If ferrets are illegal in california then why do they sell ferret products?

[123chewyp]

In petco and petsmart they have ferret products and food for some reason they also have a big poster with a ferret on it explaining how good they are when it comes to being pets. Isnt that kind of ironic? My friend also use to have ferrets as pets before he moved. He said that they were very nice but when his mom asked somebody why they were illegal he said they were vicious wild animals. He also said that they might create some sort of feral population that would threaten wild birds and they can carry rabies. Correct me if Im wrong but havent ferrets been domesticated for thousands of years,they most likely wont survive in the wild,feral cats pose a threat to bird killing to and cant a lot of pets carry rabies? Also there are vets that treat ferrets? So if they are illegal why do they still sell ferret products and have vets that treat them? Also is there any other reason they are illegal?

[italianqt]

I can't answer the other questions you asked, but I was under the impression that they sell ferret products in CA because the stores are nation-wide and carry the same products in each store.

There are still people that have them as pets, regardless of whether or not they're legal here, so that's one of the reasons why vets treat them.

[Rattiemama]

Most stores sell ferret products and get away with it by saying they can be used by animals other than ferrets. It is also not illegal to sell ferret items or treat ferrets in CA, only to own them. The vets treat them out of compassion, and are safe from prosecution since it is only illegal to own them.

Ferrets are illegal here, to the bet of my knowledge, because there is no native weasel species to this area. The black footed ferret is found in some areas of California, but they are endangered. The fear is that wild ferrets released into the ecosystem could breed and survive and form colonies. Yes they have been domesticated for centuries, but they could still survive in the milder climates. Part of the fear is that if they are released in Black Foot territory, they could take over and threaten the already dwindling population.

Even after all that I think the ban is ridiculous and I really hope it ends soon because I adore ferrets.

[JohariZ]

THe ban on ferrets IS ridiculous. Cats, even you tame house cat, does way more damage to the ecosystem that any 'feral' ferret population could ever do. ALL of the lame reasons for the ban on ferrets are totally and completely ridiculous.

Back to the original question, It is not just because a lot of the chain stores also carry ferret products, it is also because there is a very large population of ferrets living in CA. Those fuzzbutts need care too.. lol. Though I find that a lot of the ferret products aren't worth the packaging they come in...

(domesticated ferrets that get loose from their homes really have a slim chance of survival, and the majority of them are sterilized before they leave the breeder, I really hate this darn law. And a big reason why it is not being reversed is because of voter ignorance)

[Punkygirl0101]

I used to work at PetSmart and they consider the Ferret Products, and Hedgehog products to be the "Invisible Pet" stuff. They still sell it because people own those animals still.

The thing about domestic ferrets creating wild colonies is if they would just make it mandatory to spay/neuter ALL ferrets brought into California..People could still own them, but they couldn't breed if say two lost pet ferrets happened to find each other in the large state of California..

I wish they were legal! I have wanted a ferret for a LONG time!

[Dazydaizee]

Since all Marshall's ferrets are spayed or neutered before being shipped to the pet store, and this is really all you see at Petco or Petsmart for sale, I don't understand why it's a threat at all. Ferrets do NOT survive well if released, and if they're already fixed, they wouldn't be able to reproduce. In MA it's illegal to own an intact ferret without a breeder's license and it's VERY difficult to find an intact ferret in the area. If you went through the trouble of finding a breeder who would sell you an intact ferret and paid a lot of money for that animal, I don't understand why anyone would release it, so I don't feel like it's a real threat of domesticated ferrets starting up a feral colony.

They've also been domesticated about as long as cats, if not longer (since there is no recorded date). And there has NEVER been a reported case of a ferret transmitting rabies to a human. Even if they do get the disease, which they're at much less risk for than outdoor cats or dogs, they tend to react differently than cats or dogs. Rather than becoming aggressive, they tend to get the "dumb" form of rabies.

I really don't get why they're illegal in CA, I think it's a ridiculous law and there's no reason for it. Cats definitely pose much more risk to the environment and people than ferrets, and they're legal everywhere.

[JohariZ]

Complete and utter IGNORANCE is the main reason that ferrets are illegal in CA. I'm so mad about this law, it sickens me. grrrrr....

The only feral population of ferrets is in New Zealand I think, and that was done on purpose, to control the introduced rabbits. But those 'ferrets' are crossed with some other member of the weasel family, and it was done ages ago.

There really is no reason that they should be illegal. They make great little companions.

[Mis4Monopoly]

They sell ferret supplies in Cali because even though ferrets are illegal, there are still many living illegally there. It's not illegal to sell ferret supplies, and since there are ferret owners in cali regardless of the ban, the pet stores still make money.