Legalize Ferrets 30 second television commercial

[MutedVision]

Have you tried getting 500,000 signatures to just pass the law? I've heard you can do that in California.

Can you put sugar gliders on the list as well?

[macfrankist]

Why? This commercial should make that point.

[x0x0xStephenx0x0x]

A bit harsh with the commercial but I still support the idea.

[TheProgSound]

that girl got it...lol.

[xaviervonrottie]

WTF is wrong with California? And they claim there ahead of the curve. Ferrets are just as domesticated as a house cat. If people want to keep them, let them! That's called freedom.

[ninjaman00]

@xaviervonrottie Something you have to realize is that you should take everything that comes from California with a grain of salt. They lie through their teeth constantly.

[x86op]

@xaviervonrottie I wonder how many thousands of felines roam California, completely Feral, completely legal... while the Ferret can't even become feral, and is shunned and outlawed? Ignorance, this is.

[LadyElfie]

I work in a petshop chain in Cali. A lot of people would be surprised how little people know about ferrets. Many people don't even know what they are, another good number don't know they're illegal. This commercial is at least a start. I'm hoping there will at least be more commercials eventually. And that guy's comment pisses me off. He says it's a waste of time, but to some of us, this is a very important issue. If it's no big deal, make them legal stupids.

[lorrainesevilla1]

i like this video.

[TsunamiFN]

Best of luck ferrets! I can't wait for the day you're welcome here. :)

[MegaFunfactory]

I support this commercial. The main purpose of this commercial is to show the general public ferrets are illegal to keep as pets in CA. If they are not a ferret owner I doubt most know this. The commercial shows how innocent people and ferrets are wrongly treated/labeled. It would be nice to have more statistics out there to the public, and maybe this commercial will generate the interest where people will start to want to learn more about this issue.

[1Rene1Narvaez]

It is fine, you have 30 seconds to grab someone's attention and it does.... this will send people to the internet and the Leagalize Ferret site which is what this is intending to do- REACH MORE PEOPLE and GET THEM EDUCATED and INVOLVED....

All these comments, and who is donating??? Who else is making and paying for commercials??

I LIKED IT, GOOD JOB.

[1Rene1Narvaez]

It is fine, you have 30 seconds to grab someone's attention and it does.... this will send people to the internet and the LEAGALIZE FERRET site which is what this is intending to do- REACH MORE PEOPLE and GET THEM EDUCATED and INVOLVED....

All these comments, and who is donating??? Who else is making and paying for commercials??

I LIKED IT, GOOD JOB.

[ashley5mith]

You guys are silly. This is a thirty second commercial. If it gets people to realize that this is even going on, then they can do their own research to find out that ferrets are not wild animals, that they cannot go feral, that they are already in the state, etc. You can't expect to have all of your little details in a thirty second spot. All in all, it starts the conversation and I say, bravo!

[lowdown3007]

i think the commercial shud make me wana cuddle with the ferrets more ...feels too much like someone's telling me to do something without convincing me that i would want to in the first place (if i wasn't a ferret supporter person)

[T4Nier922]

For those who are saying that the emotional angle of this commercial overtook the factual side of the issue, honestly sometimes that works. Case in point: Sarah Mclachlan's ASPCA commercial, it had all of 3 or 4 facts (about the same as this one) and if you saw it you know which I'm talking about. Strong emotion ties strongly to memory, so maybe for this round, let the emotional commercial pass...Do it for the Little guy?!

[MsFerretzrule]

I would suggest that those of you who seem to think you can do a better job at getting ferrets legalized in California step right up and git er done! Where are all you critics when Pat is standing alone in front of the commission? I challenge those of you who can do better to put your money where your mouth is...today! I'm reading a whole lot of "We should do this or that"....well then, get on it. Ask yourself, "what have I done to help this cause"?

[satomi325]

@MsFerretzrule Honestly.The ferrets are already in California. There hasn't been any confiscations in over a year according to one of the DFG meetings. DFG doesn't care about the ferret matter. The commercial even states that. I was all for legalization last year, but I feel like it's a lost cause. As long as the present members on the commission stay, I don't see any change in law anytime in the near future. Not to mention the voters. What the voters don't know, won't vote for.

