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PrinceSushi ToxicxxxKitty PrinceSushi ToxicxxxKitty PrinceSushi Ariana! PrinceSushi Rodentsnreptiles Animalfreak123 PrinceSushi Reptilelver101 TutThePlatedLizard Cinderellawkids Ariana! |
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PrinceSushi View Profile |
Illegal Ferrets
Do not attack someone because they share a different opinion. They are entitled to their opinion.Its ok to support either side, just tell us why you do. Please provide evidence/common sense/examples/personal stories of what you say is true. This is a friendly discussion, not an argument or war. I encourage you to ignore all who try to turn it into that. That means you should show a little maturity. If some one is beginning to get a little out of control, please let them know; politely! Whats your opinion on them? As a California resident I hear about ferrets all the time. Its the fact that so many people take risks with importing these illegal animals that gets me angry. Honestly, I have nothing against ferrets. I don’t know if I would own one as I prefer rats, but that still doesn’t mean I hate them. Yes, I do agree that they are a threat to California’s local wild life, but so are domestic cats. I just don’t want to see another issue arise like the one we have with the red fox.No to mention we have many endangered wetland ground birds and reptiles which are prime targets to ferrets. I believe that is currently the biggest argument against ferrets and its definitely the main one that is keeping me from being on the fence about ferrets. Even so, why do people find they absolutely must break California law and import a ferret? I don’t understand it. It honestly makes them look completely selfish. Do they even understand what the animal may go through if found? It will most likely be euthanized. Why are people willing to risk an animals life just so they can be happy? If you love ferrets that much, why not move to a state where they are legal? Again, why risk the animals life for your own pleasure? That honestly doesn’t show you love them, it shows that they are toys. Recently I asked this on a California forum and only got stupid answers such as: "A ferret is just another animal." Yeah, well marijuana is just another plant. Just because it is something, doesn’t make it harmless, nor will the effects be seen right away. The red fox was just another animal and look what it has done to California! Look what the ferret did to New Zealand! (http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/dawnchorus/ferret/index.asp) "All studies are too old." I don’t call 20 years too old, and besides, its common sense to know that ferrets and weasels go after ground birds and reptiles. Not to mention they are also scavengers and are completely capable of carrying diseases such as rabies and mange. "There are bigger things to worry about like the war." ...ooookaaay. Why did that even need to be brought up? So you are saying because there is a bigger crisis elsewhere, we should break smaller laws that "aren’t as significant"? I say its going to be pretty significant when we begin to loose crops in California, our economy drops, and soon our native species are driven to extinction. "The ferrets in California haven’t done anything so far." There are an estimated 50,000 ferrets in California, they have so far made very minor impacts. That for the most part is because they are illegal and people would rather not break the law. If legalize we would rapidly get an influx of ferrets. Just like dogs or cats we will have millions in California, millions in shelters and millions dumped. Millions will make an impact. "Ferrets are like cats. Cats are legal and they kill native birds." So what? We are struggling with one problem.How is adding ferrets to the mix going to help? "They are just being used to cover up other problems." In some cases yes. They aren’t as bad as some sources say, but they do still cause problems which we really don’t need to see just becuase some people were selfish. I do suppose I am a bit bitter towards them since I will be working for fish and game, particularly with the native habitat and animals (wetlands, birds, and reptiles) but I still see facts, and facts tell me this is a bad idea. While I’m not going to stand around and rally against ferrets, I’m not going to vote to legalize them either. Lets see, about 3 years ago I almost drove out of state to purchase a ferret. What stopped me? I met someone who owned a ferret and got caught. Not only did the animal have to be killed it was very hard on her family and children to loose a companion. In the end both lost, becuase one did not think their actions through. Weather you like ferrets or not, I think people need to step back and think about the animal for once. Stop wasting money on illegally importing these animals and hiding them. Tax payers money is spent to hire officers to collect wild ferrets, issue tickets, transport ferrets, purchase drugs to kill ferrets, and so many other things that seem unnecessary. Instead, use the money to fund research on the effects of loose ferrets and pet ferrets. Stop spewing excuse like "the research is too old" or "ferrets are just animals" and give me proof like the opposing side has done. Being defiant to California law is just making you look bad and not credible. If you want to support ferrets, do it correctly and professionally so you can gain some respect. There is so much more I want to say, but this is getting long and I want to hear others opinions. Particularly out of state opinions. |
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| 05/09/08 01:11am |
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ToxicxxxKitty View Profile |
Message To: PrinceSushi In reference to Message Id: 1730001 Illegal Ferrets
Quote: If legalize we would rapidly get an influx of ferrets. Just like dogs or cats we will have millions in California, millions in shelters and millions dumped. Millions will make an impact.
