The opportunities expressed below (i.e. sending in faxes, letters, and photos) may be expired. The messages below are here so that you may see California's struggle over the last couple of years. The links should still work.
Click on a topic below to "jump" directly to the respective area on this page. The newest items are at the top.
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To the Members of the California State Senate:
I am returning Senate Bill 89 without my signature.
I love ferrets. I costarred with a ferret in Kindergarten Cop. However, this bill is far too bureaucratic and it legalizes ferrets prior to conducting an environmental impact report (EIR).
I am concerned that there has not been proper study to determine whether ferrets are detrimental to the health and safety of California citizens and the environment.
The EIR should be completed and evaluated as part of the decision making process before changing the legal status of ferret possession.
For these reasons I am returning this measure without my signature.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
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I just received a phone call from our author's office letting me know that Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed our ferret bill, SB 89.
Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed. This does not solve a thing. Several hundred thousand ferrets and their owners are not going to pack up and leave California. And I'm certain that more will come in regardless of the law.
The only thing I can think of that would explain his veto is that a better bill would be a straightforward legalization bill much like our original bill in 1994. I'll know more when I see his veto message.
I'm sorry, I know so many of you worked so hard on this as did I.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Governor Schwarzenegger has just three more days (after today) to sign SB 89. He needs to hear from you, your friends and family, co-workers, everyone you know in California immediately so this bill becomes law. Please spread the word.
There really isn't time to send your support via the mail, so please fax (which many say is preferred to e-mail), phone and/or e-mail the Governor today! Forward or print this e-mail and give it to everyone you know in California and ask them to contact the governor now!
If you haven't taken the time to write, now is that time! Ask yourself, how will you feel if this bill is vetoed? Horrible I'm certain! But how will you feel if this bill is vetoed and you didn't support our effort to make the bill become law? Could you have made a difference? Your participation is key to the success this bill!
FAX COPIES OF YOUR POLITE AND POSITIVE SUPPORT LETTERS TO:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633
To send an Electronic Mail please visit:
include your full name and address
Points to highlight are:
1) Ferrets are legal in 48 states and in the entire North American continent, Europe, Japan and South America.
2) Ferrets are domesticated and do not belong in a list of prohibited wild animals.
3) Ferrets are safer to people and the environment than most other domesticated pets, especially dogs and cats.
4) Its time to decriminalize good Californians for doing something others can do in the rest of the country legally.
Sample letter (best faxed):
Honorable Governor Schwarzenegger,
Please sign SB 89 and give amnesty to the estimated 200,000 or more ferrets and their owners in California. This bill addresses an issue of long standing in California, one which penalizes good citizens for doing something that can be done legally in the rest of the 48 states on the continent.
Sincerely,
Your name and address
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
No news on the ferret front. I think it's really important to keep the letters, postcards, e-mails and phone calls coming in to the Governor's Office. Remember, he has until Sept. 30th to sign, veto or let the bill go into law without his signature.
Great news from the east! Those of us who have been invoved in this long term (and I mean since 1995 or before), know that then Governor William Weld of Massachusetts signed that state's ferret legalization bill in 1995 (which went into effect in 1996.
He was photographed at the bill signing holding up a copy of my 1996 Ferret Calendar so I made a print of that great shot and had him sign in when he was in California for a fundraiser (he was running against Senator Kerry for that Senate seat). In any case, our lobbyist Bob Naylor, met up with Mr. Weld at the RNC in New York and asked him to write to our Governor in support of our bill (thank you so much Bob Naylor). And he did! Below is a short article from the LA Times:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ferret Owners Put More Pressure on Governor
California ferret owners are calling in the big guns to pressure Schwarzenegger into signing a bill granting amnesty to the rodent-like animals.
Pet ferrets, which state biologists consider a threat to ground-nesting birds, are banned in only two states: California and Hawaii.
After more than a decade of lobbying, ferret fanciers finally persuaded the Legislature this year to liberate their pets, a population estimated at somewhere between 160,000 and 500,000.
Sales and imports still would still be banned, but under SB 89 ferret owners would pay $75 to register their pets, provided that the animals were spayed or neutered and vaccinated against rabies.
To boost their cause, ferret lovers have sent Schwarzenegger a letter from former Massachusetts Gov. William F. Weld, who in 1995 faced a ferret legalization bill. Weld writes that, "I was confronted with the same momentous decision you face on where to draw the line between individual freedom and excessive state paternalism with respect to, yes, ownership of ferrets."Weld's conclusion? "I chose freedom." Do the same, he advised Schwarzenegger, and "hundreds of thousands of ferret owners will rejoice."++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Also, many of you noticed that Paris Hilton was featured in People Magazine with her two ferrets and on Jay Leno. Today Celebrity Justice called to ask about the status of the ferret bill and will do a short segment on it and Paris at the rather late hour of 1:00 AM tonight (or tomorrow morning) on channel 9. If you have the ability to tape the segment, or are a late night owl, please let me know how it goes. Ms Hilton did say she thought the law should be changed.
[UPDATE: Click here
to visit the Celebrity Justice website to read the article.
Or click here
to jump directly to the QuickTime video. Give it some time to download.]
Please continue to distribute our wanted posters to pet stores and veterinary offices! You can download and print our poster directly from the website. It prints great in color if you have a color printer. We have only 10 days left to effect the chances of passage of our bill so it's important to continue to ask everyone you know to write to our Governor! His address is:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor's Office
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
All you have to do is to ask him to sign SB 89 and let him know that ferrets are domesticated companion animals that do NOT belong in a list of prohibited wildilfe.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
I'm hoping these will appear on our web site when our dedicated webmaster has a chance but in case any of you can use the information, I wrote them early last year to support SB 89 in the Legislature and updated them based on current information including Fish and Game's new argument against SB 89 which will really surprise you. In any case, there is information in here that you might want to know about the effort and the arguments now being made. Good fodder for letters, interviews, etc.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Thanks to many, many wonderful volunteers and the stamp and other donations we've received, we've been able to send out almost 4,500 postcards to ferret supporters letting them know the bill is on the Governor's desk! We were also able to address and stamp another 2,000 or so postcards for the public to mail in via other volunteers so the effort to let Governor Schwarzenegger know this bill needs to be signed is well underway.
But the Department of Fish and Game will be recommending to the Governor's staff that the bill be vetoed I'm certain so we must counter that recommendation with lots of input from the ferret supporters and the general public.
So, for those of you who have called but not gotten through, Roger e-mailed me with a list of local numbers for the Governor. He said he got a live person and was told they were getting some calls but not that many locally. Hey, if you haven't called, here's your chance. You can also pass along the local phone number to your family and friends.
Fresno Office
2550 Mariposa Mall #3013
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-445-5295
Fax: 559-445-5328
Los Angeles Office
300 South Spring Street
Suite 16701
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Phone: 213-897-0322
Fax: 213-897-0319
Riverside Office
3737 Main Street #201
Riverside, CA 92501
Phone: 909-680-6860
Fax: 909-680-6863
San Diego Office
1350 Front Street
Suite 6054
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-525-4641
Fax: 619-525-4640
San Francisco Office
455 Golden Gate Avenue
Suite 14000
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415-703-2218
Fax: 415-703-2803
Some of you are writing letters to the editors of your local papers. Good for you! One of our members has already had his letter accepted by the Sacramento Bee, congratulations Tim! That is an excellent way to garner support for our bill. At the end of this e-mail you will see a copy of Californians for Ferret Legalization's letter to the Governor and feel free to use the information in the letter if it helps you. But follow the guidlines of writing a letter to the editor (there's a strict word limit that varies from paper to paper).
Also, Lynne e-mailed me to say that SB 89 is now on the list of subjects on the Governor's web site. If you click on this link (or cut and paste into your browser) http://www.govmail.ca.gov/ you will go to the Governor's web mail site. You can then choose your subject in the drop down menu. SB 89 is near the bottom under Wild Animals: Domestic ferrets SB 89 (anyone see the logic in that?). Choose a support position above the subject line and be sure to include your e-mail address. I e-mailed earlier on this but forgot to include my address and received a message that my address was needed so I incuded it this time. I suggest you include your address to be sure your letter/e-mail counts.
Here is the letter I wrote to the Governor on behalf of Californians for Ferret Legalization. It is on our letterhead so has my address.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Just a quick note to let you know that SB 89 went back to the Senate and passed again on concurrence 27 or 26 to 2. This was a formality to ensure that the Assembly version agreed with the Senate. No changes of substance were made in the Assembly. Our bill is now on to the Governor so please print your posters, distribute them to pet stores and veterinarians offices, anywhere you are allowed.
Make sure that the Governor hears from as many people as possible. We must pass this bill!
Thanks for all your help.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
As usual, when you donate huge amounts of time and $$ to an issue you are bound to be criticized by someone on the periphery, a self-declared expert, so I'm passing along this info for whatever it may be worth.
The e-mailer of course missed entirely the fact that my last e-mail urged everyone to participate by writing and faxing immediately and not "essentially to do nothing and wait to fail".
