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May 23, 2013 | 07:51 am

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Owners say ferrets are pets, officials say pest

Lenny Ignelzi

ferret

In this Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 photo, one of the ferret pets of Pat Wright whips out its tongue while hanging out in its well adorned cage, in La Mesa, Calif. Large cages are expensive, but on the other hand, ferrets don’t require as much medical or dental care as cats or dogs. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Lenny Ignelzi

Pat Wright ferret

In this Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 photo, Pet Wright, an advocate for legalizing ferret ownership in California, holds his three ferrets at his home in La Mesa, Calif. The ferrets live peacefully along with Wright's three dogs and a cat. Most pet stores in California carry ferret food and supplies. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Lenny Ignelzi

ferret

In this Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 photo, a ferret peaks through a basket handle opening in its cage, in La Mesa, Calif. Pet ferrets abound despite being illegal to own in California. Thousands of people call them pets. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Lenny Ignelzi

ferret ferrets

In this Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 photo, several of the ferret pets of Pat Wright hang out in their well adorned cage, in La Mesa, Calif. Ferrets are illegal to own in California. Large cages are expensive, but on the other hand, ferrets don’t require as much medical or dental care as cats or dogs. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Lenny Ignelzi

ferret

In this Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 photo, one of the ferret pets of Pat Wright hangs out in its well adorned cage, in La Mesa, Calif. Ferrets are illegal to own in California. Keeping a ferret as a pet takes more time, care and money than owning a dog or cat. The American Veterinary Medical Association in Schaumburg, Ill., which recently posted a YouTube video describing how to care for pet ferrets, noted that they need to be caged most of the time, require hours of exercise and emit a musky odor that many people find unpleasant. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Lenny Ignelzi

Pat Wright ferret

In this Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 photo, Pat Wright, an advocate for legalizing ferret ownership in California, gets a kiss from one his three ferrets at his home in La Mesa, Calif. The ferrets live peacefully along with Wright's three dogs and a cat. ferret fans argue that the foot-long domesticated creatures make excellent pets and shouldn’t be regulated by wildlife agencies as such. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Lenny Ignelzi

ferret

In this Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 photo, a ferret lies in the crook of his owners' arm while its belly is scratched, in La Mesa, Calif. Ferret ownership is illegal in California. But ferret fans argue that the foot-long domesticated creatures make excellent pets and shouldn’t be regulated by wildlife agencies as such. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)