If your so worried about the animals dumped out on the streets and in shelters, I dont believe ferrets are to blame.. when you look in a shelter in any other state, what is there more of? Ferrets and little furry animals.. or dogs and cats? Why should dogs and cats be treated diffrently and get the higher vote? If anything you should ban cats and dogs as they are the number one shelter problems. Quote: Not to mention they are also scavengers and are completely capable of carrying diseases such as rabies and mange.
Shall we take a look at all the other animals walking around with these? Dogs have mange and rabies and again, I dont see them getting blamed today, on the news you dont see a headline as "children attacked by ferret" its more likely to be "children attacked by dogs". Also, you make it seem like there the ONLY scavengers around, I dont think this is right either, It seems like your just pin pointing one specific breed and trying to come up with diffrent things and make them sound like its the only one. Quote: "Ferrets are like cats. Cats are legal and they kill native birds."
So what? We are struggling with one problem.How is adding ferrets to the mix going to help? Again, if you really want to stop struggling with things like that ban cats and dogs as well, might as well ban rabbits and hamsters and everything other living thing that moves. I dont understand why you should just ban the ferret, why this creature? What has it done yet? If nothing then how come it is banned, how do we KNOW that something bad will happen? So what, about the red foxes, saying "well the red foxes did something bad, now we should ban ferrets to prevent things that MIGHT happen" is like saying.. "well, all pitts are bad, because some were raised bad we should just ban the breed and mark them all evil monstrous animals." I feel that banning the ferret was completely idiotic. Then again, this is just my opinon.. I could go on and on about this.. as I feel everyone should have a right to own this wonderful pet. But im late for school, so I must go. |
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| 05/09/08 07:14am |
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PrinceSushi View Profile |
Message To: ToxicxxxKitty In reference to Message Id: 1730066 Illegal Ferrets
Quote: Why would someone spend like 300 bucks just to let there ferret get loose and run around and attempt to kill off other animals..
They may cost $300 from a pet store but in LA, where illegal animals are commonly sold and imported, you can purchase them for as low as $10. Cats are not banned because there are millions in our shelters and the effort would be too large and since most people do own them, there would be public unrest. Quote: If your so worried about the animals dumped out on the streets and in shelters, I dont believe ferrets are to blame.. when you look in a shelter in any other state, what is there more of? Ferrets and little furry animals.. or dogs and cats? Why should dogs and cats be treated diffrently and get the higher vote? If anything you should ban cats and dogs as they are the number one shelter problems.
That not necessarily true. I know someone who runs a non-profit ferret rescue. They get just as many ferrets as shelters get dogs. The majority are actually sent to those place because shelter worker don’t know how to car for them. Yes, dogs are the current number one problem and that should be handle before we bring in more animals into the mix. That is also why most counties in California have a limit on the amount of dogs you own and that is why the state is also trying to pass a law that requires all dogs to be altered upon a certain age unless you own a kennel license in a county that permits it. Quote: Shall we take a look at all the other animals walking around with these? Dogs have mange and rabies and again, I dont see them getting blamed today, on the news you dont see a headline as "children attacked by ferret" its more likely to be "children attacked by dogs". Also, you make it seem like there the ONLY scavengers around, I dont think this is right either, It seems like your just pin pointing one specific breed and trying to come up with diffrent things and make them sound like its the only one.
