Legalizing Ferrets In California

Ferrets have been banned in California since 1932 when the Fish and Game declared the ferret a wild animal.

Legalizeferrets.org has been working hard to get the ban lifted. Just recently the California Fish and Game listened to those that supported lifting the ban and the few who wished to keep the ban in place. While the meeting ended with the ban staying in place.

The new president, Eric Sklar, is willing to keep hearing about getting ferrets legalized but he has suggested that we work towards getting a bill on to the legislative floor.

The lifting of this ban would allow ferret outlaws (owners) to be able to have their pets without fear of losing them. As it stands now once a ferret is known about the owner has 24-48 hours to get to their ferret out of the state otherwise the ferret would be euthanized. At least the ferret owner has a chance to rescue their pet, unlike some BLS laws that just remove and kill without reason.

Between the entertainment industry and the media, ferrets are portrayed as wild and evil creatures. The sensationalizing of events involving a ferret sometimes is more than when the media report on a dog attack but say it is the result of a pit bull when in many cases that wasn't the breed involved.

Here are just a few facts about ferrets.

1. Ferrets have been domesticated for over 3000 years.

2. Ferrets do not do well in temperatures over 68 degrees (20 celsius)

California can get over 100 degrees (37.7 Celsius) in the summer.

3. Ferrets do not do well in temperatures under 30 degrees (1.1 Celsius)

4. The only ferret in the Wild in the USA is the Black-Footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) who is actually a cousin to the ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

5. Ferrets are related to the weasel, otter, and mink. People that say they have seen a wild ferret more than likely have seen a mink.

6. Ferrets are NOT rodents. They were domesticated to hunt rodents and rabbits.

7. Ferrets are the third most owned companion pet in the US after cats and dogs.

8. Ferrets are known as domesticated exotics. This differs from the standard exotic animal which is often taken from the wild. Exotic means unusual or different. See #1

9. Ferrets can get heartworms and it only takes one to kill them.

10. Ferrets live on average 7-10 years.

11. Ferrets can be vaccinated against rabies and distemper.

I am asking that all of my followers write letters to the California State Senate and the State Assembly via email urging them to legalize ferrets. Granted there are nearly 400 representatives with these combined lists but if we can get every one of them on the ferret owners side then just maybe a bill will be created and passed allowing ferrets to live openly in California and also open up to those of us with ferrets to visit California. Both options will add more money to the economy of California.


You can view some of the meeting here

Please Help Us Become Legal in California

Book Review: Hide and Seek by Amy Shojai

                        

 

Hide and Seek is the sequel to Lost and Found. I couldn’t buy this book fast enough when I found out it was for sale. I love how Amy Shojai weaves the story from both September and Shadow’s point of view in a smooth way. Not many writers can do that.

I would have devoured this book in one session if I didn’t have to work. So it took three days but WOW! September and Shadow make a great team and working though their own issues that haunt them makes for a riveting story line.

Hinted at in the first book Lost and Found September’s past has landed squarely in her hometown just a month after September’s live radio broadcast of nearly being killed. Wild animals and pets start acting strangely along with a rise of Alzheimer’s in the town's population or is it something else?

Can September and Shadow learn to trust ever again? What about Macy? Will she ever let Shadow have a good doggy sniff of her? To find out you will have to read Hide and Seek for yourself. I can’t wait for the next book about these characters.

 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo and the crew

Update: Yesterday we started a campaign to get to Blog Paws with a goal of selling 300 ferrets  with adding new ones besides the choice of fabric. So here is Hearts

Pet Blogger's Challenge Repeat offender *chitters*

1. How long have you been blogging? Please tell us why you started blogging, and, for anyone stopping by for the first time, give us a quick description of what your blog is about. I’ve been blogging since 2009 and here is last year’s post.

2. Name one thing about your blog, or one blogging goal that you accomplished during 2013, that made you most proud. I’ve gotten to work with a few companies that I wanted to work with but I didn’t meet most of my goals last year.

3. When you look at the post you wrote for last year’s Pet Blogger Challenge, or just think back over the past year, what about blogging has changed the most for you? That I need to make realistic goals that I can manage now that I am back to working outside the home

4. What lessons have you learned this year – from other blogs, or through your own experience – that could help us all with our own sites? Don’t get stuck in concrete. I mean if you need to take a break do so but at the same time don’t burnout rule you.

If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one challenge you’re having with your blog, what would it be? More followers/comments. I set a really high goal of 400 readers and then fell off the face of the Blogosphere. But not getting one comment can put a damper on things too. Just a simple “Hi” is all that is needed sometimes.

5. What have you found to be the best ways to bring more traffic to your blog, other than by writing great content? Word of mouth mostly

6. How much time to do you spend publicizing your blog, and do you think you should spend more or less in the coming year? Last year I didn’t do a lot of publicizing my blog and it showed so this year I will be publicizing it more.

7. How do you gauge whether or not what you’re writing is appealing to your audience? I try not to gauge my writing as I tend to get overly critical about it and then I don’t post anything.