He also fails to note that these suggestions were on the recommendation of a Senate insider, not necessarily my own. In any case, he's clearly got some inside information so I pass along his recommendation (and criticisms).
And of course with folks like this, the scapegoat syndrome is pretty clear since according to thim I have "singlehandedly made it more likely that this bill will not be passed."
Wow, time for me to definitely bow out!
:)
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: STEALTHCEL@aol.com [mailto:STEALTHCEL@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 6:58 PM
To: Ferretnews@aol.com
Subject: SB89
Jeanne Carley:
I just received the ridiculous e-mail that you sent out "A Senate Insider's View/Write or Fax Don't Call or E-Mail!". Obviously, you use e-mail all of the time to keep in touch with everyone you know and it seems to be effective.
The web site of the Governor is clearly a database type site, meaning that it is easy to view the results. Your suggestion that clogging their FAX machines or forcing some overworked secretary to open a bunch of letters that will not be read and likely will be placed in the round recycling can (i.e. trashcan) rather than be forwarded anywhere is ill-informed. The telephone line is also databased so that the results can be easily tallied but the downside is that it is a long distance call and the line is often busy causing people to give up before completing the call.
You have now sent out an e-mail to everyone you know telling them essentially to do nothing and wait to fail. Your leadership skills obviously never existed or need some retraining. It is important that everybody e-mail the Governor immediately so that the people's view on this issue can be tabulated quickly and put on his desk. That is the beauty of a database program - one click of a mouse and you have statistics. I don't know if you are a techophobe or what, but you have singlehandedly made it more likely that this bill will not be passed.
I suggest that you immediately send out another e-mail telling your base to take the opportunity to express their opinion by e-mail on the Governor's site before it is too late because of all of the Governor's we have ever had, this one is the most self-serving and pays the most attention to the statistics of the voting public. It will take only a few minutes and make a world of difference. Very truly yours,
Christian Christmas
Marketing Consultant
Stealth Cellular
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[Back to Top]
Click here 
for a small color poster for SB 89. The poster will take
approximately one and a half minutes to download (56k modem). It's in Adobe Acrobat which you can
download for free at 
.
Please print several copies of this poster and put it in your veterinarian's office as well as every pet store you can think of with their permission. You can also post several at your office (with management approval of course).
The most important thing it to generate lots of mail and faxes to the Governor!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
The message below came to one of our supporters from someone working in the California State Senate. You need to read this and realize that we face a very uphill battle still! And, I do agree that writing is by far the best so please make sure that you take a moment to write to the Governor at this address:
Honorable Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor's Office
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
You may also fax your letters to the Governor (this is the quickest way to reach him) at (916) 445-4633.
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"Emailing the governor is meaningless. Consider it a deadfile. The phone is nearly as bad. You'll be allowed to vote yes or no on a particular bill through a voice mail system, and I would be surprised if staff takes that at all seriously. Might not even go anywhere. Previous governors have used it as a way to keep call levels to a minimum. You'll never get a real person on the phone using the phone numbers that the governor's office puts on the website.
A far more effective method is using the fax machine or snail mail. The fax number they give the public is treated nearly the same as email and voicemail, but they will notice huge stacks of faxes and letters. Staff won't READ them, but are probably compiled by a secretary who makes note of the numbers and gives it to legislative staff if it goes over a certain number.
The absolute best way to influence legislation is to work with the groups in support listed at the bottom of the link I provided above. I can guarantee you that staff will read faxes from organizations. Some more closely than others. Of the groups listed in the above link, the California Veterinary Medical Association and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council will get the most attention. Unfortunately, you can't join these two groups and they don't want your money. Try calling and helping out those other groups listed in support. Fund for Animals is a fiery bunch, and moderately respected.
As for the governor's plan on whether to sign or veto this bill (since it will most likely get out of the Senate tomorrow or Friday), it doesn't look good. Looking at the link above, you'll notice that the California Department of Fish and Game is opposed to the bill. They work for the governor, and will write the first thing the governor reads. And truthfully, might be the last thing he reads on his way to vetoing the bill. This is a hot issue, and there's still a very good possibility that Arnold will sign the bill against his own staff's recommendations, but don't get your hopes up."
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Also, it was pointed out to me that in my haste, there were some small grammatical errors in my sample letters to the Governor. Please use these if you haven't already written:
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
Please sign SB 89 which decriminalizes current ferret owners. These good citizens own a domesticated pet that is legal in the rest of the continent, should not be in the jurisdiction of a wildlife agency, and is safer to people and the environment than a dog or cat. The current ban is unfair and a waste of taxes and governmental goodwill.
Signed,
Your name and city
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
Please support SB 89 the domestic ferret bill. It makes no sense to make ferret owners in California criminals when ferrets are legal in every other state on the continent.
Sincerely,
Your name and city
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One of our supporters might be making a terrific poster that you will be able to download and print as a PDF file for pet stores, veterinarians offices etc. on SB 89 and how to contact the Governor. More on that later as soon as it's up on our site.
Finally, please write a thank you note to the author of our bill, Senator Dede Alpert. Whether or not this bill passes into law, Senator Alpert did her job and got it through the Senate and the Assembly. And she did a great job. She was well versed on the subject, the facts and the fictions. It was clear she was committed to seeing this bill pass and we owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude. And she's termed out at the end of this year so it's not as if she did this for any reason other than to try to help ferret owners in California.
To write to Senator Alpert, address your letters to:
The Honorable Senator Dede Alpert
State Capitol Room 5050
Sacramento, CA 95814
Thanks for your commitment to this issue as well.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
I have the great pleasure to inform you that SB 89 just passed the California State Assembly today and will now go before Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger!
At this time, the vote was 47 in favor, 12 or 13 against (with approximately 20 votes outstanding). I'll know the final vote sometime tomorrow or the next day and will pass it along. Hopefully the ayes will grow but the nayes are a sign of heavy lobbying by CA Waterfowl and Fish and Game.
This is an historic day no question about that. It's taken eleven years of hard, hard work for a ferret bill to go this far. I have to tell you though, that the Department of Fish and Game is vehemently against this bill, whining that "regulating pets is not their job". That's one of the arguments I made to them eleven long years ago. How dare they now claim ferrets are not their job, of course they're not, they never have been!
In any case, I can tell you from our sources in the Capitol that the Department and CA Waterfowl are lobbying the Governor's office very, very hard and we need for each and every one of you to multiply your efforts five fold to ensure that this bill goes into law and is NOT vetoed! Don't make the mistake that just because the Governor was in a movie with ferrets that he is not feeling pressure to veto this bill. If you make that assumption and do nothing to convince him to sign SB 89, it will be a very costly mistake!
Many of you have already called the Governor's office so what I'm asking you to do is to reach out to your friends and co-workers, extended and distant family members, hey, even ex's if you're on good terms, and have them call and write as well!
The Governor's number is: 916 445-2841
To respond to legislation, press #2, then listen for SB 89, press #1, then to support SB 89 press #1.
You should also take the time to help friends and family write to the Governor. Make it easy for them, address the letters and give them a sample. Here's the Governor's address:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor's Office
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Make your letters short. For example:
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
Please sign SB 89 which decriminalizes current ferret owners. These good citizens own a domesticated pet that legal in the rest of the continent, is not in the jurisdiction of a wildlife agency, and is safer to people and the environment than a dog or cat. The current ban is unfair and a waste of taxes and governmental goodwill.
Signed,
Your name and city
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To those of you who have lists of people in California that we may not be reaching, Ferrets Anonymous, Golden State Ferret Society, Capitol City Ferret Club, Ferret Ware, Hyper Fur, etc. please, get this information out to all of your contacts, ASAP. Consider a small first class mailing so recipients have time to respond.
Come on folks, now is not the time to celebrate, it's time to work hard so all of us can celebrate when the bill is law!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
One of our supporters had a great idea. Instead of sending you a postcard, can you give me the EXACT mailing address of your veterinarian so I can send one there instead?
Some close friends are picking up labels in the next couple of days so let me know ASAP if I should mail to a ferret vet instead.
If it's OK with you overall and I know you personally I'd like to save the postcard and the stamp and not send you a postcard so I can drop these off at local vets offices. I didn't really print too many extras so it will help get the word out if I don't need to send those of you a postcard who already know to write and call the Governor.
If you want me to mail to a veterinarian I will also need your name and address so I can remove it. Or, if you don't know your vet but just want us to save the postage and postcard, let me know your name and address and hopefully I can remove the labels in time.
At present we have about half the stamps we need but I know more are coming. Any extras (if we have them) I will send out to folks willing to get friends and family to write to the Governor.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Lisa L. just dropped off two boxes of labels so I'm printing about 4,500 mailing labels as I type this tonight-- hoping my toner cartridge holds out and the printer doesn't jam. Tomorrow I will pick up the postcards. Thank you to the many supporters, both inside California and outside, who have generously sent stamps, $$ for stamps and/or pledged your time to the mailing on the 28th.
OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA YOU ASK? Rick and Candi White of San Antonio Texas Ferret Enthusiasts sent three rolls of stamps and Barbara Mowery of Arizona also sent a roll-- these kind folks don't even live here! That is especially generous and thoughtful.
We expect our bill to be heard in the Assembly possibly as early as next week. If you haven't already contacted your Assemblymember, there is still time if you call!
Those of you who have ordered postcardbooks, they've all gone out in the mail, via priority mail so you should get them in plenty of time to get friends and family to write a note to the Governor.
Everyone, please make it a goal of yours to get at least 20 friends or family (if you have a big one) to send a note to the Governor asking him to sign our bill, SB 89.
Thanks and let's hold a good thought for our bill in the next few weeks!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Sue, one of our more eloquent supporters, offered to take some of the burden from me at this really hectic time and write up some tips on letter writing. I think she did a GREAT job so I'm passing this along to you virtually unedited-- except for one other hint. Keep your letters SHORT! One paragraph is fine. If your letter is short it will be read, if it is long it will not!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
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We need to make sure the Governor knows there is quite a bit of support for this bill. When writing the governor, please send your letters and post cards to:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor's Office
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Helpful tips when writing the Governor and GETTING OTHERS to write in:
Keep in mind our goal is to pass SB 89, a bill to legalize ferrets already here in the state of California. We want to encourage Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the bill or at least not veto it! We really need to pass this bill so that every ferret living in CA is protected.
1) Remain polite in your writing, more reward and respect are gained with honey than with vinegar. Passionate and heartfelt messages are fine and effectual. List your reasons for supporting bill SB 89. Write a letter, or list facts, or jot down a quick postive opinion, it's not the length of the letter that matters, it's your speaking out that will show support. Try to remain factual and stick to the issues at hand.
2) When finding others to write in, provide them with envelopes already addressed to the governor. Include stamps if you can. Give them a list of writing tips included here.
3) To personalize your letter, include a photo of your adorable ferret, or print/paste a photo onto your stationery; include a child's drawing of their beloved pet. Include your positive experience with ferrets. Relay your experience with any heartrending ferret confiscation stories.
4) If you're a ferret owner concerned with including your name and address, please don’t let this sway you from writing the Governor. You can write your first name only and the city or county you live in. If you're not a ferret owner, write about your positive experience or opinion about protecting existing ferrets in California with this bill.
5) You might include poignant commentary when signing your name. Or ironic humor showing your concerns: "Name withheld for fear of witch hunt! Name withheld for fear of persecution! Name withheld for fear of family pet abduction!" "Dorothy, grandmother of 6, caught between teaching respect for the law, and breaking the law to harbor family pet fugitives!" "Please pass this bill! - Mary, non-ferret owner, neighbor of happy-but-paranoid ferret family!" Think clever, witty, eye-catching, thought-provoking, memorable, touching or affecting. And remember, while expressing frustration over personal experiences and opinions can be fine, refrain from insults! We want to gain support, not turn government away from our cause!
Remind yourself and friends that our efforts can and WILL make a difference! Change comes by getting involved, your efforts and energy will greatly help get this bill passed. Let your non-ferret-owner friends and fellow animal lover s know how important this is to protect our beloved pets and we need their support. Encourage others to write in and call. The clock is ticking! This is our best chance and we don't want to lose it!
To call and register your support by phone - call 916 445-2841. To respond to legislation, press #2, then listen for SB 89, press #1, then to support SB 89 press #1.
[Back to Top]$1.00 shipping and handling (they are the post office after all) and the stamps arrive in 3-5 days.
Easiest to use is the roll of 100 and we need 4,500 stamps!
Thanks for your help. Postcards are being printed and will be ready by end of this week, labels should be printed next week and we stamp and mail Saturday August 28th!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Just a clarification that we need .37 cent stamps, not postcard stamps. These postcards are larger than is allowed for .20 cents.
Also, some folks have suggested that it would be nice if the Governor were to receive some ferret postcards so he could see how adorable ferrets are. Since The Ferret Company is donating over 200 postcard books (as well as almost 100 calendars for the legislature) letting Calfornians know they must write the Governor, additional donations are just not possible. However, The Ferret Company will give a discount on the postcard books for Californians only from now until the bill is acted upon by the Governor (sometime in September). Each postcardbook has 21 tear out postcards. How perfect for each Californian to use one and get 20 friends, family and co-workers to write to the Governor.
So, from now until the bill is acted upon in September, Californians may purchase up to two postcardbooks for just $4.95 each plus shipping. (Maximum 2 per household please). Use Key Code SB 89 when ordering. Must have California ship to address and please, use these for the Governor!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
I decided to donate 218 Ferret Postcard books for a mailing to the Governor. That represents just under $2,000 of my product! So I need your help with the postage (printing on the back will come to $304.41, a real deal since the postcards themselves are being donated)! But here's where I desperately need your help-- STAMPS! These postcards must be mailed first class and we need 4,446 first class stamps so we can get these postcards mailed out! Can you please send a roll or two of first class stamps to my address below? Also, if anyone would like to donate lables, we need the 1"x2&5/8" mailing lables and will need them 30 per sheet. I generally buy the Avery labels, product number 8460. I think they cost about $30.00 for 3,000 of them.
I'm looking at having volunteers come by my house on the morning of August 28th around 9:00 if possible. That should give me time to get the postcards printed and get stamps donated and labels printed. If you plan on donating lables, please let me know!
Send your donations to:
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home Road
Woodside, CA 94062
Final vote in Assembly Appropriations was 18 aye, 1 no, 2 abstaining or not voting.
Here's the breakdown:
AYES
Chu
Runner
Bates
Berg
Laird
Corbett
Correa
Daucher
Goldberg
Keene
Leno
Nation
Negrete
McLeod
Pavley
Ridley-Thomas
Wesson
Wiggins
Yee
NOES
Haynes
ABSENT, ABSTAINING, OR NOT VOTING
Firebaugh
Levine
If you're Assembly representative was on this committee and supported our bill, please write and thank him/her.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Today, SB 89 passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee. I do not know the vote yet but it must have received at least 12 of the 21 member committee to pass. SB 89 must now go back to the Senate for concurrence on some minor amendments (removing language that it would make a continuous appropriation and exempting exhibition and lab ferrets from the fee), then it must pass the Assembly on or before August 31st.
If the bill gets out of the Assembly in the last 11 days of session, the Governor then has 30 days to sign or veto the bill, or let it pass into law without his signature. Or he can address it right away which doesn't give him much time to consider the bill so your input is essential now!
So, first, please call or write your State Assemblymember if you haven't already done so and ask him/her to support SB 89. Remember, if this bill doesn't get out of the Assembly, it won't get to the Governor.
Second, please write to, AND call Governor Schwarzenegger. Here's the information on where to write:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor's Office
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
To call and register your support for our bill by phone call 916 445-2841. To respond to legislation, press #2, then listen for SB 89, press #1, then to support SB 89 press #1. Please have all of your friends and family call in, we need to make sure the Governor knows there is quite a bit of support for this bill.
If you have done both of these things, please ask co-workers, friends, family, to write as well. Consider taking an afternoon off to sit in front of a pet store with small 1/2 page flyers containing the Governor's address and tel. # for animal lovers to take home with them.
I'm donating two cases of 2005 Ferret Calendars to the effort in Sacramento as I have for the last several years. And if there is time for a mailing, I will also donate enough Ferret Company post cards to reach 5,000 Californians but I don't have $$ for postage so I will need your help with first class stamps and a volunteer label and stamp day(s).
Please e-mail me if you live in the Bay Area and can help on a weekend or evening with the mailing. If you live outside the Bay Area, please consider donating a roll of stamps but I need you to wait until I find out if we have time and volunteers enough for the mailing.
This is the furthest our bill has ever come, let's not drop the ball now, everyone needs to work very hard in the next few weeks to see that this happens!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Do you have a copy of our ferret calendar, The Ferret Calendar 2005, Ferret Music? If you do, and would like to write an on line review for Amazon.com, please click the link below and scroll down to Customer Reviews. It's always a great help for others who may be new to The Ferret Calendar to read your comments.
Front and Back cover images have been submitted to Amazon and should be up in the next 3-5 days. If you haven't seen the new 2005 images, go to http://www.ferretcompany.com/content/main01index.html and click on Ferret Music, 2005. Then scroll over the months for some hysterical ferret antics.
Thanks for reviewing my calendar for new Ferret Company fans.
By the way, our bill is still on Governor Schwarzenegger's phone poll but now it is the first bill under legislation, not the third. I strongly recommend calling in if you haven't already and having friends and family call!
The Governor's number is: 916 445-2841
Follow the prompts and select the one that asks for you opionon on legislation. I just called but I want you all to listen carefully in case it changes. To respond to legislation, press #2, then listen for SB 89, press #1, then to support SB 89 press #1.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
I just heard that the Governor's office is asking the public's opinion on our ferret amnesty bill. I absolutely urge you all to call in your support for this bill as soon as possible. Follow the prompts and select the one that asks for you opionon on legislation. I just called but I want you all to listen carefully in case it changes. To respond to legislation, press #2, then listen for SB 89, press #3, then to support SB 89 press #1. Please have all of your friends and family call in. This is, I believe good news but we must answer this loud and clear!