Ferrets aren’t the only scavengers at all. The coyote, fox, coon, possum and many others are in that same category and all are capable of carrying these diseases. Dogs do carry rabies and mange and so do many other animals, including wild animals. The difference between dogs and ferrets is that ferrets are more likely to catch it and them return to urban areas, where it can then be spread to domestic dogs, cats and humans. People are also attacked by cats, rodents and various other animals. Why does it have to be on the news in order to be significant? Quote: I dont understand why you should just ban the ferret, why this creature? What has it done yet? If nothing then how come it is banned, how do we KNOW that something bad will happen? So what, about the red foxes, saying "well the red foxes did something bad, now we should ban ferrets to prevent things that MIGHT happen" is like saying.. "well, all pitts are bad, because some were raised bad we should just ban the breed and mark them all evil monstrous animals." People ask why it is just the ferret, but thats not true at all. MANY MANY MANY animals are banned in California and Hawaii, including many that people consider pets. Sugar gliders, possums, gerbils, and degus are all illegal and you don’t hear people making a fuss about them? Even many reptiles, birds, and dog breeds are banned. Some counties have gone far enough to ban certain breeds such as the pit bull, rottweiler, and american bulldog. Why? Enough human and animals were injured by them or the breed its self is being abused. We can’t just look at it as targeting a breed because it is "bad". It is also to keep the breed from being abused in a location where they are mass bred for inhumane reasons. The few ferrets that are loose in California have been observed attacking ground birds, including the state bird and endangered California clapper rail. What happens when a person kills an endangered species? They go to jail, which can be compared to being banned. Even if your pet kills an endangered species there is a high probability that you will go to prison. The chances that something may happen heavily out weigh the chance that nothing will happen.California has already made many mistakes with introduced species and no one wants to see it happen again. California has also stood back and watched many other states and even countries make horrible mistakes with introduced species.The ferret is not suffering or being targeted alone. I guess to some people it is a shame that California has banned them when they used to allow others and I guess to some it is a brilliant thing. |
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| 05/09/08 12:03pm |
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ToxicxxxKitty View Profile |
Message To: PrinceSushi In reference to Message Id: 1730259 Illegal Ferrets
Quote: The few ferrets that are loose in California have been observed attacking ground birds, including the state bird and endangered California clapper rail. What happens when a person kills an endangered species? They go to jail, which can be compared to being banned. Even if your pet kills an endangered species there is a high probability that you will go to prison.
Animals attacking animals is just the way of life, its like banning snakes becuase they eat mice. Quote: and since most people do own them, there would be public unrest.
What about all the people who owned ferrets? You dont think that it was sad for them to give up there ferrets when they passed that law? Quote: Ferrets aren’t the only scavengers at all. The coyote, fox, coon, possum and many others are in that same category and all are capable of carrying these diseases. Dogs do carry rabies and mange and so do many other animals, including wild animals. The difference between dogs and ferrets is that ferrets are more likely to catch it and them return to urban areas, where it can then be spread to domestic dogs, cats and humans. People are also attacked by cats, rodents and various other animals. Why does it have to be on the news in order to be significant?
Exactly, look at all those other animals, why not just ban them from your state? Every animal can get mange, you can get mange from the animals walking outside and therre claws digging in the dirt. I dont think that the ferret is to blame for any of this, I have never heard of a ferret having mange or rabies, I have however heard many stories of dogs and cats and wild life having it. |
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| 05/09/08 04:35pm |
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PrinceSushi View Profile |
Message To: ToxicxxxKitty In reference to Message Id: 1730477 Illegal Ferrets
Quote: Animals attacking animals is just the way of life, its like banning snakes becuase they eat mice.
