the fourth time for a suspected heliobacter infection. - He scares me to death! He will quit eating and drinking - and only Marshall's Duck Soup laced with amoxycillan will keep him going. But it was so wonderful to have him and Quito running through their tube and chasing the Corgi this morning. There's something wrong with that ferret but I keep him going by having to spoon feed him duck soup about one week every month.

I spent three hours at the vet with my Golden Retriever. His check up for poly arthrititis turned into a diagnosis as leaky heart valve due to a bacterial infection. If General Motors built dogs, they would have built Bear. More anxiety.

But I'm either getting a baby ferret on my birthday - or a divorce. All the expense and anxiety associated with pets, but they are worth it. I am having a party on Dec 27th, everyone on this list is invited - expect details in the weeks ahead.

And in the months ahead, expect more good news on the EIR. THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO PROVE FERRETS CAUSE NO HARM! If you can, please send in a few bucks to keep this thing funded. I'm also gonig to hit all those vendors who ignored our first request for assistance with another request, including the report and a calendar.

Things are moving - thanks for supporting our efforts!

Pat Wright

(619) 303-0645

CLIFFNotes@legalizeferrets.org

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