And the Winner is Former Assemblyman Richard Floyd

I had to assign member number 666 of the 3000 Club this morning. It turned out to be an easy decision.

I've been working on ferret legalization many years. I have a long memory and room for many grudges, but the most outrageous comments from someone who should be intelligent came from Former Assemblyman Richard E Floyd.

Even more incredible, after ten years what is on the top of my stack but an old thermal paper fax that this assemblyman sent to the California Animal Control Directors Association. I had to rekey it in, but this is what our honorary member wrote:

January 13, 1998

Dear CACDA Member:

As a member of the State Legislature, I want to speak directly to you about the issue of ferrets. No doubt you know that possession of this creature is a misdemeanor in California, and that the state authorizes seizure of these animals to be removed or, if deemed necessary to be eradicated.

I oppose legalization of this vicious predator. From my perspective, legalization will only guarantee that uncounted numbers of babies will be carried bleeding in to emergency rooms.

As evidence of the brutal aspect of ferrets, I turn your attention to three recent attacks by this animal against children. The enclosed news article describes an attack from December, where a “pet” ferret so viciously attacked twin infants in Anaheim that they needed hospitalization.

Dr Riley, of the Veterinary Public Health Section of the State Department of Health
Services, has also informed that two attacks occurred within just this past week, one in San Diego and another in Marysville, both of which also resulted in the hospitalization of small children.

In light of these attacks and knowing the predatory nature of this animal, I call upon each of the members of the California Animal Control Directors Association to seize any ferret brought into your facility or which otherwise comes into your possession. Seized animals should be removed from the state or eradicated. Under no
circumstances should ferrets be handed over to a private individual claiming
possession, as this remains a proscribed creature.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in the front line enforcement of state
law.

Sincerely,

Hon. Richard E Floyd
Member, California State Assembly
55th District

Cc: Assemblyman Jan Goldsmith