Hello !  My name is Terry and I am going to tell you what my Fur Family
has meant to me.
 
I have at the present 12 ferrets, 2 dogs, 2 cats and 9 pond fish (OK no
fur here).
 
I was owned by my first ferret 15 years ago.  I have 29 that have crossed
the bridge.  Most of my kids were dumped by their families and most had
various health issues.  Some had been abused.  I had one little man,Teddy
Bear (RIP), that came from the Fredonia rescue.
 
Anyhow, this story starts 2 1/2 years ago, November 2, 2001.  My husband,
Bill, was on his way to work on his Harley when less than a half a mile
from home a man with a truck and trailer carrying a front end loader
backed out on the highway in front of him.  The doctors called Bill's
accident a left side crunch.  He did not lay the bike down but everything
but his head, ribs and hip had pretty much been shattered.  He should
have died.  He did not :-)  Althrough his hospitilization and recovery I
had my fur family to lean on.  I know I would have lost it if it had not
been for them.  I had 4 on meds that needed me to keep it together.
 
When I came home from long days at the hosp. they were always here
to greet me and always happy to see me.  They didn't get out to play
everyday like they are used to but they didn't complain.  They kept
me laughing when I felt like crying and when I did cry they comforted.
They never once allowed me to sit on my pity pot.  They needed me.
They kept me going when I wanted to quit.
 
My husband is in the Army reserve and had just started back to work
(about 3 weeks) when his unit was activated.  It will be 18 months in
July since he went to Ft Riley.  Still my little fur family has kept me
going.  Without them I could not have held together.  They have been my
sanity.  Now, there is a possibility that Bill may not come home until
Jan.  2005.  Again I have my "kids" to help me through.
 
I cannot imagine my life without my ferrets or dogs & cats.  As vexing as
they can be at times they truly have helped me keep my feet on the ground
and my wits about me.  My fur family (dogs & cats included) have truly
held me together.  So have my wonderful family and friends but they are
not with me 24/7.  My fur kids are :-)
 
This is truly a condensed version of the last two and a half years.  I've
always loved my animal family but I look at them with very different eyes
now and love them even more.
 
Terry McLaren
[Posted in FML issue 4522]