Ferret Poop Is Not Getting The Best of Me

It hasn't been the best day. I'm still worried about Fausto. The runny brown poop is back but in less quantity.

And I had a hard time cleaning it up. Industrial strength tub and tile cleaner didn't bring it up. But I remembered another product in the cleaning cabinet.

Only two applications and all sign of the poop is gone. Then I just had to worry about not killing the ferret with toxic fumes.

So come Monday -Avain and Exotic Hospital, expect a call from me. I sure hope you aren't observing President's Day Weekend.

I spent Fausto's vet money on new tires. And it turns out Discount Tire was correct, you have to replace all Subaru AWD tires at once. That's four tires not two. And they need to have their stem piece replaced as well. Luckily, property tax isn't due for another week, so we might spend property tax money on Fausto.

And while I'm complaining. I was going to throw Bailey's bed out just now. I gather up the trash, and what do I find?

Thanks to our dog Bear for continually chewing this thing up, how am I going to evict Bailey now?

I had other problems today. It took six weeks to get an appointment to the dermatologist. When I arrived I picked up a message on my voice mail, a project I did had an error and it needed to be fixed asap. I waited 45 minutes at the doctor's and was never seen - had to leave. Sure enough it was my error. I couldn't charge the client for all that work, he'll probably never use me again.

Some days are unlucky. And today is Friday the 13th. I'm not normally superstitious, but my first four ferrets all died on a Friday the 13th, and the 5th was cremated on a Friday the 13th. Perhaps I should have stayed in bed, but who'd worry about Fausto?

Breaking Down and Going to the Vet

My unemployment ran out last week. We aren't making a mortgage payment this month. These are the bad old days.


And Fausto doesn't seem himself.


I thought it was the change of seasons. Fausto balloons up in the winter into a brick. He has kept his size, but his weight is down.


Someone has had runny poop for six weeks - I haven't been able to figure out who, but now I'm wondering if it isn't Fausto. Previously everyone seemed healthy, now I have one who just appears not quite right.

So with considerable anxiety - we're off to the vet this afternoon. Last time someone didn't seem right - Sunny had an unexplained anemia. It was an emotional roller coaster, about $2500 and we lost.

Fausto is special. (as they all are, but really, he's special). I love the way he came to me via the Lemon Grove Rehabilitation Center - just walked in their front door one Saturday. Big enough to trigger the automatic doors.

Perhaps I shouldn't share that. I've heard DFG say that ferrets go out and prowl for old people thinking they smell just like rabbits.

Wish us luck.

UPDATE

The vet's guess is some sort of bacterial infection. Fausto is on Amoxicillin and Flagyl. I forgot what fun it is to give ferrets Flagyl. Blood results should be in tomorrow. The words "insulinoma" and "anemia" did not come up - so I'm happy.

All I Want This Holiday Season is a Little More Freedom

I have the best ferrets - always have. Putting them back in their cage this morning I thought "wouldn't it be wonderful to take them outside? - that's what I'd really like to do this Christmas."

I'm one of those people who has problems with Christmas - brings out the worst in me. And my birthday is two days later. This year I'll turn 50. It will also mark one year since I've had a job. There's not Christmas at our house this year - I want it that way.

I'm usually pretty conservative when it comes to money, but for years I promised myself I'd go all out when I turned 50. I've never had a wedding, graduation or bar mitzvah. My parents told me I was born on March 17th (St Patrick's Day - what a coincidence) - it wasn't until I was 10 that my great aunt Eda let it slip I was born on Dec 27th.

A few years ago I decided I wanted to spend my glorious 50th in the Chile/Argentina wine country and then visit Easter Island. Ain't gonna happen this year - and I'm ok with that. A lot of people are losing their homes, misery is all around us - I'll just have to wait a little longer to celebrate the big 5 - 0.

But the truely clever mind always have a plan B. I want to do something truly outrageous on the big day - TAKE THE FERRET OUT IN PUBLIC.

Problem is, who pays for such foolishness/audacity/whatever? The ferret. I can't let that happen and that has been one of the biggest obstacles to getting ferrets legalized. I did it before, it was a complete disaster featuring ferret euthanasia and jail time.

As Janice Joplin sang "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to loose." And I can't afford to lose a ferret.

So perhaps I'm not so clever. My current plan is to find out if Denny's still offers a free lunch on your birthday and break out a special box of macaroni and cheese that evening.

Eight is my unluckly number. 2009 has to be better.

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

Who Will Be Member 666?

I'm not a religious person but I don't like to tempt fate.

My first job out of college was the graveyard computer operator at the Elgar Corporation, right behind the El Camino Cemetary. I was the only night worker...

