Dear Betty,
I subscribe to the FML and saw your post.  I must say I was so moved... I
cried.  I'm so sorry for how Ripley died, and for what you went through.
I wish I could help with the guilt you feel.  I wish I could make you at
least feel some peace with that.  But for once this Wolfy is speechless...
and I am sorry for that.
 
Thank you for sharing that heartfelt and poignant story.  I read it to my
12 year old son who is now volunteering at our local zoo regualarly.  He
handles even the spiders there.  It was a good lesson for him to realize
how truly dependant, and truly delicate these creatures are.  I generalized
that over even to our ferrets.  It touched him very much, and I think your
story helped us a great deal.
 
We already love and respect all animals equally.  I raised my children like
that so it is carried on.  How special you are to have such great love for
truly ALL animals.
 
I imagine the ferrets, et al, will wonder where Ripley is.  But I know they
will see her at the bridge.... intact and happy.  What can I say, but ...
it was an accident.  No one is perfect.  I could not have done what you
did that day and had it all turn out perfect.  That is a fact.  I know
that doesn't change what happened to Ripley.  But it just kills me to see
someone that loved someone else so much be eaten up with guilt.
 
Once again, thank you for sharing the story... it will be a great reminder
to all of us, that animals are 100% dependant on us and truly have no
control over their destinies.  So we must all listen to what you had to
say... and be careful with our loved ones.
 
Wolfy
Please visit:
http://www.geocities.com/wolfysluv/
for information on ferret deafness:
http://www.geocities.com/wolfysluv
[Posted in FML issue 3234]