i just wanted to write in and tell the story of b.j. (butt jumpy) - the
wonder ferret.
        on monday morning at 7 am i had turned my back and before i knew
it, b.j. had found a hole in the wall under my bathroom sink (inside the
cabinet).  I tried banging on the wall and calling for her, but she would
not come back.  since i am a college student at UT @ Austin, i had to go
to class, but i was hoping she would find her way back to the hole and
come out.  when i returned, still no b.j.  i put food by the hole and a
light on the hole so she could find the opening easier.  24 hours later,
still no b.j.  i called the vet to find out approximately how long she
could survive without food or water (that way i would have an idea of how
long before she would not be able to find her way back at all).  the vet
said 48 hours without water and she would feel the effects of dehydration.
        i began to cry.  i tried to stay hopeful but it was hard.  i began to
jump at every little sound i heard thinking it was b.j. coming back to me.
i even called trappers for suggestions.  still the only thing they could
tell me was to put food by the hole to entice her out (which i had done).
i also talked to the neighbors to tell me if they heard anything.  48
hours passed and still no b.j.  i cried even more.
        by wednesday, i began to try to tell myself that i should try to
come to terms that she was not coming back.  but i couldn't - not yet.
about 8:30 wed. night, i got a call from my roommate that b.j. had been
found, but she was stuck inside the wall!  i rushed home and grabbed her
food and water bottle.  then i went two apartments over and down a floor
and went inside.  in the dining room, an electrical outlet cover had been
unscrewed, and there was her nose and claws showing through a small
opening.  while trying to figure out how to get her out of the wall, i
poked food into the hole (which she gobbled up of course), and wedged the
water bottle nozzle in, to give her water.  the
girl who lived in the apartment had her boyfriend come over (he is into
carpentry).  he used an exacto knife and cut a small hole big enough for
b.j. to come out.  AT LAST, I had her back!!!
        the only way i found out she was in that apartment was because the
girl actually thought b.j. was a rat, and so she went next door to talk to
the neighbor (who i had talked to).  he remembered what i had said so they
came and knocked on our door, and sure enough it was a ferret instead of a
rat.
        after the whole ordeal, b.j. had been inside the wall for 62 hours. in
my mind, she truly is a WONDER FERRET!
        the next day, we took a trip to the vet and she had a great check
up.  she is doing great, and is her old self again ("butt jumpy" as ever!).
 
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Kathryn M. Krowl         |                  | Bacchus, n.: A convenient diety
Department of Education  |        o         |     invented by the ancients as
The University of Texas  |                  |     an excuse for getting drunk.
[log in to unmask]        | (Navel Artwork)  |               - Ambrose Bierce
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[Posted in FML issue 0630]