The Governor's number is:
Don't let this unique opportunity to be heard by the Governor's Office go by!
Some folks from out of state have asked if they should call, and I don't see what's wrong with that. If you plan to move or visit CA this will affect you too someday. But, we absolutely MUST have Californians call so if you live in CA get on the phone and please get your friends and family to call as well.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Too many people don't realize how complicated the process is for a bill to become law in California. I was one of those until 10 years ago when our first bill was introduced. But now I know and you need to as well.
Our Legislature has two houses, the Senate and the Assembly. The bill has to clear both houses, then be signed by the Governor-- or at least not vetoed (I don't actually know if it can become a law without his signature, frankly we've never even come close to getting that far yet.)
In each house, the Assembly and the Senate, there are two committees that most bills must pass before it can be voted on by the entire house. So there are three votes per house, the first committee, the second committee then the house floor. Since our bill orinigated in the Senate, it began it's journey there and first had to pass the Senate Policy Committee, in our case the Senate Natural Resources Committee. SB 89 then went to the Senate Appropriations Committee which is the Committee that our author, Dede Alpert chairs. SB 89 passed that committee as well, then passed the Senate Floor vote. These votes took place last year.
Recently, our bill passed the first of two committees in the Assembly, the Policy Committee called Water, Parks and Wildlife. It will soon go before the Assembly Appropriations Committee but we don't know when. If the bill passes that Committee, it will go to the Assembly Floor for a vote. Should the bill pass the floor, it would go to the Governor. So as you can see, there are still three more steps for our bill to take before passage. We are a little over half way only, way too early to celebrate as I've heard some folks doing.
I have to tell you that we have several major considerations this year and should not take these early victories for granted. One thing to remember is that our fabulous author is term limited at the end of this year! Senator Alpert has been a fantastic author and she would be a very tough act to follow. Number two, most of the Assembly is new and knows nothing about our bill, or ferrets, or the level of support that is out there. That is where your letters to your Assemblymembers are so critical.
Besides writing to your own State Assemblymember, ask friends and family to write as well. Consider partnering with someone to sit outside a PetsMart or PetCo or other pet store and have pre-printed letters or signature forms for folks in your area to sign. We need to make sure that the Assembly representatives know there is widespread support to decriminalize ferret ownership in California!
Another important consideraton is that the opposition, Fish and Game, CA Waterfowl, Planning and Conservation League and Defenders of Wildlife have a permanent presence in Sacramento that we don't have, except in Bob Naylor, the lobbyist I spoke of earlier. That's why I urged all of you to help in any way you can so we can afford his services. My father and I have made multiple trips to Sacramento over the years, far more than I can count-- or want to. And I'm sure we will make another one before the Assembly floor vote, but that visit would be a waste of time without access to these lawmakers that Bob helps provide.
So please, send what you can so we can have our issue heard. Remember, don't make the checks out to Calfifornians for Ferret Legalization or Jeanne Carley but directly to Nielsen Merksamer!
Thanks for your support.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Today our bill passed the Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee by a 12-1 vote in favor, which means it has come the furthest it has ever come in 10 years. [Ed. note: With abundant respect, during those 10 years, Jeanne has testified at every hearing. Each time, she returns home exhausted and sometimes utterly disappointed. So after today's hearing, her long-term memory is slightly askew. The previous three bills (SB 1093 in 2001-2002, AB 854 in 1999-2000, and AB 363 in 1997-1998) had all passed both houses' policy committees. However, they did not get past the second houses' Appropriations committee. So it will be a first if, er... I mean, when we pass Appropriations this time.] However, we are definitely NOT out of the woods and faced opposition from Fish and Game, CA Waterfowl, Defenders of Wildife and the Planning and Conservation League.
Testifying in support was our terrific author Senator Dede Alpert whose comments were absolutely terrific and on target. Also testifying support besides Californians For Ferret Legalization were Mike Dillon for the California Veterinary Medical Association, Kevin Pedrotti for the Pet Industries Joint Advisory Council, Virginia Handley from Fund for Animals, and an individual ferret supporter, Jim March. A big thanks to all of them!
We must still pass the Assembly Appropriations Committee and the full California State Assembly and the Governor so there are still three more hurdles to clear before your domesticated pets are granted amnesty here in California.
The bill as passed would require a one time fee of $75.00 per ferret and proof that the ferret is spayed/neutered and vaccinated against rabies. The ferret is then granted an amnesty card. Card carrying ferret(s) are protected for life. Should this bill pass, I encourage all of you to pay this fee to guarantee that your ferret is safe from confiscation, from the threat of a mean and vindictive neighbor, ex-spouse or ex-employee. I know that those of you with many ferrets will find this fee a very large burden but keep in mind that each registered ferret is safe from the hands of Fish and Game. Also keep in mind that current permit holders pay almost $300.00 per ferret annually and face inspections!
The majority of your fee, $50.00 will go to a fund to complete an environmental document and the Fish and Game Commission MUST review this issue, the environmental document and public testimony in 2006. In other words, the ball will be rolling to lift this inane ban on this harmless domesticated pet.
The Committee Members voting in support of our bill were as follows:
Joseph Canciamilla, Chair Dem-11
Tim Leslie, Vice Chair Rep-4
Patty Berg Dem-1
Rick Keene Rep-3
Lynn Daucher Rep-72
Jackie Goldberg Dem-45
Shirley Horton Rep-78
Christine Kehoe Dem-76
Alan Lowenthal Dem-54
Barbara S. Matthews Dem-17
Todd Spitzer Rep-71
Lois Wolk Dem-8
Those opposed:
Nicole Parra Dem-30
Abstaining:
Fran Pavley Dem-41
Rudy Bermúdez Dem-56
Absent:
Dario Frommer Dem-43
Active chapters of all of the California ferret organizations please mobilize to contact your Assemblymembers on SB 89.
If this will help you in writing your letters, please feel free to use any or all of it. It was my unedited testimony in front of the Water Parks and Wildlife Committee today. Remember to let your Assemblymembers know that in the absense of amnesty, which is long overdue, no ferret owner in California would pay a fee for an environmental document!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The first ferret bill in California was introduced 10 years ago. Clearly this issue has some staying power.
You can now visit any CA pet store and there will be a ferret isle with ferret specific products. Veterinarians can legally treat ferrets, 20% of all ferret food is sold here, and Ferrets Magazine sells more copies in California than any other state. Ferrets are here, they’ve been here in large numbers for well over a decade, yet, there are not now, nor ever have been any documented feral populations of these pets either here in California or in the rest of the country. This fact was confirmed by our Department of Fish and Game in a 1997 nationwide survey. That’s a distinction not shared by other domesticated pets.
Since the first ferret legalization bill in 1994, ferret owners in California have compromised again and again trying to work with the opposition and allay their concerns, in the end agreeing to the most restrictive pet ownership bill ever. Why? Because ferret owners crave the same legal status for themselves and their pets that owners of domesticated animals, including ferrets, enjoy in the rest of the country.
Ferret owners in California have had their pets taken away and sometimes destroyed. They’ve been fined, and in a few cases jailed. They are subject to blackmail by anyone angry at them for any reason. An ex-spouse, ex-girlfriend or boyfriend, or ex-employee has an easy target for their anger. It’s happend time and time again.
It is important to remember that the animals we are talking about are legal in the rest of the country. It’s also important to remember that they are domesticated. Every authority including the United States Department of Agriculture, Museum of Natural History, Humane Society of the United Sates and over 150 zoos and zoological societies refer to the ferret as domesticated. Even our own department of Fish and Game acknowledges this fact, yet, the ferret finds itself in the hands of a wildlife agency, specifically named in a section entitled the Importation, Transportation and Possession of Live Wild Animals. This makes no sense.
Shortly before the introduction of our first bill, the Fish and Game Commission removed two animals from the prohibited species list, the Buffalo and Camel, without an environmental document. Why were these animals removed? The Executive Director of the Fish and Game Commission confirmed that they were removed because they were domesticated. They didn’t belong in a list of prohibited wildlife. Neither does the ferret.
That is the principal reason why Californians routinely break this law. Ferret owners in California are the same as ferret owners in the other 48 states. They are not bad people, and they are not breaking the spirit of any law. The law is what is bad and the process to correct this law should begin today.
Please support this bill.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Our bill will be heard in the Water Parks and Wildlife Committee on June 8th, 2004 in Sacramento. I strongly urge you to write at this time to your Assemblymember even if you have written in the past, especially if he or she is on the Water Parks and Wildlife Committee. Remember, our bill must get through this committee so it can go to the Governor, or it will die again this year.
To find out the name of your State Assemblymember go to:
http://www.ferretnews.org/legislators.html.