[satomi325]

@MsFerretzrule continuation: what we need to do is educate the public. They need to know what a ferret is and why they are america's #3 pet. What have I done to help the cause? I inform the people I meet that ferrets are not wild animals. Ferrets cannot go feral. Ferrets cannot disrupt the local wildlife/environment. Ferrets are great pets like dogs and cats. Many of the people I have talked to didn't know any of the above. They all thought ferrets were rodents.

[MsFerretzrule]

@satomi325 ....Don't believe what DFG spews...ferrets are being confiscated in California, and worse, they are then dumped into out of state shelters that have their own burdens to bear in their own state, much less having to carry California's load. I can attest to this personally, as I currently have a half dozen California exiles at my shelter. Some are confiscated and dumped into wildlife centers in California where staff have no idea how to properly care for a domestic pet.....

[satomi325]

@MsFerretzrule No.Pat said ferrets were not getting confiscated.He presented it to the commission.&yes.more ferrets will be put into shelters when this is legalized.I'm for ferrets, but its a double edged sword.The majority of people will go out of their way to get a ferret here in California.Not many are going to be careless and let that go to waste.Most will put 110% into their pets.Either way,off topic.The point is to educate people.Like you said,many people have no idea how care for ferrets.

[MsFerretzrule]

@satomi325 ....Take this as my effort to educate anyone who wishes to learn, ferrets ARE being confiscated in California and those of us in the sheltering business KNOW this to be a fact. Wherever there are domestic pets there will be irresponsible pet owners...and legalizing or keeping the ban will not change that fact.

I do feel the video was a bit cheesy...but I don't expect a miracle in 30 seconds. The majority of the video's time was spent directing the viewer to legalizeferrets . org

[satomi325]

@MsFerretzrule continuation #2: when the public truly understands a ferret is the time when ferrets will get legalized. It seems like only ferret people know what a ferret is and thats hurting the cause.

[aznw1f]

@LegalizeFerretsorg To bad my name isn't Kimberly, or any American name for the matter.

[mizkashie]

The facts and points are all being raised now, because the commercial hit an emotional note with some...many more would research and make their own decisions. I would have to say it appealed to everyone :)

Now we all know, that there are substantial facts (logical ones) to legalize them AND emotional ones...like having a pet that you love taken away for no good reason.

AWARENESS~!~

[godessann]

Well done. I think it was great and gets the point acrossed. Pat yourselves on the back.

[tcdowning666]

Geez everybody is all the sudden a film critic and a master marketing/communications guru... this is only an opening shot. not trying to win an academy award. there have actually been past spots that crammed too much information in to them. it's confusing. i think the goal of the spot as it should be is A) ferrets are illegal in California and B) that is not the norm for the other 48 contiguous states - on that level it suceeds. keep it simple

[tcdowning666]

awww Frisco! :'(

[satomi325]

This video has good intentions, but it is not portraying the correct message.

There is nothing factual about ferrets. All this video says is that ferrets are miscategorized as wild animals and that the DFG doesn't want to waste time on ferrets.Where is the proof that they are not wild? How is the general public who does NOT know about ferrets going to know that?

Some suggestions to say about ferrets:

-cannot harm California wildlife/environment

-cannot go feral

-America's #3 Pet

[cmatheus1]

Your all probably right but we are amateurs trying to do this. We could use some help. If you love ferrets as we in California do why not call Pat Wright and offer to help him. I'm sure he would appreciate any help. We're just trying to live without the fear of having them taken from us. Believe me it happens. I just had to move after 7 years of owning ferrets or take the risk of having them confiscated just because my apt manager got mad at me and told me to get rid of them or else

[ammisam]

Please, don't get me wrong. I moved out of California and two months later bought my first ferret. I've wanted one since I was in middle school, I'm 41 soon. I just know that stirring emotions doesn't always win when it comes to changing policy. The facts presented to the public with intelligence, fairness, and truth will give you a better chance of getting ferrets legalized. I'm now living in Washington state, and I have had to do my own battle for California here with ignorant people.

