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Readers Column
Now ! Meet Sandy, We have had her for almost three years. She came with a lot of problems, and very sick...People make me SICK...... Sandy was sick so the people wanted to get rid of her..... We, my wife and I had never seen a Ferret, but have read just about everything we could find.... Kim Shillings book was the best...
Ferret Rescue in Alabama
I just got home this week from an extended 6-week trip across the USA that included visits with family in Texas and a very dear friend in Alabama, who, coincidentally, had an Auburn University fraternity reunion scheduled in Dothan the weekend of May 14-15, which we attended. I was so moved by the full-page article about Sandi in the March-April issue of the Ferret Paw Print ( click here then go to page 7) that I had phoned her and sent a contribution to her shelter. Then, when I found out I would actually be in Dothan, I phoned her back, and she said she would love to meet us. As it turned out, our hotel was only 3 miles from her location, and we connected, went to meet her, and thoroughly enjoyed our visit with her. She has a fabulous set-up for all her rescued ferrets, provides great care and love for them, and is just an absolutely delightful lady. Ferrets are definitely her priority in life, and she does all the ferret care almost single- handedly. She is devoted to all of them, her place is immaculate (as much as it can be with ferret toys on the floor for everybody to play with), and her main goal is to provide the best care possible (including vet attention) for the fuzzies until she can find them a good home. You know that the last of my little guys went to the Rainbow Bridge in October of 2005, so it's been a long time since I personally got to hold and cuddle one, and Sandi let me enjoy holding a bunch of them! I was just sorry I couldn't adopt a couple of them and bring them home with me ...
She works full-time, and devotes all of her off-time to the fuzzies --- and I don't think she receives any outside funding for her efforts. I left her a generous contribution when we departed, and thanked her for her hospitality and for sharing her babies with me, as it was a wonderful experience and definitely a very worthy cause. Jim, my friend, took some pictures while we were there, and since I'm fairly new at this computer stuff, I don't know how to attach them to this e-mail, but will forward them separately.
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Photos For Calendar Are Done
On Saturday, June 19th about 10 people and 30 ferrets came together to get the photos taken for the 2011 Legalize Ferrets Calendar. Great Fun and even Greater Confusion.
Unlike last year's orderly process - this year all the ferrets were let out on the floor and then randomly selected to be in the calendar. The raw shots are of ferrets in a white background. We'll see what creative directions our graphic artist can do.
I didn't manage to get too many photos because my flash interfered with Jared's flash - and Jared, I'm sorry I got such a goofy picture of you.
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| Minky and Ruby were the first ferrets to arrive |
Amy admires the gathering business of ferrets |
Sample photos from the shoot should be ready for next week's CLIFFNotes. Jared did appear to get very high resolution close ups - but I think we are going to have to give the calendar its soul. It isn't just about ferrets, its about the ferret-human bond. What these little clowns mean to us and we how we are fighting a much bigger foe to correct a wrong. I have a number of personal stories (I'll run them in next week's CLIFFNotes) but the crafting of the calendar will also be a big effort. If you can write 100 words on how your ferret lifts your spirit and can send in a photo of you and or ferret - please do so.
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 The Stupid Thing That Happened After The Photo Shoot
At 10pm I received a call from Margot saying she took home the wrong ferret after the photo shoot. After a little though the only thing I could think of was that Cindy took home Margot's ferret Daisy as Cindy brought two rescue ferrets to the shoot that she just got. Cindy doesn't wait by her email like me, and not having her phone number I drove over to Cindy's house to find out it wasn't the same ferret. I'd contacted just about everyone and was at about wits end (not a long journey for me) when a call came in about a found ferret in El Cajon. That ferret was delivered, covered with fleas, etc. But after scrubbing that ferret she was gorgeous. I thought I'd check in on my ferrets one more time, and just as Margot said, "Bailey" had clipped fur on her tail. The feeling of stupidity was overwhelming, but also relief. I called Margot, got the ferrets back where they belong and Margot is now fostering our beautful found ferret. Above, Margot with her full crew plus 1 |
The Celebrity Effort - Down but not out
Jenny Shimuzu is our missing celebrity - the one I couldn't find last week. We have a reliable inside contact that she is willing to help with the calendar.
I'd like to have the calendar ready in time for the September 25th Legalize Ferrets Revival in Concord, CA
What's Coming Up in the Months Ahead
A lot of very exciting things are happening that we need in order to achieve ferret legalization. All the pieces are coming together. Our hard work is paying off!
Election 2010 - We will elect a new governor. This is the first time in a long time we don't yet know the outcome. Usually its pretty obvious who will win, but at the time perhaps Jerry Brown has a slight advantage.