You may all write to the committee chair however, Assemblymember Canciamilla and ask him to support this bill. As chair, it is appropriate for you to write to him. but know your ferret facts before you write but keep it to just one page. To read up on "Ferret Facts" Visit the CFL webpage and click on the Facts link or go to:
http://www.ferretnews.org/fact1.html
Here are the Assemblymembers on the Water Parks and Wildlife committee:
Take a look at this list of State Assemblyembmers to see if you are in one of their districts. Again, you can find your representative by visiting this link:
http://www.ferretnews.org/legislators.html
All you have to do then is to type in your zip code and you will be told who represents you in the State Capitol. This bill has already passed the Senate last year but must pass the Assembly to go to the Governor. If it doesn't pass this committee it will die!
When you write, you must use your name and address so your representative k nows you are a constituent. If you are not willing to write, your legislator will not know there is support for legalizing ferrets and frankly there's not much chance we will ever change this ridiculous law.
Here's how to address your letters to Assemblymember Canciamilla. To write to another member of the committee if he or she represents you, simply put their name, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Joseph Canciamilla, Chair
Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Members of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee:
Joseph Canciamilla, Chair Dem-11 (916) 319-2011
Tim Leslie, Vice Chair Rep-4 (916) 319-2004
Patty Berg Dem-1 (916) 319-2001
Rudy Bermúdez Dem-56 (916) 319-2056
Rick Keene Rep-3 (916) 319-2003
Lynn Daucher Rep-72 (916) 319-2072
Dario Frommer Dem-43 (916) 319-2043
Jackie Goldberg Dem-45 (916) 319-2045
Shirley Horton Rep-78 (916) 319-2078
Christine Kehoe Dem-76 (916) 319-2076
Alan Lowenthal Dem-54 (916) 319-2054
Barbara S. Matthews Dem-17 (916) 319-2017
Nicole Parra Dem-30 (916) 319-2030
Fran Pavley Dem-41 (916) 319-2041
Todd Spitzer Rep-71 (916) 319-2071
Lois Wolk Dem-8 (916) 319-2008
Please ask family and friends to write as well. This bill won't pass without your active participation!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
As you should know by now, our bill SB 89, authored by Senator Dede Alpert, passed the Senate last year but has not come out of the Assembly policy committee, Water, Parks and Wildlife. In the interim, the state of California elected a new governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who we hope will be more receptive to this issue. He did tell two of our members during his campaign that he would sign SB 89 if it made it to his desk.
But, my father and I were in Sacramento today meeting with one of the Governor's staffers and it's clear that the Department of Fish and Game intends to try to convince the Governor's office to oppose our bill and they may just well do it! So here's what you need to do and you need to do it now, because they are very close to taking whatever position they will on our bill.
If you live in California, sit down TODAY and write a short, one page letter to the Governor urging him to NOT allow DFG to oppose the ferret amnesty bill. Tell the Governor that ferrets are a domesticated pet that does not belong in the hands of a wildlife agency. Tell the Governor that ferrets are legal in the rest of the country and should not be banned in California. Tell him that you are aware of the 1996-97 Nationwide Ferret Survey by the Department of Fish and Game in which all 50 states said they had no suspected or documented ferrets breeding in the wild either now or in the past.
Write to:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor's Office
State
Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Please write as soon as you read this. To delay means we might miss our chance and letting the Governor know how much we care. If you don't live in California, please don't write, it's pointless. If you do live in California, please include your address in your letter. Remember, just because you support this issue doesn't mean you own ferrets. And if you don't write, the law may never be changed.
I'm leaving on 3/10/04 for a trip so I'll be out of touch for a couple of weeks so if you e-mail me you won't get a reply for some time.
Please write and ask all of your friends and family to write as well.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
The Californians for Ferret Legalization website is back up and running. You can bookmark it at http://www.ferretnews.org/. Scott Beisner put up this website and has maintained it for years now and I'm hoping that the least we can do for him is to help with the monthly charge which is approximately $20.00 I believe. If you can sponsor the CFL webpage for a month, please send a check in the name of Scott Beisner to the CFL address below. He's done so much for us for so many years, and has a growing family with all of those time and financial committments. I'd really like to see him get some help for the cost of the site.
Also, for the first time in many years, with the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger, we have a governor that is very likely to sign a ferret bill. The problem is, we're stuck in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and I"m not certain we're going to get out of there! We need your help to clear this committee and keep our bill, SB 89, moving.
It's clear that we are going to need our lobbyist to help us get out of this committee and we don't have the funds for much of his time which he bills at a discount for this issue. Please help by sending whatever you can to the address below. You can make your check out to Nielsen Merksamer (the name of the lobbying firm in Sacramento) and I will forward them in a batch. Let's not give up just when the top guy in Sacramento is finally friendly to ferrets.
To help, you must find out the name of your State Assemblymember. Then look at the list of Assemblymembers below and if your Assemblymember's name appears, you must write to him/her and ask them to support SB 89. You may all write to the committee chair however, Assemblymember Canciamilla and ask him to support this bill. As chair, it is appropriate for you to write to him. but know your ferret facts before you write but keep it to just one page. To read up on "Ferret Facts" Visit the CFL webpage and click on the Facts link or go to:
http://www.ferretnews.org/fact1.html
Here are the Assemblymembers on the Water Parks and Wildlife committee:
Take a look at this list of State Assemblyembmers to see if you are in one of their districts. You can find your representative by visiting this link:
http://www.ferretnews.org/legislators.html
All you have to do then is to type in your zip code and you will be told who represents you in the State Capitol. Please write to both your State Senator and State Assemblymember. You must use your name and address so your representative knows you are a constituent. If you are not willing to write, your legislator will not know there is support for legalizing ferrets and frankly there's not much chance we will ever change this ridiculous law.
Members of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee:
Joseph
Canciamilla, Chair Dem-11 (916) 319-2011
Rick Keene, Vice Chair Rep-3 (916)
319-2003
Patty Berg Dem-1 (916) 319-2001
Rudy Bermúdez Dem-56 (916)
319-2056
Ellen M. Corbett Dem-18 (916) 319-2018
Lynn Daucher Rep-72 (916)
319-2072
Mervyn M. Dymally Dem-52 (916) 319-2052
Dario Frommer Dem-43
(916) 319-2043
Jackie Goldberg Dem-45 (916) 319-2045
Shirley Horton
Rep-78 (916) 319-2078
Christine Kehoe Dem-76 (916) 319-2076
Tim Leslie
Rep-4 (916) 319-2004
Alan Lowenthal Dem-54 (916) 319-2054
Barbara S.
Matthews Dem-17 (916) 319-2017
Kevin McCarthy Rep-32 (916) 319-2032
Nicole Parra Dem-30 (916) 319-2030
Fran Pavley Dem-41 (916) 319-2041
George A. Plescia Rep-75 (916) 319-2075
Todd Spitzer Rep-71 (916)
319-2071
Lois Wolk Dem-8 (916) 319-2008
Use our fact sheet to write your letter. Your letter may be as simple
as:
Dear Assemblymember --------
Please support SB
89.
Sincerely,
Your name and address.
Please ask friends and family to write as well!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Today's hearing on our bill was cancelled. The author wasn't certain that the bill would pass this committee and, given the governor's likely veto, would like to see a bill that can satisfy him.
The problem is, we don't have much room to manuver. They want us to pay for a study (which will not necessarily legalize ferrets given the huge bias of both the Fish and Game Commission and the Fish and Game Department) prior to any amnesty.
Our position has always been that if they want us to pay for a study (which no other domesticated pet owner has had to do, ever!) they must give ferret owners something in return-- amnesty.
So, I don't know where we go from here but I do know that not enough of you have written to your State Assemblymembers or taken the time to request a meeting. With more help from more of you (letters and constituent visits), we might have had a better reception by this committee.
This bill will go forward and be heard next year, but what shape it will take may very well depend directly upon your efforts and the recommendations by our author's office. I strongly suggest that you ask friends and family to write to their State Assemblymembers, meet with your Assemblymember and ask for his/her support (we do not have to pass the Senate again).
Here is the link for finding out that name of your State Assemblymember:
"Know your local representative"
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Our author postponed our hearing until July 8th. Our bill will be heard on that date unless the author feels that we haven't been able to adequately inform the committee members of it's merits. But that's where you come in! If you haven't written to your State Senator, you may be responsible in part for our bill not being heard. Representatives respond to their constituents so you must write if you want our bill to have a fair hearing.
To find out who represesents you in the State Capitol go to:
"Know your local representative"
You may also write to the Committee Chair. His name and address are:
Joseph Canciamilla, Chair
Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife
Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
If you want to see our bill get to the Governor, you must write today! We've never had a better author and a better opportunity.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Just to let you know that our hearing in the Water Parks and Wildlife Committee is this coming Tuesday July 1st in room 437. The committee meets at 9 a.m but I don't know exactly when our bill will be up so we'll be there at 9:00 sharp.
