Ferrets still banned in California, but supporters press on

It's political season, and that means people who believe the state should legalize ferret ownership are active.

Only California and Hawaii keep ferrets on the banned list. In 2004, Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed a ferret amnesty bill even though, as he noted, he once starred with a ferret in "Kindergarten Cop."

Not to be discourged, ferret lovers will hold the third annual "Legalize Ferrets Revival" on Saturday at the King's Inn in San Diego's Mission Valley.

Candidates for the State Senate and Assembly have been invited to address the group. Go here for more information about the revival or Ferrets Anonymous.

-- Tony Perry, in San Diego

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Brien Comerford]

The ferret ban in California is an outrage because they happen to be great pets. Just as good as canines and felines.

[Adrianna Raya]

Ferrets should be banned. I saw a case on televison in which a familys pet ferret went inside their 28 day old newborn and ate her nose and part of her upper lip. I dislike ferrets for that cause and i would not have any ferrets as pets and i say they should ban them on all states.

[Sandaili]

To Adrianna, how many dogs have *killed* infants? In the case of the ferret, and many cats and dogs, you are not supposed to leave them alone with babies. How many dogs have accidently/purposely killed crying infants? Do some research. Out of one or two incidents with negligent parents who are stupid enough to leave a ferret and a baby alone (which, by the way, most ferrets would never chew on a baby. They need to be starved for this to happen, and also, stories like this are often rats and NOT the ferret). There was also the case of the pitbull puppy and ferret who supposedly ate the babies toes. They found the toes inside the pitbull puppy.

Parents should go to jail, not the other way around. Millions of pet ferrets, babies and families get along across the US. California and Hawaii are the only states where they are banned statewide. Your baby story is one of a handful amid thousands of cases of *dead* infants caused by man's best friend.

Also, think of how many *parents* kill their own infants. So perhaps five ferrets have injured infants if you can believe the stories (ferrets always get blamed, not rats or whatever else).

But people like you will always point to the isolated case or two, instead of looking at the much bigger picture.

[Rod]

California being the "oh so open-minded" state that it is, I find it incredible that they would continue to ban such a popular pet on unfounded fears. Just another case of "what were they thinking?" in the land of fruits and nuts.