The Ferret Legalization Environmental Impact Report. We really need this to communicate with candidates not only for Governor but also for state assembly and state senate. The study to base the official EIR is just about done. Then we have to file the actual EIR. But having the work we do will be invaludable as we communicate with candidates. We are planning on producing an uber-professional media ket to send out.
The Ferret Legalization Video Project. We are picking three Bay Area ferret owners (perhaps we can reveal them next week) The video is along the lines of "California Ferrets - Our Story". There will also be filming and mini-interviews at the September 25th Legalize Ferrets Revival.
The Legalize Ferrets Revival. September 25th in Concord, CA (East Bay Area) The best possible line up of ferret speakers, hoping for 125 people. Very exciting stuff and time. I'm hoping to have the schedule ready by July 1st.
Joe Ferret for Governor? If we can't get either Meg Whitman or Jerry Brown to at least acknowledge our issue expect a press conference kicking off Joe Ferret's write in campaign for governor on September 25. They won't count his votes - but you can write in his name as a protest. Maybe we can get some sympathy from other disenfranchised voters - C'Mon - do it for the little guy!
Or maybe one of the candidates will take a serious look at our issue - it is a no brainer!
The Power of Letter Writing
 We received two letters covering the same theme. On the right is the response Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sends out on this. I think he is raising a smoke screen, he knows ferrets pose no environmental threat but this is his way to avoid the subject. However, this does show the importance of the Environmental Impact Report in taking away their one argument against ferret legalization. Letter writing will gather steam as we get ready for the election. "Make it so!"
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Hey guys,
After reading the latest CliffNotes I feel compelled to embellish on a few points. First the idea to write letters to our representatives is awesome. If everyone that reads CliffNotes writes one letter to their representative the point will be made. Take Star Trek for instance. The original show was supposed to be canceled in 2 episodes. Due to a letter writing campaign, spear headed by an older friend of mine, the show went on for the rest of the season and rest is history. Letters go a long way especially for this cause. I know I'll be writing mine this week.
As for the history of the ferret. I am a student of Medieval culture and I have seen a lot of evidence for the domestication of the ferret to happen in the Medieval time period. They used ferrets, polecats, and ermine. They were used as pets, rodent control, and the very best trained were used in hunting and they were muzzled. They would send a ferret down a rabbit hole and the rabbit would come out the other end where the hunter would be waiting with a musket or club. They were muzzled so that when they would send the ferret down the rabbit hole, the ferret wouldn't eat the rabbit. This is where we get the saying "To ferret something out". There are lots of painting and documentation to support this theory.
Thanks
Dustin S.
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I wrote a letter to our Governor on the issue of ferret ownership in California and this was the brush off I got.
Amanda C
Thank you for your correspondence concerning the legalization of ferrets as pets. I appreciate hearing from Californians on issues that are important to them.
Like you, I think that ferrets are great animals. They're not exactly like cats and dogs though, and I believe that we must first study them in order to thoroughly understand their behaviors before we allow people to own them. Many animals just aren't meant to be kept as pets, and it's important to be certain of how they'll affect our environment - for the sake of the animals, their owners and the communities where they live.
So far, no one has completed a study that proves that these little animals would be good, safe pets, and the California Environmental Quality Act requires that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) be conducted first. An EIR evaluates the proposed project's impact on the environment. Until an EIR is conducted on the effects that ferrets have on the environment, it would be inappropriate to legalize ferrets as pets here in California.
Again, thank you for writing. Government is always better because of the active involvement of its citizens.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger |
In Conclusion -
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| We have a check coming for over $800 because of our affilliate with Wysong this month. I think Wysong is kicking in some extra funds. But use this coupon to save 10% and we still make a nice chunk of change. The ferrets and cat love their food, the dogs love the Dream Treats, which last about a day around here. |
It must take a lot of energy to be stupid. I'm worn out looking for a ferret that was in my ferret cage all the time. What a relief to have everyone back. I often have dreams of missing ferrets.
I'm happy with how things are going on legalization-wise. I am a little nervous about the money situation. So far we've managed to cover the bills but I've got money going out for the calendar, the video, the Sept 25th event, candidate media kits. We do have a check coming from Wysong which is greatly appreciated.
At long last the www.legalizeferrets.org website is going to be revamped. I think I have a couple of volunteers who can and will do the work. There is some database programming which is a little (ok - a lot) over my head. Plus, it could use the more professional touch.
So stay tuned - great things ahead but don't under estimate what we are up against.
P.S. Love the two pictures below.
Pat Wright
Lance is celebrating Father's Day - so any mistakes are mine! (Pat)
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