By Kel Munger and Nick Miller
August 5, 2010
Newsreview.com
They’re not your typical criminals. But they’ll unite next month to try to convince the state to decriminalize a very important part of their lives.
They’re ferret owners, and they’re breaking the law.
Estimates suggest the number of ferrets in the state range anywhere from 100,000 to half a million, yet ferrets are illegal in California. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council reports that Californians buy 27 percent of ferret supplies sold nationwide. That’s a lot of supplies for pets that aren’t supposed to be here.
The ferret-legalization movement has a history. A bill in 2005 was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for being “too bureaucratic” and failing to have an environmental impact report (see “Ferret factor” by Jeffrey M. Barker; SN&R News; March 24, 2005). But ferret owners swore they’d be back. And this time, they’ll be armed to the rarely used but pointy teeth with facts and figures.
The San Diego-based group Ferrets Anonymous has contracted with a Sacramento State biological sciences professor to study the supposed dangers of ferrets. His first quarter report indicates that no area in the United States has had problems with feral ferrets, which has been the California Department of Fish and Game’s major reason for opposing legalization.
“We’re very excited to finally be getting data on this,” said Pat Wright, founder of Ferrets Anonymous. “There really is no reason to prohibit ferrets, and now we’ll have the study that the governor wanted.”
The 2010 Legalize Ferrets Revival will be held on September 25 in Concord. For information, visit www.legalizeferrets.org.
In the meantime, ferret owners are advised to keep the shades drawn. (Kel Munger) |
Ferret News 