How do you know when it’s time to let go of a feature or theme that you’ve been writing about for a while? That is the hardest thing to do. I try to keep with what is current and write updates as they are needed.

8. When you’re visiting other blogs, what inspires you to comment on a post rather than just reading and moving on? It depends on the post and the reason I am reading it. Sometimes it is because someone left a comment on my blog so I let them know I followed their link back to their blog. Other times the subject means a lot to me or I have learned something new.

9. Do you do product reviews and/or giveaways? Yes

If so, what do you find works best, and what doesn’t work at all? I stay away from Raffelcopter as it has too many glitches for my liking and all reviews are my opinion no matter what the outcome. But I need to get several more done that should have been done last year.

If not, is this something you’d like to do more of? What hurdle is getting in your way?

10. When writer’s block strikes and you’re feeling dog-tired, how do you recharge? Last year I had writer’s block and blog burnout not a good combination as I couldn’t seem to pull myself out of it that is until November when I do this thing called Nanowrimo. Where you have to write 50,000 words. I used word association and basically jump started several blog posts that will be showing up this year. Another thing I use is a site called write or die a great motivator.

11. Have you ever taken a break from your blog? How did that go? Yes, I did last year and I felt like I was letting my readers down

Have you ever thought about quitting your blog altogether? What makes you stay? Yes last year I really thought about it. The fact is that there really isn’t any other ferret bloggers.

12. What goals do you have for your blog in 2014?

To post at least one real post a week and one wordless Wednesday post. To reach 100 followers and to let my personal life show through many of my posts this year.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Wordless Wednesday: Ferret Blogging

 

(Research)

 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Book Review

I was looking for ferret themed stories and came across a series of books by one of my favorite authors, Richard Bach.

If the name sounds familiar, that is because he wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull. I was delighted to find that he had written about ferrets. In doing my research, I found that eight ferrets own him himself.

Air Ferrets Aloft is the second book in the series and the reason I’ve chosen it for this review is that November is Aviation Month.

Air Ferrets Aloft is about two ferrets that fly two different types of planes and routes. Stormy is a cargo plane pilot who doesn’t let any kind of weather stop her. Captain Strobe flies a passenger jet and accepts what the sky has for him.

Both are dedicated to flying and when a flight grounding storm puts them in each other’s world it is up to the angel ferrets to get them together.

Even though this is supposed to be a children’s book it is a fun read and Richard’s experience with ferrets shows through brightly.

Richard Bach is also a pilot himself and this last August was in a plane crash that he is still recovering from.

Enlightened Ferret sends Well wishes to him and his family.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Living Life Like a Ferret

Ferrets live life in the fast lane and to the fullest extent that they can. You can see the passion in their eyes as they take on a new challenge or adventure.

This week I made the decision to become the Crazy Ferret Lady and oddly things that I have been wanting to happen have started.

First was being the Featured Blogger on Pet PR’s site while I knew I would eventually be there I did not expect it to happen this week.

Then I was chosen for a writing job that has to do with pets. While it isn’t directly related to ferrets it is part of my passion and may lead to some other pet/ferret related work.

I did a prelim interview about the ferret clothing I make and while I am not ready to let more details out know that it will be huge for me and the boys.

So know your passion make the decision to follow your hearts passion to the ends and above all else grab that shiny and run like hell to your hidey hole to make it yours alone.

 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Featured Ferret: Poe

               A Dream

A wilder’d being from my birth

    My spirit spurn’d control

But now, abroad on the wide earth,

    Where wand’ rest thou my soul?

In visions of the dark night

    I have dreamed of joy departed --

But a waking dream of life and light

    Hath left me broken-hearted.

And what is not a dream by day

    To him whose eyes are cast

On things around him a ray

    Turned back upon the past?

The holy dream – that holy dream

    While all the world were chiding,

Hath cheered me as a lovely beam

    A lonely spirit guiding.

What though that light, thro’ misty night,

    So dimly shone afar --

What could there be more purely bright

    In Truth’s day-star? (1)

 

Hi, I am Poe. As in Edgar Allan Poe.  I am resting up at the Ferret Waystation here in Austin Texas before wandering in to the right hooman’s heart and home.

I am a wee lad looking for a happy place to bounce, scurry, and dance at along with maybe nicking an item or two for my own special hidey hole.

Any hooman out there that has an affinity for Poe? Or perhaps is just a writer looking for a muse? I can be that too. Richard Bach, he’s a writer you know, has ferrets that are his muses so I know I can be one too.

Or I can just be me and take away the gloom of the day by making you laugh and getting you to chase me. We can have lots of fun together.

Sides they won’t let me out of the Ferret Waystation unless I am with a hooman something about me being to little to be on my own.

My markings make me a Blaze ferret and there could be a 75% chance that I might be deaf. 

Hope my hooman is reading this right now.

Edgar Allen Poe Ferret

Disclaimer: I get no compensation for featuring ferrets from the Pet Finder site or from the shelters that they are residing at. The bios for each ferret are my own created from the information available and are works of fiction unless otherwise noted. 