Many snakes are banned in California or special permits must be bought in order to own them. Many others would not survive due to the climate. Mice are not endangered(the majority of them) so why would we stop snakes from eating them? It would kill the majority of snakes. Why would we stop native snakes from eating their natural prey? Quote: What about all the people who owned ferrets? You don’t think that it was sad for them to give up there ferrets when they passed that law?
Yes, but ferrets were never legal or at least the one that were legal would have already died from old age. People bought them knowing what may happen to both them and the animal. It upsets me a lot that someone would do that, but I guess most people don’t stop to think. The majority that gets them, purchase them on an impulse and the rest get them because they are selfish or in denial. In California if you own an animal that was once legal but was then banned(African pouched rat for example) you can keep it until it dies. You can not breed, sell, or give away the animal unless it is going out of state. All you have to do is prove the animal was around before the ban, which is not hard. When moving, some people bring them as pets, without knowing that they are illegal. I do feel sorry for those people because its not their fault and I feel they should be given a short period to re-home the animal out of state. I don’t think they should be fined as long as they cooperate with fish and game. Quote: Exactly, look at all those other animals, why not just ban them from your state? Every animal can get mange, you can get mange from the animals walking outside and therre claws digging in the dirt. I dont think that the ferret is to blame for any of this, I have never heard of a ferret having mange or rabies, I have however heard many stories of dogs and cats and wild life having it.
Why don’t we ban them? Most are native. It would be stupid and destroy the point of banning ferrets and all other animals. What are we going to protect if we catch them all and ship them off? |
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| 05/09/08 07:29pm |
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Ariana! View Profile |
Message To: PrinceSushi In reference to Message Id: 1730631 Illegal Ferrets
Quote: California and Hawaii have banned ferrets and many other states force you to purchase special permits before getting one. Okay, this is sooooooo NOT true!!!!!! Ferrets are illegal to buy and sell in California. But you CAN own them!!!!!!! I live in California and a lot of my friends have ferrets, which they buy from Arizona. Plus, you don’t need a permit to have one!!!!!  |
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| 05/12/08 09:38pm |
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PrinceSushi View Profile |
Message To: Ariana! In reference to Message Id: 1733515 Illegal Ferrets
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/species/nuis_exo/ferret/ferret_issues_table5.html http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/species/nuis_exo/ferret/ferret_issues_table6.html http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/pdffiles/fg1518.pdf Please read up on your own state laws before making false claims. |
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| 05/14/08 04:58am |
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Rodentsnreptiles View Profile |
Message To: PrinceSushi In reference to Message Id: 1730001 Illegal Ferrets
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| 05/19/08 09:19pm |
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Animalfreak123 View Profile |
Message To: PrinceSushi In reference to Message Id: 1730001 Illegal Ferrets
thx for listening (reading)!! |
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| 05/19/08 10:33pm |
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PrinceSushi View Profile |
Message To: Rodentsnreptiles In reference to Message Id: 1740674 Illegal Ferrets
Quote: the thing i don’t understand in this post is the fact that you say that the birds and reptiles are "targets" for ferrets...i don’t know if maybe you haven’t like lived with them ever (i’d assume) but MOST like in my life i’ve only had 2 out of 10+ be "hunters" and even so not actually kill anything, just play a little roughly.
Quote: why would a ferret be outside though? or like near the reptiles/birds...
Yes, a good friend of the family’s that I spent time with every weekend while I was very young owned a few ferrets through the years, but ended up never getting another after one unusual male killed a co-owner’s scarlet macaw, after he busted out of his cage one night. Yes, in captivity they are unlikely to harm other animals, but since there is no way to 100% guarantee that the ferret won’t break out or be dumped by irresponsible owners, you can’t guarantee that they won’t become feral and spread. Just like cats, dogs, and any animal thrown into the wild, their instincts can, and generally do return to them which can result in dire consequences. Quote: and ferrets when they contract rabies, get dumb rabies...so it isn’t the same.
