The story of Mira s early life always incited animal lovers to anger.
Stepped on and severely burned with bleach as an infant, Mira was
crippled, with hair forever missing across her shoulders.  But Mira s
story was not sad.  She survived the ignorance and foolishness of her
initial owners, and, with round the clock care at the Ferret Association
of Connecticut shelter, became a symbol of triumph and the will to live.
 
In many ways, Mira was an average ferret.  She played, she hopped, and
she got into trouble.  She loved to shove her head into stinky sneakers
and sneeze.  She got excited exploring new places.  She ate treats with
enthusiasm.  Scratch a favorite spot and she would kiss you.  Tickle her
with a toe and she would nip it!  What was above average about Mira was
her bright spirit, outgoing and happy.  Despite the pain humans had
inflicted upon her, she was always playful and affectionate.  For 4
years, Mira lived a comfortable existence.
 
When the cancer came, the shelter and supporting organization decided
to treat it.  Funds were solicited from supporters across the country
so that Mira could receive medical care and that her doctors could
learn from this unusual form of cancer in a ferret.  The outpouring of
generosity was heartwarming.
 
Time after time we thought she had beaten it, only to see the cancer
return in another form.  The hard decision to amputate her front leg was
made in an attempt to excise it for good.  Through all the surgeries,
radiation, and vet visits, Mira remained bright-eyed.  Everywhere she
went, she was an ambassador for the gentle and courageous nature of
these tiny animals.  She took her new-found celebrity in her stride and
cheerfully posed for photos with admirers.
 
The vets had long suspected that the cancer was a byproduct of her early
abuse; burn tissue does not heal properly and is susceptible to cancerous
cell formation.  In a final act of triumph, it was not that cancer that
killed Mira.  At the age of 6, she developed an inoperable tumor attached
to her liver.  Her normally healthy appetite had been waning, and when
this growth was discovered, the wrenching decision to let her leave
peacefully was made.  She was not terribly ill yet.  Mira left this life
as she lived it, with no dulling of her alert personality.
 
We at the Ferret Association of Connecticut are determined that Mira s
memory will live on.  As a legacy, a fund will be established in her
name to aid other ferrets.  An owner or shelter and their veterinarian
can apply for financial help with illnesses where the treatment has the
potential to help more ferrets live.
 
Guidelines and procedures will be announced.  In the meantime, any
donations sent in memory of Mira will be placed in this fund.
 
For Mira, the Ferret Association of Connecticut would like to express
thanks for your kindness and support.  We are grateful to know that our
grief at her loss is shared by so many other people who never even met
her.  If love could have kept her alive, Mira would have lived forever.
 
L. Vanessa Gruden, Shelter Director & Caretaker for Mira
Ferret Association of Connecticut
16 Sherbrooke Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
[Posted in FML issue 4210]