Californians for Ferret Legalization did a mailing to our members in most of these districts except in the San Diego area where we hope that Ferrets Anonymous would took the initiative since that and LA are their really strong areas-- and also because the cost of these mailings is tremendous!
If you didn't recieve a letter from us we either don't have your mailing address or you are not represented by one of these State Assemblymembers. But it's simple to find out the name of your Assemblymember and it's not too late to write in!
Please, take a look at this list of State Assemblyembmers and check your zip code to see if you are in one of their districts. You can find your representative by visiting this link
"Know your local representative"
All you have to do then is to type in your zip code and you will be told who represents you in the State Capitol. Please write to both your State Senator and State Assemblymember. You must use your name and address so your representative knows you are a constituent. If you are not willing to write, your legislator will not know there is support for legalizing ferrets and frankly there's not much chance we will ever change this ridiculous law.
Members of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee
Joseph Canciamilla, Chair Dem-11 (916) 319-2011
Rick Keene, Vice Chair
Rep-3 (916) 319-2003
Patty Berg Dem-1 (916) 319-2001
Rudy Bermúdez Dem-56
(916) 319-2056
Ellen M. Corbett Dem-18 (916) 319-2018
Lynn Daucher Rep-72
(916) 319-2072
Mervyn M. Dymally Dem-52 (916) 319-2052
Dario Frommer
Dem-43 (916) 319-2043
Jackie Goldberg Dem-45 (916) 319-2045
Shirley
Horton Rep-78 (916) 319-2078
Christine Kehoe Dem-76 (916) 319-2076
Tim
Leslie Rep-4 (916) 319-2004
Alan Lowenthal Dem-54 (916) 319-2054
Barbara
S. Matthews Dem-17 (916) 319-2017
Kevin McCarthy Rep-32 (916) 319-2032
Nicole Parra Dem-30 (916) 319-2030
Fran Pavley Dem-41 (916) 319-2041
George A. Plescia Rep-75 (916) 319-2075
Todd Spitzer Rep-71 (916)
319-2071
Lois Wolk Dem-8 (916) 319-2008
Use our fact sheet to write your letter. Your letter may be as simple as:
Dear Assemblymember --------
Please support SB 89.
Sincerely,
Your name and address.
Write those letters now if you haven't already or call in your support.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
SB 89 has passed the Senate but still must pass two committees in the Assembly then the full Assembly and the Governor. It's time to write to your State Assemblymember, or better yet, visit him or her. You can find out who represents you by visiting the Californians for Ferret Legalization webpage and clicking on "Know your local representative".
All you have to do then is to type in your zip code and you will be told who represents you in the State Capitol. Please write to both your State Senator and State Assemblymember. You must use your name and address so your representative knows you are a constituent. If you are not willing to write, your legislator will not know there is support for legalizing ferrets and frankly there's not much chance we will ever change this ridiculous law.
Do not ask me to look up your Representatives or those of your friends or family members. You need to do that for yourself, I don't have the time!
If your Assemblymember is one of the Assemblymembers listed below, then he/she is a member of a very important committee who will vote on our bill next. I need volunteers to meet with these Assemblyemembers and ask them to support our very limited ferret amnesty bill. Please e-mail me with the name of your Assemblymember if it's listed below we NEED YOU to volunteer to meet with him or her. Remember, this is the committee that effectively killed our bill last year!
Water Parks and Wildlife Committee
Joseph Canciamilla, Chair Dem-11 (916) 319-2011
Rick Keene, Vice Chair
Rep-3 (916) 319-2003
Patty Berg Dem-1 (916) 319-2001
Rudy Bermúdez
Dem-56 (916) 319-2056
Ellen M. Corbett Dem-18 (916) 319-2018
Lynn
Daucher Rep-72 (916) 319-2072
Mervyn M. Dymally Dem-52 (916) 319-2052
Dario Frommer Dem-43 (916) 319-2043
Jackie Goldberg Dem-45 (916)
319-2045
Shirley Horton Rep-78 (916) 319-2078
Christine Kehoe Dem-76
(916) 319-2076
Tim Leslie Rep-4 (916) 319-2004
Alan Lowenthal Dem-54
(916) 319-2054
Barbara S. Matthews Dem-17 (916) 319-2017
Kevin McCarthy
Rep-32 (916) 319-2032
Nicole Parra Dem-30 (916) 319-2030
Fran Pavley
Dem-41 (916) 319-2041
George A. Plescia Rep-75 (916) 319-2075
Todd
Spitzer Rep-71 (916) 319-2071
Lois Wolk Dem-8 (916) 319-2008
Keep your letters to a single page and to help you can use our ferret fact sheet to frame your arguments. You can find a copy by visiting this link:
"Know your facts and fictions"
If you have written to your State Assemblyemember, WRITE AGAIN! Let them know this issue won't go away. Know your facts before going in. Read our website well. But the best single argument is that ferrets are legal in 48 states. They are domesticated and therefore outside the jurisdiction of a wildlife agency!
You should also write to our Governor, Governor Gray Davis
Arnold Schwarzenegger and tell him that California should not
criminalize people for something they can do legally in the rest of the country.
His address is:
Governor Gray Davis Arnold
Schwarzenegger
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
If you would like to send a contribution so that we may continue to use our lobbyist, please make the check out to Nielsen Merksamer and mail it to:
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home Rd.
Woodside, CA
94062
Thanks so much.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
I just got the great news that our ferret amnesty bill passed the Senate today! Hooray!!
The vote was 31-5. The "No" votes were Senators Burton, Florez, Johnson, Machado, and Vasconcellos. Not voting were Cedillo, Chesbro, Ortiz, and Torlakson (who is a co-author and supporter).But you should know that we still have to pass through two committees in the Assembly, the Assembly itself, and the Governor. Needless to say, this isn't the end of our battle. Past bills have almost invarialbly passed the first house (either the Senate or Assembly) only to be shot down in the other half of the legislature.
Our next committee, the Water Parks and Wildlife Committee gutted our bill last year severlye enough to make it meaningless. We still need your help to get this bill through the Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee. Besides writing to the chair of the WPW Committee and your individual Assembly member, please consider a donation to help pay for Mr. Naylor's invaluable help with our bill. I've reserved the donations sent in thus far to be earmarked for this committee in particular. If you want to help us use Bob, please mail a check to CFL (our address is below) made out to the lobbying firm, Nielsen, Merksamer.
Please be sure to do your part to help this bill pass this year!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Just a quick note to let you know that SB 89 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee and will go before the full Senate by June 6th. Please call or write your State Senator (if you have not done so already!) and urge him/her to support this bill.
We expect to pass the Senate but will have to pass two committees and the full Assembly floor before going to the Governor-- that's three more votes assuming we do pass the Senate. so there's lots more work to do. We may have some difficulty in the first committee in the Assembly, so now is a good time to write to the the members of the Water Parks and Wildlife Committee if they represent you.
We need volunteers to meet with their State Assemlymembers who sit on the Water Parks and Wildlife Committee. This the the committee that gutted our bill last year so we absolutely need your help, especially with the chairman who is in the Pittsburg, Antioch area.
Below are the members of this committee. Please review them carefully and if they are your State Assemblymembers, contact them and ask for their help in passing SB 89! Do NOT contact members of this committee if they do not represent you. The only exception is the chair of the committee.
Assemblly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee
Joseph Canciamilla, Chair Dem-11 (916) 319-2011
Rick Keene, Vice Chair
Rep-3 (916) 319-2003
Patty Berg Dem-1 (916) 319-2001
Rudy Bermúdez
Dem-56 (916) 319-2056
Ellen M. Corbett Dem-18 (916) 319-2018
Lynn
Daucher Rep-72 (916) 319-2072
Mervyn M. Dymally Dem-52 (916) 319-2052
Dario Frommer Dem-43 (916) 319-2043
Jackie Goldberg Dem-45 (916)
319-2045
Shirley Horton Rep-78 (916) 319-2078
Christine Kehoe Dem-76
(916) 319-2076
Tim Leslie Rep-4 (916) 319-2004
Alan Lowenthal Dem-54
(916) 319-2054
Barbara S. Matthews Dem-17 (916) 319-2017
Kevin McCarthy
Rep-32 (916) 319-2032
Nicole Parra Dem-30 (916) 319-2030
Fran Pavley
Dem-41 (916) 319-2041
George A. Plescia Rep-75 (916) 319-2075
Todd
Spitzer Rep-71 (916) 319-2071
Lois Wolk Dem-8 (916) 319-2008
Please let me know if you can help!
It's also a good time to write to Senator Alpert and thank her for introducing SB 89. Her address is:
Senator Dede Alpert
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
SB 89 has passed the Senate Natural Resources hearing on a 6-0 vote (two members we know support us were absent). The next hearing is scheduled for 4/7 but because the bill involves more than 150,000.00 it will be put in suspense. But, it will move out of that committee at some point to the Senate floor. So, now is the time for you to contact your State Senator and urge him or her to support the bill when it is before him.
