[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”21588,21587,21586,21585,21584,21583,21582″ img_size=”360×240″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]
Ferret Round Up Rescheduled. We’re aiming for a May 2nd date. Stay tuned!
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We’re Looking for an Attorney!
Are our rights as ferret owners being violated in California? Ferrets are domestic animals, domestic animals are legal in California. Sounds simple but it hasn’t been.
Read all about it here[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1563288372621{background-color: #f7f7f7 !important;border-radius: 2px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Interact with Legislative Candidates” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”21005″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.facebook.com/groups/453030415411841/”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Click Here to Join[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
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This week’s TeeSpring offering
Or visit our entire store[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Ferret Round-Up, RESCHEDULED!” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalizeferrets.org%2Fproduct%2F2020-legalizeferrets-org-calendar%2F|||”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”14640″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]We are trying to reschedule the ferret round up to May 2nd. I’ll send out an email once we confirm that the facility will allow that. There will be no round up on March 21st. Sorry!
The annual Ferret Round-Up is March 21st in South Pasadena. Speakers include former assemblyman Paul Koretz who as an assemblyman introduced the last ferret legalization bill in California.
Full Details Here
It’s going to be a blast![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Conflicting Information from California Fish and Game Commission Makes Ferret Legalization Efforts Beyond Difficult” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”|||”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Back in July we did an official Petition for Regulation Change asking the California Fish and Game Commission to stop referring to domestic ferrets as wild animals in their code section 2118. The reasoning, ferrets are not wild animals and for the legislature to see them referred as such was one more reason for them not to legalize them.
For example, from a previous petition asking the Commission to remove ferrets from the prohibited species list:
| Short Description | Staff Recommendations |
| Requests FGC issue permits for ferrets under certain circumstances. | Deny: FGC has previously indicated that it will not authorize wild animals to be possessed as pets. |
When we submitted the petition, we were surprised to see it as asking the Commission to remove ferrets from the prohibited species list. That was not our intent, we’ve already done that, and the results were the same as above.
It was explained to us that the Commission can not call domestic ferrets domestic because that would cause the Commission to lose jurisdiction over ferrets. Domestic animals, we were told, were regulated at the county level.
So we asked, (here is the email) if that was the case, in these exact words – . If domestic ferrets were classified as domestic – would they be legal? and received this answer
Dear Mr. Wright,
Your question of whether or not the word “domestic” added to ferrets would make them legal in California is “no” unless a regulatory change under the Administrative Procedures Act is approved by all reviewing authorities.
This would require a full regulatory review simply because it changes the meaning of the current regulations. And during regulatory review it would be subject to authorities granted by the State Legislature to make the amendment and allow for review and approval by other agencies that may be affected by the change such as Food and Agriculture, Fish and Wildlife, Health Services, Office of Administrative Law, etc.
Jon
Based on this new answer we are asking the Commission to reconsider our petition for regulation change with our original intent – to remove references of domestic ferrets as “wild” in Fish and Game regulations.
He prompty replied:
Dear Mr. Wright,
Thank you for your email, and I understand what you are requesting. The Commission has the authority to file amendments to Title 14, California Code of Regulations, via the public petition process.
The Fish and Game Commission does not have authority to modify language in the Fish and Game Code. That would require the legislature to make a change via a bill, and the governor to sign it into law.