Waiting for the computer to finish jobs, I had time to read books, and one book I read was The Demonologist.

And according to the demon-hunters, Mr and Mrs Warren, evil spirits are indeed attracted to the number 666.

I wouldn't want to assign that membership number to anyone good enough to support ferret legalization.

What should we do with member number 666? I'm tempted to donate a membership to DFG spokesman Ron J, but we're turning over a new leaf and trying to avoid negativity.

Hmmm.

IContact Reject CLIFFNotes over "Ebay" and "Craigslist"

Trying to send out last night's version of CLIFFNotes on IContact I received this error:

Your message has been rejected for the following reason:

This message does not meet our criteria for content. Unless and until this message meets criteria for prohibited content (http://www.icontact.com/terms/prohibited.php), you will be unable to send it via iContact.

Thank you for your cooperation and we apologize for any inconvenience.
Regards, iContact Customer Support
2635 Meridian Parkway Suite 100
Durham, NC 27713
(877) 968-3996
support@icontact.com

The prohibited words were "EBay" and "Craigslist" neither of which is listed in the terms. I also embedded a YouTube video, which is not listed as a violation on their terms.

I asked for a 25% credit for the month which they declined, offering 10%. But since this was 25% of our monthly usage, 25% seemed fair.

We are no longer using IContact - I think they suck.

To read the CLIFFNotes in question, http://www.ferretsanon.com/CLIFFNotes/Vol3No47.html If you can recommend another company, I would appreciate it.

Pat Wright
http://www.legalizeferrets.org/
www.ferretsanon.com

Responses to my No on Proposition 8 Appeal

This week I sent to the CLIFFNotes subscribers an appeal to vote No on California Proposition 8 - The email went out to 3,777 people. If you didn't see it, here is a copy of the letter at http://www.ferretsanon.com/CLIFFNotes/NoonProp8Letter.pdf

About 100 responses came back, 90 positive, 10 somewhat negative and only one out right hostile. I received a lot of congratulations for being married - something I didn't expect. Thank you every who sent in their good wishes, it made me feel great.

I was a little apprehensive sending out a political appeal to a ferret list. I don't wish anyone to feel I'm pushing my political views on them. But our California ferret list is about upholding and protecting rights - most people were supportive.

I don't want anyone to feel unwelcome to the ferret legalization efforts if they support Proposition 8. CLIFFNotes is about ferret legalization, nothing more. The view was presented as my own and sent out on my private email. Legalized same-sex marriage came as a shock to me - I kind of felt like the bird sitting in the bird cage and the door is left open - what do you do?

That being said, I appreciate all the messages of people sharing their feelings with me. There are a lot of gay people on our mailing list. And we all know how it feels to see our neighbors put up "Yes on 8" signs. Its hurtful - an obvious sign of rejection and hostility.

A few people asked what happened regarding Rocky. Rocky was a ferret I bought in Colorado Springs back in 1996. Rocky had personality. Since I'm already going to hell, I'll tell you that Rocky's full name was "Rocky God-damn-it!" because Rocky was always getting in trouble. And my spouse could often be heard "Rocky God Damn It, Get off the ... "

He had a successful adrenal surgery late 1997. On January 1st 1998 we were having a ferret walk in Balboa Park. Tom Tokar, a camera man for Channel 39 came to my house to get some photos of us getting ready. Rocky bit him on the thumb. As expected a quarantine order came down and Animal Control showed up at my door. They did not have a warrant so I wouldn't give them Rocky. We made arrangements to have Rocky quarantined at the vet and then sent out of state. (where I'd retrieve him) A few days later I asked Animal Control if they were familiar with the National Public Health Veterinarians study on rabies in ferrets which recommended a ten day quarantine. They called the Department of Health Services in Sacramento. DHS, knowing they had my ferret, replied with a fax "euthanize the ferret in custody immediately." Later they asked for Rocky's vaccination records. I spent about $13000 in court costs but we were denied "with prejudice" and not allowed in court.

And a few people asked about my experience at the Department of Real Estate. I passed the California Real Estate License exam in 2002 and applied for a real estate license. They sent me a letter saying my license application was being challenged on the grounds of moral turpitude. I had to go through 18 months of bureaucratic red tape. On one of the applications I had to check a box; married, single or divorced. I didn't and don't consider myself any of those things. I wrote in "Domestic Partner." My license application was denied for "failed family relationships" amongst other things.

So there's my story. I hate this election and the bad feelings being generated. I like to get along with people but when I hear my marriage has to be annulled because Jesus doesn't like it - I get a little upset.