Lost my first ferret today, Mister Whiskers. I knew I loved the little bugger but wow, its really hitting me how much I miss him. He was mine and my wifes little lap rat, spending many hours curled up in a little ball on Stephanies lap. Im a little bit more hyper so he liked her lap alot more. Anyway, my grief led me to surf around the internet a bit further and am glad I found this website. Thanks for sharing all of your pictures and stories...its been nice to smile through the tears. I walked into a pet store in town one day only to find an albino male...about 7-8 years old in a cage for 60 bucks. No water in his bottle, poop all over his ramps, an abcess on his tail and four or five fleas crawling through his sparse hair. I called Stephanie and told her to bring my checkbook down there and we brought him home that day. I had bought my first ferret, a beautiful little sable girl from the same shop about two months before that. I had no idea that the hair loss was due to adrenal disease and the next few months were a lessons in its symptons/effects. We got him cleaned up, fixed up and he lived a very happy life frolicing with our sable Zsa Zsa....well cuddling really, he didnt have too much energy to do alot of playing. His condition rapidly deteriorated over the last few days and this morning he had loss all use of his hind legs. We took him to the vets and he told us that it was time. Zsa Zsa's been looking in all his normal spots for her friend. Breaks my heart. Anyway, I guess I posted this looking for any advice, encouragment, good words I could find. Pretty tough moment for my wife and I.

Jeff, I am sorry for your loss of Mister Whiskers.

I know that losing a ferret is just as painful as losing a more "regular" pet. I only say this because some of my colleagues at work look at me oddly when I describe how upset I am over the loss of a ferret....they say "but it is just a ferret." Their little eyes look at you, and you're totally in love!

If Zsa Zsa gets too lonely, you could find her another buddy, sometimes that helps, too.

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"Dogs are followers, cats are self-absorbed, ferrets just are."

Thanks for the words...yeah, I think Ill be looking for a companion for Zsa Zsa soon enough. I really enjoyed the older ferret and after seeing just how many are out there without homes, couldnt imagine getting a kit again. Well, I could imagine it...Zsa is just too much fun...but would feel badly knowing another old guy like Whiskey was out there looking for some love. Ill have to head out Bothell way, some upcoming Saturday.

There are so many. I'm always amazed how many we have at the shelter all the time. Nice, sweet ferrets that just need a home and someone that understands ferrets!

Again, I'm very sorry for your loss. I had to put one of mine to sleep a couple of weeks ago myself.

L

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"Dogs are followers, cats are self-absorbed, ferrets just are."

I'm really sorry to hear about your loss. If it's any consolation, I cry like a little girl when one of my kids passes away. I'm not kidding. (Megan can vouch for this, she's been a witness) If it helps to know that others feel your pain, check out my ferret page. I don't mean to pimp my website, and it's definitely a (rough) work in progress, but check out my ferret page: http://mysite.verizon.net/ricknye/id5.html

I have links to each Rainbow Bridge page for each of my kids who has passed away. And I still cry like a girl sometimes when I re-read those pages...