Sincerely,
Jon[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”2020 LegalizeFerrets.org Calendars” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalizeferrets.org%2Fproduct%2F2020-legalizeferrets-org-calendar%2F|||”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_images_carousel images=”18803,18816,18817,18809,18808,18812,18818,18804,18813,18811,18810,18815,18814,18807,18806″ img_size=”medium” autoplay=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]$12 each. Discounts for multiples! Hurry, only about a million left![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Buy Now” color=”success” size=”lg” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalizeferrets.org%2Fproduct%2F2020-legalizeferrets-org-calendar%2F|||” css=”.vc_custom_1573662083922{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”The Big Question for 2020 – Are Domestic Ferrets Domestic or Wild?” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalizeferrets.org%2Fproduct%2F2020-legalizeferrets-org-calendar%2F|||”][vc_column_text]Note – My feeling is we will continue to be unsucessful in attracting a legislator to introduce a ferret legalization bill until we get recognition from the state of California that domestic ferrets are domestic animals. We asked the Legislative Analyst’s Office this question and got an “I don’t know.” I also sent it to the Natural Resources Agency and haven’t heard anything. We won’t give up. Here is the text of the letter:
The ferret owners of California would like to ask your help to more clearly understand our issue in California. A few things have happened that seem to contradict each other.
First – Does the California Fish and Game Commission have the right to restrict ownership of a domestic animal?
We thought not. We were told the reason they can’t classify domestic ferret as a domestic animal is then they would lose jurisdiction over pet ferrets. Jurisdiction would then fall to the Department of Agriculture. Adding to the problem, there is limited statewide regulation of domestic animals as it is done on the county level.
We were asked, who would then regulate ferrets? What about any prohibitions and environmental consequences? Fish and Game concluded with California just can’t have unregulated ferrets.
But, when asked about this – The California Research Library gave us this link:
Why can’t I have a hedgehog, sugar glider, ferret, or other restricted, non-native species as a pet in California?
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Living-with-Wildlife/Restricted-Pet-Species
Which states:
To protect public health and safety, agriculture, wildlife, and natural resources, California’s restrictions apply to many kinds of wild and domestic animals that are legal pets elsewhere, including hedgehogs, gerbils, degus, prairie dogs, sugar gliders, fur-ranch foxes, monkeys, and Quaker parakeets. The departments of Food and Agriculture, Health Services and Fish and Wildlife are mandated to protect these interests. Section 671, Title 14, of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) was established to restrict the possession of thousands of different species of animals for one or more of the following reasons: (1) because their numbers are threatened or endangered in the wild, (2) because they pose a threat to our native fish and wildlife, agriculture or public health and safety. The Legislature, in Section 2118 of the Fish and Game Code, included all species of the Order Insectivora on its list of prohibited species.
Why are ferrets listed as wild in the first place? The common refrain –
- 2116. Wild Animal As used in this chapter, “wild animal” means any animal of the class Aves (birds), class Mammalia (mammals), class Amphibia (frogs, toads, salamanders), class Osteichtyes (bony fishes), class Monorhina (lampreys), class Reptilia (reptiles), class Crustacea (crayfish), or class Gastropoda (slugs, snails) which is not normally domesticated in this state as determined by the commission.
Since there was never any hearing or evidence presented, how did domestic ferrets get determined by the F&G Commission to not be normally domesticated in this state?
Since it is factual that domestic ferrets are indeed domestic animals – what about the state constitution:
CIVIL CODE – CIV
DIVISION 2. PROPERTY [654 – 1422] ( Heading of Division 2 amended by Stats. 1988, Ch. 160, Sec. 13. )
PART 1. PROPERTY IN GENERAL [654 – 749] ( Part 1 enacted 1872. )
TITLE 1. NATURE OF PROPERTY [654 – 663] ( Title 1 enacted 1872. )
655.
There may be ownership of all inanimate things which are capable of appropriation or of manual delivery; of all domestic animals; of all obligations; of such products of labor or skill as the composition of an author, the good will of a business, trade marks and signs, and of rights created or granted by statute.
(Enacted 1872.)
California’s policy on domestic ferrets is inconsistent and confusing.
Are they wild or domestic?
Does the state have the right to prohibit the ownership of domestic animals?
We would greatly appreciate a statement from the Legislative Analyst’s office and appreciate your attention to this matter which has frustrated us oh these so many years![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Oct 9th F&G Meeting” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/GmmrFLpKOsw”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Above is the video of my presentation to the California Fish and Game Commission on Wednesday, October 9th – 2019. It was a petition for regulation change requesting the Commission no longer refer to domestic ferrets as wild animals.