[culcune]

While I agree with the message, and get the email from legalizeferrets and own a ferret (I live in Arizona, so no worries of jack-booted thugs taking my Wally), I think this is a poorly produced commercial. It looks very amateur and almost seems like something out of a comedy show on Comedy Central. Or I was waiting for ..."live, from New York, it's Saturday Night Live!!" at the end.

[junglemediatube]

@culcune It was made with no budget. Give it a break.

[culcune]

@junglemediatube I am sure there are film students who could have filmed it for free, and with far more impact. I understand the no budget thing, but this is supposed to make an impression; as a ferret owner myself, I was rooting for it, but this is not a very good commercial.

[suit1010]

I think it's great !

[patti49er]

This isn't just using the emotions of a child. Children have gone to school and shown their ferrets in show-and-tell and then had them confiscated. This is so very wrong on so many levels. Talk about big government. This is an arbitrary and capricious power play by a few people - very unAmerican.

[kristinnln]

Actually, if Fish & Game gets wind of the fact you have a ferret they can & WILL come to your home with a warrant & extract the animal (forcibly if need be). This family pet will then be euthanized unless a registered ferret rescue organization intervenes and transports the ferret out of state. You can also face criminal misdemeanor charges, which can result in heavy fines & possible jail time; although that usually does not occur. The commercial is INTENDED to elicit an emotional response.

[AiryBri]

@kristinnln I know that. But most people don't know or more importantly care because they don't want or have ferrets to be confiscated.

The average person would understand having no logical reason for a law and missing out on tax revenue. Honestly, most people who see this commercial and don't understand the facts will have the "I feel sorry for the kid, but she shouldn't have had an illegal pet." attitude, poozybear described. That will get us no where fast.

[AiryBri]

Yeah, I think you just needed to state the main points of the case:

-Ferrets are already in California (26% of ferret supplies bought here) and in 48 other states but no Ferrel populations exist

-Ferrets can (and have to) receive rabbi's shots

-Ferrets are much less prone to attack and do real damage than most other family pets, such as dogs

-Cali is missing out in sales tax revenue it desperately needs

[poozybear]

@AiryBri As a former ad exec, I feel this in an ineffective spot. Totally agree with @AiryBri that main points MUST be stated. Most people do not understand the issue, and will look at this commercial with the attitude of, "I feel sorry for the kid, but she shouldn't have had an illegal pet." The girl appearing as a "criminal" at the start of the commercial works, but the rest is a time-waster. Instead of showing her heartbreak, show the facts, especially the lost sales tax revenue.

[culcune]

@poozybear I have to agree wholeheartedly. Ferrets have never been legal in California. One thing I remember happened in Cali back in 1999 was the ban on "dangerous weapons" which was to go in effect on Jan 1 2000. If you owned one of the so-called dangerous weapons on the banned list such as AK-47s rifles, you had to register them in Cali. or send them out of state. Furthermore, you could not pass it on to kin legally. A kid who inherited a once-legal AK-47 would be a truer victim than her

[AiryBri]

In the future you can create commercials with emotional responses, but we should get the most effective one out there first so we can gain enough support to air a larger amount and wider variety of commercials. It feels like you are trying to appeal to too many people in this one; which pretty much leaves you appealing to no one.

@AiryBri

[chonnes]

@AiryBri rabbi's shots? That's hilarious!

[British0Pixie]

I agree with anmisam below me here. Although I fully understand the point

of your commercial,the idea that a stranger walking into your flat to confiscate

a child's pet is a bit much loves. But hey, I'm all for the cause. Ferrets are

amongst the coolest most lovable addition to the family one can make. Best of luck to you guys in California. = ]

[MsFerretzrule]

@British0Pixie ....the fact is, in California a stranger (from California Dept of Fish and Game) CAN walk into your flat and confiscate a child's pet, if that child's pet happens to be a domestic ferret. They can, they will, and THEY HAVE....many times.

[ammisam]

I think the commercial is ok. I think it should have kept to the facts about ferret ownership, instead of using the emotions of a child...I dunno...maybe I'm just the less emotional thinker than most of the population.