Sort of true. While you are unlikely to get attacked by a rabid ferret, they are highly likely to spread the disease while scavenging. Its possible for them to get attacked by a cat or dogs, which in turn contract it and show the more aggressive signs we are used to seeing. Quote: ferrets aren’t really as close to cats as you’re putting them (well mentally).
I agree. Its because cats are full predators while ferrets and many other similar animals are mostly scavengers or only hunters of easy prey, such as nests and ground birds. In the wild, it can be observed that large and wild cats won’t generally eat something that wasn’t killed by them or near them. There stomachs can’t handle rotting flesh like scavengers. Quote: ..but i totally do agree that if you want the animal and care for it, do it properly, or not at all. Thats the biggest problem. People aren’t being responsible. People do think ferrets are like owning a cat, but they aren’t. They require a lot more energy and they can be just as destructive as a teething puppy. Due to being overwhelmed from having no prior preparations, most dump them in fields because they don’t know what else to do with them. Some even think it was just the way that single animal was, so they buy another after the first was dumped. After all, you can buy exotic animals such as hyenas, kangaroos, degus, and others for cheap if you try hard enough here in California or smuggle them from Mexico.
Quote: i luv ferrets sooo much!!! but ferrets are legal in california as long as they came from a nother state that is legal for ferrets. for example: if i live in kentucky and i have a ferret, then i move to california with my ferret then it is legal. but if i get a ferret from a place that is not legal for ferrets then you can’t own one. i luv ferrets a lot! i luv animals a lot! so keep on wagg’n!!
thx for listening (reading)!! Also not true. California law officials expect you to research the laws of the area before moving there. They expect you to re-home your ferret before moving into the state. Its still considered importing and its still illegal. No permits to own ferrets as pets are issued to regular citizens. The only exceptions on illegal animals are the ones you owned prior to the ban, and even then a permit is generally not issued. All you have to do is show a breeders receipt, vet bill, or some other documentation that the animal was purchased and licensed in California before the ban. |
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| 05/20/08 03:09am |
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Reptilelver101 View Profile |
Message To: PrinceSushi In reference to Message Id: 1740948 Illegal Ferrets
But yeah theyre worried that people will let there ferrets go like some ppl do with iguanas down there soooooooo they don’t want them to ruin crops! |
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| 05/25/08 11:29pm |
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TutThePlatedLizard View Profile |
Message To: Reptilelver101 In reference to Message Id: 1746501 Illegal Ferrets
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| 05/26/08 10:53pm |
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Cinderellawkids View Profile |
Message To: TutThePlatedLizard In reference to Message Id: 1747621 Illegal Ferrets
Why do they think black footed wild ferrets are endangered? Its because the domestic ferretshave lost all instinct to eat rodents and birds. Sure theyll kill them for sport, but they will not eat them. Very few ferrets survive in the wild and the ones that due are usually not healthy enough to breed. I dont understand California law but I know at one time rabies was a bad concern even though there are no reported cases of a rabid ferret attacking a human. In Florida almost all illegal animals you can get a permit for, is it the same in California? My ferret would never survive in the wild he often sleeps with my rat. He did get loose 2 weeks ago and was found 7 houses down getting into their cat food. Maybe a reason its illegal in worrying about neglectful owners that dont get them spayed, here they are all spayed when purchased, and only way to get one not altered is with a breeder permit |
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| 07/01/08 03:55pm |
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Ariana! View Profile |
Message To: Cinderellawkids In reference to Message Id: 1779789 Illegal Ferrets
Quote: It is illegal to just possess a ferret in California. You can own a ferret in California. It’s just illegal to buy and sell them here. I’m going to buy a ferret from Arizona and own it in California, and that’s leagal!!!!!!!! |
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| 07/01/08 04:14pm |
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