We also need volunteers to meet with their State Assemlymembers who sit on the Water Parks and Wildlife Committee. This the the committee that gutted our bill last year so we absolutely need your help, especially with the chairman who is in the Pittsburg, Antioch area.
Below are the members of this committee.
Joseph Canciamilla, Chair Dem-11 (916) 319-2011
Rick Keene, Vice Chair
Rep-3 (916) 319-2003
Patty Berg Dem-1 (916) 319-2001
Rudy Bermúdez
Dem-56 (916) 319-2056
Ellen M. Corbett Dem-18 (916) 319-2018
Lynn
Daucher Rep-72 (916) 319-2072
Mervyn M. Dymally Dem-52 (916) 319-2052
Dario Frommer Dem-43 (916) 319-2043
Jackie Goldberg Dem-45 (916)
319-2045
Shirley Horton Rep-78 (916) 319-2078
Christine Kehoe Dem-76
(916) 319-2076
Tim Leslie Rep-4 (916) 319-2004
Alan Lowenthal Dem-54
(916) 319-2054
Barbara S. Matthews Dem-17 (916) 319-2017
Kevin McCarthy
Rep-32 (916) 319-2032
Nicole Parra Dem-30 (916) 319-2030
Fran Pavley
Dem-41 (916) 319-2041
George A. Plescia Rep-75 (916) 319-2075
Todd
Spitzer Rep-71 (916) 319-2071
Lois Wolk Dem-8 (916) 319-2008
Please let me know if you can help!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Some of you said that the address to send your donations to didn't show on my last e-mail. I apologize. Here is the address:
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home Road
Woodside,
CA 94062
Again, I can't tell you how important the help of a good lobbyist is. Bob Naylor isn't just good, he's outstanding, well respected by both parties. Please help us retain him and his firm again this session. The checks should be made out to:
Nielsen Merksamer and sent to the address above.
Also, some of you have written to ask which Senator to write to. You can all write to the chair of the present Committee, Sheila Kuehl, and thank her for her co-authorship, but it is IMPERATIVE that you write to your own State Senator. Here's how you find out who that is. Go to:
"Know your local representative"Simply type in your zip code and you will see the names of your State Senator and State Assemblymember. If more than one Senator or Assemblymember appears, then you need to call your County Registrar of Voters (the Tel# is in your phone book or call 411) because your district is split. By giving your exact address to your County Registrar of Voters, you can find out who represents you.
[Back to Top]Our bill, SB 89 has 14 Senate co-authors! They are as follows:
Senator Alpert (principal author), Senator Battin, Senator Ducheny, Senator Figueroa, Senator Karnette, Senator Kuehl, Senator Margett, Senator Oller, Senator Perata, Senator Romero, Senator Sher, Senator Speier, Senator Torlakson and Senator Vincent.
To read the text of the bill, visit:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0051-0100/sb_89_bill_20030127_introduced.htmlOur first hearing will be in the Senate Natural Resources Committe on Tuesday, March 11th. Please write now to the chair of that committee, Senator Khuel (who is a co-author therefore a supporter), and Senator Alper to thank her for introducing SB 89. And most important, please write immediately to your own State Senator. If you haven't yet visited your State Senator, now is the time to set up a district meeting. I've been asked to testify and plan to (unless surgery prevents it) so if you plan on attending the hearing I'll see you there.
Other members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee (*Designates Author or Co-Author)
*Senator Sheila Kuehl (Chair)
*Senator Rico Oller (Vice-Chair)
*Senator
Dede Alpert
Senator Debra Bowen
Senator Jeff Denham
Senator Dennis
Hollingsworth
Senator Deborah Ortiz
*Senator Byron Sher
*Senator Tom
Torlakson
To write to a State Senator, please address your letter as follows:
Senator XXXXXX
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
For the content of your letter, you can either use our fact sheet to help you frame your arguments.
or see the example letter below:
Dear Senator XXXXX
I'm writing to urge you to support SB 89. SB 89 addresses the long standing problem of California's unique ban on the domesticated ferret. Ferrets are legal as pets in every other state on the continent and, as a domesticated pet, do not belong in the hands of a wildlife agency. This first step will decriminalize current ferret owners in California for doing something the rest of the country can do with impunity while the state finally begins the process of addressing this issue.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your address
If you don't want to include your address, don't bother writing. Your letter WILL NOT COUNT! It will be a waste of your time (and mine for writing this update).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GREAT NEWS
We have a prinicipal co-author in the Assembly who is very supportive of our bill! Assembly member Paul Koretz will shephard our bill through that body, but for it to pass, he will need your help as does Senator Alpert in the Senate. The ONLY way you can directly help this bill personally is by writing to your State Senator and Assemblymember! It is the single MOST important thing you can go for this bill!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
In the past, Californians for Ferret Legalization has benefited from the invaluable help of Bob Naylor from Nielsen Merksamer, a very well respected lobbying firm in Sacramento. Bob gets this issue directly in front of key Senators and Assembymembers. Because of his reputation, doors are open to the presentation of our facts and we have had key meetings with both Senators and Assemblymembers about our efforts to legalize ferrets in California. We wouldn't enjoy the support that we do today without his help.
But to continue to be able to use Bob's services (which are billed at a reduced rate for us) we need your help! Please send whatever you can so we can continue to use the services of one of the most well respected lobbyists in Sacramento.
If you would like to see our issue have the help of a lobbyist, please make your checks out directly to the lobbying firm by making them out to:
Nielsen Merksamer
or, if you want to make them to Californians for Ferret Legalization at the address below, that's fine too. I will mail them to the firm and also be able to visualize how much help we can rely on based on the level of donations.
Last session we spent $5,000.00 at Neilsen Merksamer. I would hope to raise at least that much but, given the economy, know it might be difficult. Please send what you can. I hope we can count on Bob's help again this year. This may be the first bill to reach the Governor's desk!
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Our new ferret amnesty bill SB 85, has been introduced with multiple co-authors! Now is the time to write to your State Senators (since the bill will begin in the Senate). We expect to pass the Senate but the Assembly may be more difficult!
Those of you in the bay area may enjoy Evening Magazine's coverage on ferrets. The program will feature ferrets in a segment on February 10th at 7:00 PM on channel 5. This program reaches from the San Francisco Bay Area to Fairfield, Tracy and Gilroy (sadly not Santa Cruz I'm told).
Anyway, for those of you in this area, you might enjoy watching.
Finally, our webmaster needs your help! He has paid for the hosting of our website for almost 10 years! He's also done all of the hard work to manage and update the site in spite of a new and growing family.
Please let him know directly if you can help in one of two ways:
1) We need a free home for our website
2) Scott needs help maintaining and updating the site
Click here to email Scott. Since I am an ignoramus on web stuff, please concact him directly if you can help.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
The latest regarding SB 1093 is that the bill has failed to make it off the suspense file. That means it will be held there until next year where it will either be voted on or held again and die as it did in the Senate Appropriations Committee under Senator Johnston.
Assemblymember Migden, Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee said, "this is a bad year for ferrets--the bill is being held in Committee." The suspense file is usually a matter of dollars and priorities, though there is the possibility that Governor Davis asked that the bill not reach his desk. The best thing we can do in the future is ensure that there is no study in any ferret legalization bill.
I'll pass along more information as I find it out. Please do NOT call me for information or updates. I simply cannot accept phone calls and have passed along all of the information I have available to me at this point. Thanks for your consideration on this matter.
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Myself and three other brave bicyclists left Antioch this morning at approximately 6:15 AM on a 61 mile trek to the State Capitol to deliver 43,490 signatures to Governor Davis. Dr. Deb, an ironman triathlete set the pace between 15 and 20 mph despite a headwind. Since she set the pace, she got to lead and I drafted! Michelle, who moved here from New York and had to give up her ferret valiantly rode a mountain bike and Lee Donehower of LOS bravely tackled the ride with virtually no training!
Just minutes before taking off, Deb and I were watching the morning news and saw a news crew delivering, just the day before, 30,000 signatures to Governor Davis regarding energy rates and regulations. Wow, I thought, this is great! That issue is an economic issue that touches everyone in this state and we gathered over 25% more signatures than they did. It shows the depth of our issue and the depth of our commitment.
Armed with that news, we sped off at approximately 6:15 AM from Antioch. We were aided by 5 cars driving as sag wagons (including an ambulance complete with siren, loudspeaker and flashing lights). We also had a huge ferret camera crew led by the Golden State Ferret folks. At about 2 hours into the trip, some of the smarter folks pulled off for breakfast but we stayed the course since we were expected by 10:00 AM or 10:30 AM for media interviews.
We rolled up to the capitol at approximately 10:30 and were met by at least two camera crews and two or three reporters. We and the petitions were filmed, complete with helmet hair, sweaty and grimy from the 4 hour ride. Michelle had delicately placed a stuffed ferret between the handle bars of her bike and it was a great visual for the media.
Senator Johannessen's press aide came down to meet us and then left to see if the Senator could join us. We were really hoping to see him and thank him again for his support so a few minutes later he joined us on the Capitol lawn, did some press interviews and escorted us into the Governor's office.
