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California Ferret Owners Submit Ballot Initiative to Attorney General for Legal Opinion, But Attorney General Ignores Civil Code on Domestic Animals

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Non-profit Legalize Ferrets (legalizeferrets.org) announced today that we are disappointed that California Attorney General ignores Civil Code in Domestic Ferret Ballot Initiative.

LegalizeFerrets.org, a ferret legalization grassroots organization, has repeatedly asked the California Attorney General for a legal opinion.

Since the civil code says domestic animals are legal:

CIVIL CODE - CIV

DIVISION 2. PROPERTY [654 - 1422]

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.

Every credible source, and even the name states - domestic ferrets are domestic animals Therefore we wanted to know if the state of California officially recognized the domestic ferret as domestic would that mean they're legal? But we never received a reply from the AG.

According to the California Attorney General's website:

* As the chief law officer of the state, the California Attorney General provides legal opinions upon request to designated state and local public officials and government agencies on issues arising in the course of their duties. The formal legal opinions of the Attorney General have been accorded "great respect" and "great weight" by the courts.

Supporters of LegalizeFerrets.org have asked their representatives to make this request without success. So, we filed a ballot initiative in hopes that the title and summary would answer this question.

It was a treacherous journey. The AG's office ignored all our questions. We dealt with the Legislative Analyst's office and the Secretary of State's office - all successful; those people were friendly and helpful. But we could not get an answer on how to submit the ballot initiative from the AG until a Democratic Party activist with the state of Alaska gave us a contact phone number at the Secretary of State's office. Anabel Renteria finally emailed us with the suggestion:

You can submit your initiative anytime, in person, at the following address:

Department of Justice
1300 I St.
Sacramento, CA 95814

Five weeks later the title and summary were posted on their website:

California law identifies ferrets as wild animals that are restricted because "such animals are undesirable and a menace to native wildlife, the agricultural interests of the state, or to the public health or safety." Current law and regulations make it illegal to own ferrets as pets without a state permit.

No mention of the conflict between California's civil code which allows ownership of all domestic animals and other, namely Fish and Game Code which says:

* FISH AND GAME CODE 2116: Put ferrets in a group of wild animals. Says they are "not normally domesticated in this state as determined by the commission."

* FISH AND GAME CODE 2118: It is unlawful to import, transport, possess, or release alive into this state, except under a revocable, nontransferable permit as provided in this chapter and the regulations pertaining thereto, any wild animal of the following species: (ferrets are included in this list).

* (CCR), title 14, section 671: (a) It shall be unlawful to import, transport, or possess live animals restricted in subsection (c) below except under permit issued by the department. (You know ferrets are included in this list)

* (CCR), title 14, section 671: (b) The commission has determined the below listed animals are not normally domesticated in this state.

Why are these codes relevant but the civil code allowing ownership of all domestic animals isn't even mentioned?

Why won't the AG's office even communicate with us? We have a very valid and sincere question.

Facts are stubborn things. No one states that the domestic ferret is a wild animal. No one believes they are "wild," "undesirable," or a "menace." They are legal in 48 states without any negative consequences.

Learn more at: https://www.legalizeferrets.org/

Related link: https://www.legalizeferrets.org/

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Elections and Politics, Free News Articles, Government, NonProfit and Charities

City of La Mesa offers Official Proclamation in Support of Ferret Legalization for California

LA MESA, Calif. -- Mayor Mark Arapostathis and all members of the La Mesa City Council issued a proclamation on November 9 urging the California State Legislature to pass ferret legalization legislation, non-profit Legalize Ferrets announced today.

You can read the official proclamation at http://www.legalizeferrets.org/

The original request was for La Mesa to declare itself a ferret sanctuary city. The idea drew support, but many people objected to the term "sanctuary." The request was made to declare La Mesa a "ferret friendly city."

Ferret owners were aided at first by city councilwoman Kristine Alessio who has had experience with Savannah cat legalization issues and knew what ferret owners are facing in a hostile Fish and Game Commission and apathetic California legislature.

"We were also aided by city councilman Bill Baber who sympathized with us for facing another useless and outdated law backed up by an out of touch state agency," said Pat Wright of Legalize Ferrets.

Mayor Mark Arapostathis was an outstanding ally of the ferrets and recommended a proclamation.

Wright added, "We are also grateful to City Councilmen Guy McWhiter and Colin Parent who agreed with the absurdity and cruelty of California's anti-ferret law and signed on to the proclamation."

California ferret lovers continue to be rejected or ignored by California legislators but are achieving support from cities around California. Culver City has already put the ferret issue on their city council agenda and ferret lovers are next set to ask the Encinitas city council.

Now that we have this proclamation we are set to ask cities around California to adopt the ferret friendly resolution.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Pat Wright
LegalizeFerrets.org
CLIFFNotes@legalizeferrets.org
619-757-7426

Related link:

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Free News Articles, General Editorial, Government, NonProfit and Charities

Ferret Owners Hopeful as California Fish and Game Commission Consider Issuing Permits for Ferrets

LA MESA, Calif. -- Legalize Ferrets, a California organization that continues to advocate for ferret legalization in the state, has a watchful eye on The California Fish and Game Commission this month. Why? The commission is set to consider issuing permits for ferrets during its April 26, 2017 meeting in Van Nuys, Calif.

Currently, ferrets are legal in 48 states - California and Hawaii are the exceptions. But ferret lovers are hopeful that California is ready to join the ranks.

"Previously, the commission rejected a proposal to remove ferrets from the prohibited species list," Pat Wright of LegalizeFerrets.org says. "It said doing so would remove ferrets from its jurisdiction and that ferrets could pose a threat to wildlife."

However, prior to 1985, the commission had issued permits for neutered male ferrets. So, ferret advocates countered the recent proposal rejection asking it to revisit its previous position. The commission agreed to study and hear the proposal.

California ferret lovers have submitted an open letter to the commission which highlights the commission's two objections and provides ferret advocate responses.

The commission's first objection that eliminating the ban would eliminate the commission's control is countered through a response suggesting that permitting would enable the commission to maintain their jurisdiction. Secondly, concerns over threats to wildlife are countered through letters submitted from all 50 states, and a few Canadian provinces, that report no instances of ferrets attacking or harming wildlife.

In fact, Wright shared that a ferret was recently confiscated in Arroyo Grande. It had gotten out and a neighbor turned it into local animal control.

"After a big deal and lots of tears the ferret was returned to the owner and she was given 30 days to get rid of it. This is just another example of the futility of the ferret ban," Wright says. "There's not a single documented case of feral ferrets in the United States. It's time that California ferret owners have protection from confiscations and possible euthanasia of their pets."

To read the open letter to the California Fish and Game Commission and to learn more about LegalizeFerrets.org, visit: http://www.legalizeferrets.org/.

* PHOTOS FOR MEDIA:
(1) Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0404s2p-ferrets-300dpi.jpg
(2) Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0404s2p-ferretday-300dpi.jpg

* Photo Caption: LegalizeFerrets.org is advocating to make ferrets legal in California.

Media Contact:
Pat Wright
of LegalizeFerrets.org
+1-619-757-7426
CLIFFNotes@legalizeferrets.org

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.