Owning hedgehogs in illegal states

[cherubchins]

First and foremost I would like to apologize to you southcalihedgie. I should not have jumped on you, I should have let you talk first. I really do commend you on getting a permit. I also wish you lots of happiness with all of your hedgies and future hedgies:)

[Super Chin]

Thanks for the mention Chameli74. :)

I actually already have talked to Bronco. Here's the thing-In Virginia, hedgehogs are legal. It was the county who put up the barrier. In CA, hdegehogs are illegal in the entire state. To make hedgehogs legal, you would have to fight the state. Not only that, but the Californian government can put up much more of a fight than the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. It would be near impossible to get the law to change without an unbelieveable amount of time and effort.
You have to know when to stop. Sometimes you just have to accept that you can't get a certain pet where you live. I'm not saying this is the case, as i'm sure there is always some way to own a hedgehog legally everywhere, but to waste time and effort on it when you know nothing will happen just isn't a great idea.

Having said that, i'll move on. I'll bet there are 60 active members on this board who live in CA and want a hedgehog. Maybe if you all work together to write a petition, to talk to an official, to make it known that hedgehogs should be legal you can change the law. Because you would have to overturn a state law (and a california law at that) I doubt that one person can make a difference. But if you can get 200 people to agree with you, you might be able to do something!

Who wants the soap box next? :rolleyes:

[southcalihedgie]

All of you have made great points. I think is is wonderful that we are all stating our opions and ideas without attacking each other. It makes the thread more informative and constructive. Even though we may disagree I can respect another point of view and understand why a person feels the way they do. I feel blessed that I was able to get a permit (for educational purposes) and I am researching ways to possibly get legislation passed that would make HH/ ferrets legal...not all exotics legal.

If I cannot change a law maybe I can petition to get a law passed that would allow domesticated small mammals weighing under 3 pounds to be considered legal exotics.

[Bronco]

chameli74
#1 - Hedgehogs aren't legal in CA. I'm aware of that. You are aware of that. Many, many visitors to this forum ARE NOT. When they post a want ad asking to find one in CA, they are kindly told about the law. Sometimes arguments follow but more often than not, it's by the disgruntled hedgehog admirer who just realized they can't get what they want.

#2 - You want a hedgehog. That's great. They are fascinating animals. HOWEVER -- just b/c you want one doesn't mean you can have one as a pet... legally. CA does not just hand out permits to people who want exotics, period. Special circumstances and criteria may grant you a permit: educational, a zoo, etc. But as a pet? I don't think that it's going to happen.…

I was aware of all of your points, sad though they are (the laws I mean). I also agree with you. Just because you want something doesn’t mean you can have it, especially in CA where the environment is guarded so well and exotics so looked down upon. People do need to be educated on the laws, that is a very good thing. About #3, I understand that veterans may worry, but I also am not too new to hedgehogs myself. Though I have never owned one, I have researched them for a long time now (for almost a year now), in doing so, have fell in love with them. I am just putting my voice out there to let others in CA who want hedgehogs that they are not alone. I am no longer uninformed about permits, thanks to southcalihedgie (you rock). You are right the permits appear to be limited to educational and such, though that will not stop me from calling fish and game and asking about one. I am afraid that fighting a county and fighting a state, adult or whatever, (I am only 19 myself) is quite a different story. Though I appreciate your confidence that it can be done. If I can't get a hedgie, I will be disappointed, but my life will not be over (wait, do I have a life... oh yeah, *sigh of relief* :laugh: ) But I will sign any petition for legalization of hedgies. (I also want to applaud the guy in Fairfax, who I have talked to, that was a good job.) I really appreciate your reply and respect your opinion, thank you and I hope you can enjoy your hedgie enough for those of us who don’t have one.

Bronco

[hailstorm100]

That's too bad. :( I can't see why hedgehogs are illegal at all. :rolleyes:

[ckmilk2006]

are HH legal in OHIO please let me know thanks

[Jeanette]

I don't think that I could live with myself if I were in an illegal state and I got found out and my animal were euthanized. I love Spiny so much... I would rather not have him if it meant him being safe. :(
Good thing I'm not in that position!!!

This is from hedgehogcentral.com . It lists all areas where hedgehogs are illegal.
Plus, check with your local laws.