We told the woman at the reception desk that we had some ferret petitions to deliver to the Governor and she said how much she liked ferrets, that her brother used to have one-- great, I hope they got that on tape! Next, the security officer, looking decidedly like secret service with the ear phones and all, pointed to our Convict T's and said, "Nice shirt, I've heard ferrets are really playful."
A nice young man then appeared to introduce himself as someone from the Governor's office. He was there for the petitions so we stacked two large legal boxes in his arms and watched as the cameraman filmed him disappearing through an office door. I hope the Governor hears our message today.
I want to congratulate the many Californians that worked so hard to gather these petitions. As I told the press, there was no economic incentive or drive behind the hard work it took to gather these signatures, only a strong emotional one.
Way to go everyone!
Now, I'm going to eat a HUGE dinner, shower and go to bed early. Look at your local paper, or TV station for possible coverage tonight. If you can tape it, let me know, I might be in bed!!! I think I'll leave the bike in it's stand tomorrow.
:)
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
Congratulations to those of you who participated in our signature drive!
We will be delivering 43,328 signatures to Governor Gray Davis tomorrow. Now is a good time to remind Governor Davis of the unfairness of the ferret ban in California. This is the only state on the continent to criminalize people for choosing one domesticated pet over another.
To write to Governor Davis, address your letters to:
Governor Gray Davis
Governor's Office
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
This is the letter I sent to Assemblywoman Migden asking for her help. If it helps you write a letter, use the arguments but it's best to use your own words.
Also, we are at just under 39,000 signatures with one week to go! Can we break 40,000???
Today I rode 52 miles and am heading off to take a nap. I know one thing, I"m not driving home from Sacramento after the ride, I will be asleep.
August 24, 2001
Assemblywoman Carole Migden
Assembly Appropriations
Room 2114, State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Assemblywoman Migden,
I am writing to ask your help to fund the ferret study at a rational level to ensure that this bill reaches the Governor's desk and is one he can sign. Let me say parenthetically that it is our belief, as well as the California State Senate's, that a study of the ferret issue is not warranted. The fact is that the ferret is a domesticated animal and does not belong in a list of prohibited wildlife. A study holds this domesticated pet to a standard other domesticated pets have not had to meet. This is one of the reasons why the ferret is legal in the rest of the country and why the law is so routinely broken by so many Californians.
Unfortunately our bill was gutted in the Assembly policy committee to simply appropriate funding for such a study. While we are very disappointed at this turn of events, we know that an honest look at this issue, by a neutral third party, will resolve this long standing problem in our favor. In the context of other domesticated pets, the ferret is an environmental gem. It has no impact on the environment. We are very concerned, however, by the Department of Fish and Game's claim that such a study would cost $250,000.00. We believe it is a clear move to kill this bill.
Last year, when the Fish and Game Commission asked ferret owners to fund an EIR the estimate from the department was $100,000.00. Now it's $250,000.00, or more. What can this money possibly be spent on? The department already surveyed all 50 states regarding feral ferrets (none were found). They do not need to survey them again. Would a look at the numbers of ferrets picked up by humane agencies and animal control facilities in states which have recently legalized ferrets be appropriate? Fine, but how much can this possibly cost? The appropriation for this study should not exceed the original estimate of $100,000.00, and the department should be required to justify any amount over their original estimate of $100,000.00.
But one has to wonder if money is the real issue here, except to kill the bill. The Department's latest letter of opposition to the appropriation of any monies from the general fund reveals that they do not want answers, they do not want a solution, or an honest look at this issue, they want the status quo. The state should pay for this study if they believe it's necessary.
Ferret owners do not have the funds for a study. There is no profit channel for them in their choice of one domesticated pet over another, and their right to choose the ferret as a pet should not be held hostage to the cost of an expensive environmental document.
We also wholly support the ammendments put forth by our author's office. They are intended to keep the study's parameters reasonable, it's context comparable (other domesticated pets) and its scope limited to California and the United States. An environmental document can have no meaning when its scope is worldwide. We also want to ensure that a neutral third party conducts the study and that no live ferrets are used in the study. These compromises are both fair and humane.
Please help us put a rational figure on this study and a fair bill on the governor's desk. Ferret owners in this state deserve a hearing on this issue. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Carley
Californians for Ferret Legalization
410 Mountain Home
Road Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-3750 ferretnews@aol.com
SB 1093 will likely be considered this week and hopefully removed from the suspense file and voted on. But it is important that you all write to the Chair, Assemblywoman Carole Migden and ask her to help us put a reasonably funded bill on the governor's desk. We also want to see the following ammendments in our bill which are both fair and reasonable.
1. No live ferrets can be used in the study. Releasing pet ferrets into the wild is simply inhumane -- ferrets don't survive.
2. The EIR must be conducted by a neutral third party. The DFG has been the ONLY wildlife agency in the country to oppose ferret legalization. We are not confident that they will select an unbiased contractor.
3. At the conclusion of the EIR, the issue must again come before the legislature. The Fish and Game Commission consists of a few appointed officials, and it is unfair to restrict the decision on ferret legalization to unelected individuals.
4. The cost of the study should be reduced significantly. DFG has consistenly overestimated the cost of a study in an effort to stonewall this process. Their own 1997 survey of the impact of ferrets in all 50 states contains relevant data for this EIR. We believe a comprehensive environmental report can be made for a fraction of the $250,000 requested by DFG.
5. DFG should agree to a moratorium on enforcement during the course of the EIR. The current ferret ban is unfair. DFG's restriction requires officials to prosecute Californians for "possession" of a tiny, harmless, housebound pet. This puts a burden on animal control agencies, clogs our courts, wastes valuable resources, and hurts innocent citizens.
6. The scope of the study should be limited to the California or like biosphere's, not the entire world requested by DFG. An ENVIRONMENTAL document has no meaning if it's scope is worldwide.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Californians, remember, you must reside in the district for your letter have any impact on the decision of the members listed below. Please do NOT write if you do not live in the district. It will only hurt our issue if you do. The only exception is the Chair, Assemblymember Migden. Anyone who wishes to write her a polite letter is welcome to do so. She has been a supporter of ours in the past.
When you do write, be sure to include your name and address on all correspondence, including e-mails, otherwise your letter or e-mail will not be counted! You will find e-mail addresses below, but do not e-mail any Senator that does not represent you. That will only hurt our efforts.
If your State Assemblymember is listed below, simply write Assemblymember followed by this or her name and this address: State Capitol, Sacramento, CA, 95814. You will also find their ferret voting history listed and if they supported legalization in the past, please thank them for their support. If they voted against legalization, or are a new member, please urge them to decriminalize ferret ownership for these reasons (and please, please always be polite!!!).
I have removed past ferret voting history because of the changed nature of our bill.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Carole Migden, Chair Assembly Appropriations Committee
(D-13) tel(916)319-2013, fax (916)319-2113
Areas representing: Eastern half of San Francisco.
Elaine Alquist (D-22) tel(916)319-2022, fax(916)319-2122
Area representing: Santa Clara county including the cities of Mountain View,
San Jose, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.
Dion Aroner (D-14) tel(916)319-2014, fax(916)319-2114
Area representing: Alameda & Contra Costa Counties including the cities of
Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond and San Pablo.
Roy Ashburn (R-32) tel(916)319-2032, fax(916) 319-2132
Area representing: Parts of Kern &Tulare counties including Kern River
Valley, Bakersfield, Lake Isabella, Lindsay, Porterville, Strathmore, Tulare
and Visalia.
Patricia Bates (R-73) tel(916)319-2073, fax(916) 319-2173
Area representing: Parts of North San Diego and South Orange counties
including the cities of Oceanside, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.
Gil Cedillo (D-46) tel(916) 319-2046, fax(916)319-2146
Areas representing: Part of Los Angeles county including central and downtown
Los Angeles.
Ellen Corbett (D-18) tel(916)319-2018, fax(916) 319-2118
Area representing: Part of Alameda county including the cities of Castro
Valley, Hayward, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Sunol and Union City.
Lou Correa (D-69) tel(916)319-2069, fax(916) 319-2169
Area representing: Part of Orange county including the cities of Anaheim,
Garden Grove and Santa Ana.
Lynn Daucher (R-72) tel(916)319-2072 fax(916) 319-2172
Area representing: Part of Orange county including the cities of Anaheim
Hills, Brea, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia and Yorba Linda.
Jackie Goldberg (D-45) tel(916)319-2045, fax(916) 319-2145
Area representing: Part of Los Angeles county including the city of Los
Angeles.
Abel Maldonado (R-33) tel(916) 319-2033, fax(916)319-2133
Areas representing: San Luis Obispo County and parts of Santa Barbara County
north of Gaviota Pass. Including the cities of Atascadero, Lompoc, Santa
Maria and San Luis Obispo.
Robert Pacheco (R-60) tel(916) 319-2060, fax(916)319-2160
Areas representi