Expert Testimony Criteria

• Must come from a qualified professional (veterinarian, scientist, behaviorist, etc.)
• Should address ferrets’ domestication, behavior, and impact as companion animals
• Can include personal experience, scientific evidence, or behavioral data

Expert Testimony by Steve Dale, CABC

Certified Animal Behavior Consultant & WGN Radio Host – Steve Dale’s Pet World

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Steve Dale, Certified Animal Behavior Consultant (CABC), syndicated pet journalist, and long-time advocate for companion animal welfare. I’m writing in strong support of Petition 2025-003, which seeks to legalize domestic ferrets in the state of California.

As someone who has spent decades studying and reporting on the behavior of companion animals, I can confidently state that domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) are well-socialized, affectionate, and manageable pets that pose no greater behavioral risk than commonly kept animals like cats or dogs.

For over 25 years, I have worked to educate pet owners and the public through national outlets including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, Animal Planet, and my own long-running program Steve Dale’s Pet World on WGN Radio. My experience as a behavior consultant is not only rooted in academic training, but also in first-hand interaction with thousands of pet owners and their animals. I am a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and have served as a speaker at veterinary conferences and animal welfare symposia nationwide.

Here is what I know:

• Ferrets are not wild animals. They have been domesticated for hundreds of years and are behaviorally distinct from their wild cousins.
• Properly socialized ferrets are no more aggressive than dogs or cats. In fact, they often display playful, human-bonded behavior and respond well to training and enrichment.
• The myths about ferret aggression or unpredictability are not supported by behavioral data or expert consensus.

I respectfully urge the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Fish and Game Commission to issue a favorable recommendation for Petition 2025-003. California’s ongoing ban is not based on scientific understanding or observed behavior, and it unjustly punishes responsible pet owners who seek to share their lives with these engaging, domesticated animals.

Please feel free to contact me directly should further clarification or public testimony be helpful.

Sincerely,

Steve Dale, CABC
Certified Animal Behavior Consultant
WGN Radio Host – Steve Dale’s Pet World
stevedale.tv