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

1. Poe, Edgar Allan “A Dream” The Unabridged Edgar Allan Poe 1983 Running Press

Barkonomics Review

Many of us are examining ways to save money due to the economy and while we are cutting costs in nearly every aspect of our spending, we may not be thinking about how to save when it comes to our dogs.

Barkonomics is a fun and easy book to read. The authors Paris Permenter and John Bigley have complied an insightful and helpful nuggets of over 300 money saving tips for dog owners who wish to be financial secure in caring for Fido.
Many of the tips are common sense but overlooked, as they are hidden costs that many of us don’t even realize is there.
Once such tip is the elimination of dematting fees I didn’t realize that groomers could charge up to 30% for doing something that costs you nothing by brushing your dog out every day.
I also like the easy to do recipes for making dry shampoo and flea preventative with stuff that is usually already in the home and isn’t toxic.
These authors know what they are talking about, as they have been one of the top Web’s dog sites as publishers of DogTipper.com and use the same information to care for their own dogs.
I am glad I had the opportunity to read this wonderfully eye-catching book and I say it is time for you to go fetch this book to add to your own library of must haves.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of Barkonomics to review with no other compensation. The opinion is mine alone and may differ from others who review this book.
Have a Chittering Good Day,
Jo

Setting a Course

     When I started this blog, it was so that I would have a jumping off point. To what I wasn’t sure. I only hoped it would be the best I could make it. Now I keep being stuck for ideas and for words. I cannot write like Richard Bach whose pose and stories flow off the page into becoming something real for the readers.

     His book Curious Lives is free from the evil we see and hear everyday. In the forward, he states that if he had to watch one more bombing he is going Kaboom. A so came a slim little volume one of Curious Lives. I had heard of it but at the time, other things were more important for my dollar. When I finally had the few dollars to buy the book, it was gone. I knew the book’s name but not the author’s. Even when Curious Lives hit the stores and the name Richard Bach was on display. I didn’t make the connection but in a world of synchronicity it wasn’t long before my blog and that book crossed paths.

     I like to do tons of research that is why I don’t seem to be able to keep to any kind of real schedule on my blog. It was through my research about Curious Lives that I finally remembered Richard Bach’s other book that helped me live my childhood as imaginative as I wanted it to be. I was able to fly anywhere I wanted to. Not only did I have Jonathan Livingston Seagull in book form I also had it on record.

     Yes, I am dating myself but in the 1970’s, there were no such things as compact disks players. You had two choices a record player that played 38s, 45, or 78s. Jonathan Livingston Seagull was on the big 78. The edges scraped the sides of the child’s record player that could be moved from room to room as it played leaving a single connected black line inside that case. Okay so I made it connected where there was a blank in the corners of that box. What would you expect out of six year old.

     Was it from that book that I decided I wanted to be a writer? No it was the reason I continued to write stories no one else  but Emily my imaginary friend, at the time,wanted to hear.

     It is said that writers have a muse with a name and a face clearly seen to them.Who listen without interrupting, pushing gently when something hard was happening. Badgering and harassing when something was mediocre that could become great with the right push.

     Only to disappear when the writer pushed back or got it into his/her head they should write a certain way cause that’s what the world wants to read. Its only when the writer realizes that they are not writing for the world but for themselves and allowing the world experience it with them. Does the muse come from the shadows.

     I had forgotten that part of being a writer until I read Curious Lives. I think all writers and anyone who has a dream can fall into the trap of being afraid of allowing it to come true.

     Mr. Bach knows how to bring a reader into the book with his unobtrusive descriptions and ideas. He captured the nature of ferrets well in those permanent words. I am sure his muses were his own small fur children. I can see how each of the stories could have come from some antic of ferret.

     Writer ferret? Easy stealing pens, pencils, and paper, running across the keyboard stopping to look at the computer screen and seeing the letters run across the page. Moving forward to try and touch those words only to hit a button that highlights the whole document in black background and white lettering and then leaning back on to the space bar to watch it all disappear.

     My Bummer Bandit was like that. He had to have the pen I was using at the moment. When ferrets get determined they will hiss but it so cute you can only laugh…okay only a true ferret lover would understand the hiss.

     Bum would curl up on my lap while I typed just watching the words appear. I learned early on to hit the save button often. It only takes one paw to wipe out several pages of work and a black and white screen suddenly gone white needs investigating. Until my computer crashed, I had pictures of Bum with his nose pressed up against the computer screen and digging at it. It was almost as he was going to go find those missing words.

     Bum was my writing ferret. He watched me write. He gave me my ideas for characters. I own a shirt that says My Ferret Ate My Homework. I thought it a cute change from the normal My Dog excuse. But as things go it happened. For whatever reason Bum escaped his cage one night and ate two pages of my biology homework that was due the next day. I went to school the next day with what left of my homework paw prints and all and wore my shirt that I had altered with a mailing label sticker that said HE REALLY DID. Luckily, my professor saw the humor in it, took the last pages of the homework, and gave me until the end of the day to rewrite the first two pages from the computer lab on campus. I miss Bum a lot.

I am still not sure where I want this blog to go but I do know that it is my space to leave my own prints in the ink.

Jo