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Ferrets
After all, they’re called Domestic Ferrets!
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Ferret Lawsuit Paused, We're Heading to the Office of Administrative Law
We need public support!
Ferrets have never had their day in court, and it’s time to change that! We’re taking our case to the California Office of Administrative Law to fight for ferret legalization, but we need public support to make it happen. Please sign our petition and help us ensure ferrets finally get the fair hearing they deserve!
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Our Start
The Birth of Ferrets Anonymous: Advocating for Ferret Lovers Since 1993
Ferrets Anonymous was founded in 1993 to give ferret enthusiasts in San Diego County a collective voice. Our mission is to overcome legislative challenges and foster a supportive community for ferret lovers.
Rallying for Change
Our journey began with a proactive approach, reaching out to local legislators for support. Despite early obstacles, such as Senator Lucy Killea’s initial dismissal, our group remained steadfast. Our efforts culminated in the Ferret Legalization Rally, which attracted media attention and gathered around 40 dedicated individuals.
Forming Ferrets Anonymous
Inspired by the rally’s success, we formalized our organization. A serendipitous encounter with a neighboring Narcotics Anonymous meeting led to our unique and memorable name: Ferrets Anonymous.
Ferrets are Domestic
According to our state civil code, domestic animals are legal. However, the Fish and Game Commission has circumvented this by misclassifying ferrets as wild or stating that their domestic status hasn’t been confirmed in California.
Despite our repeated requests, the Commission has refused to stop labeling ferrets as wild animals. They claim that doing so would relinquish their jurisdiction over ferrets. However, our investigations have revealed this claim to be false. The misclassification persists, unfairly impacting ferret owners and enthusiasts across the state.
In response, Ferrets Anonymous has taken decisive action by filing a lawsuit to challenge this misclassification. With the support of a dedicated attorney, we are fighting to correct this unjust designation and secure the rightful status of ferrets as domestic animals.
This legal battle is crucial for protecting the rights of ferret owners and ensuring that these beloved pets are recognized and treated appropriately under the law.
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3000 Club
In 2005, LegalizeFerrets.org was established with a clear mission: to pursue a ballot initiative aimed at legalizing ferrets. Our strategy involved rallying 3000 individuals to support our cause. They could either contribute $10 and commit to gathering 100 signatures or opt for a $100 membership, thus joining the esteemed 3000 Club.
While we have yet to reach our goal of 3000 members, the initiative persisted as the most promising avenue for advancing ferret legalization.
We are still accepting memberships, you can join here!
CLIFF
In 2015 we filed a ballot initiative, CLIFF; Californians Legalization Initiative for Ferrets. Our goal was to get 90,000 signatures to trigger a legislative hearing. We knew we didn’t have a chance of getting the 360,000 signatures to put the initiative on the ballot. Unfortunately we fell way short, only collecting a little over 10,000 signatures.
We did learn that people are increasingly more familiar with ferrets, that younger people especially not only favor legalization but laugh at the prohibition. We also learne
In 2015, we took a bold step forward by filing the CLIFF initiative (Californians Legalization Initiative for Ferrets). Our ambitious aim was to gather 90,000 signatures, which would trigger a legislative hearing. Realistically, we knew attaining the 360,000 signatures required to place the initiative on the ballot was beyond reach. Regrettably, we fell significantly short, only managing to collect a little over 10,000 signatures.
Despite this setback, valuable insights were gained from our efforts. We discovered a growing familiarity with ferrets among the public, particularly among younger demographics who not only support legalization but also find humor in the prohibition. However, our failure to meet the signature target was perceived by legislators as a signal that ferret legalization is not a pressing issue requiring their attention.
d that legislators saw our failure as a sign that ferret legalization is not something they have to be concerned with.