I didn’t know – and yes I should have known that F&G does not have jurisidiction over domestic animals. I thought they could regulate exotic animals.
So they weren’t really able to change the classification without considering other factors. But they could have offered help in other ways, something it appears they do not wish to do.
But the presentation is interesting and the results are insightful. The lesson learned, F&G is not interested in helping California’s ferret owners. We have to find another option to move them out of the “wild” classification, because they simply aren’t wild animals.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/4Gav3GMhmEE”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”2020 LegalizeFerrets.org Calendars and National Ferret Day t-shirts are here!” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”16100″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”16229″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”16238″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]2020 LegalizeFerrets.org Calendars[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]2020 National Ferret Day T-shirt printed on white[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]2020 National Ferret Day T-shirt printed on blue dusk[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]
View all three items here
[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Fish and Game Commission and Sierra Club Point to the Other as Reason for Ferret Ban” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]From the April 26th, 2017 Fish and Game Commission Meeting:
| Short Description | Staff Recommendations |
| Requests FGC issue permits for ferrets under certain circumstances. | Deny: FGC has previously indicated that it will not authorize wild animals to be possessed as pets. |
Our efforts in front of the California Fish and Game Commission were pretty much suspended after Commission President Eric Sklar told me on May 3rd,2017 that their hands are tied on ferrets because it would require a full-blown EIR. He said that we would have to pay $200,000 but when all finished it would be $600,000. And afterwards the Commission would be sued by environmental groups opposing it.
His advice was to get a Legislator, because legislation isn’t subject to CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act)
But attracting a legislator to introduce a ferret legalization bill has not been successful, mainly based on opposition from environmental groups – notably the Sierra Club. And like the Sierra Club, we have heard elected officials tell us that they too, are following the example of the Fish and Game Commission
“Sierra Club has long opposed holding wild animals as pets, but particularly when those animals could present a problem if they accidentally or intentionally are introduced into the state’s natural areas. There are many, many examples of exotic critters that have become problems in California after being introduced into the wild. One that I am very familiar with is the bull frog, which has helped push out other amphibian species in certain habitats since its introduction in the 19th century.”
Kathryn Phillips kathryn.phillips@sierraclub.org
That statement from Ms. Phillips led us to a Change.org petition asking the Sierra Club to change its position. They received the petition and related reports on June 17th, 2019 – and as of June 24th there has been no response. But one of our members did get a response:
I have checked with the chairman of the Sierra Club California conservation committee and he reports that our position is to follow the lead of the California Fish and Wildlife Department, which is concerned that if pet ferrets were to escape, they would threaten native wildlife. The Sierra Club position is to support the state wildlife professionals. If the agency changes its position and finds that ferrets pose no threat the Sierra Club will consider changing its position at that time. I’m very sorry that you feel you must resign your membership over this issue when there is so much else, we agree upon.
Bruce Hamilton bruce.hamilton@sierraclub.org
But What’s the REAL Reason?
Every organization has their extremists. And within the Environmental and Humane communities are those who are opposed to pet ownership, referring to it as animal slavery. Perhaps these people have a disproportionate amount of influence in these organizations. And ironically, our representatives who mostly describe themselves as “pet friendly” are instead following the lead of people who oppose pet ownership.
Unattributed Quote from a Sierra Club activist:
“Every animal that’s brought into the state puts additional pressure on our native wildlife. If we could outlaw dogs and cats we would.”
From the 1990 California Domestic Ferret Association Public Information Manual
When asked to justify the HSUS’s otherwise objectively indefensible position against companion ferrets, Paula Jewell of that organization replied, on January 9, 1990, simply that “We don’t need another pet.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]The Sierra Club of California is on record opposing ferret legalization in California. They view our pets as wild animals with the possibility of becoming invasive. Please sign our petition asking them to reevaluate their position.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]