Enough.  Here are the facts.  I did not make them up or massage these
facts.  All of this information is freely available on the FML searchable
archives.  Run the keyword "vinnie" through the engine.  Draw your own
conclusions.  Alexandra in MA
 
***********************************************************
02/02/16 David introduces himself as new to the list, says he got his
first ferrets, Vinnie and Shadow, "two days ago."
Here is a copy of the text:
 
Hello my name is David and I got my first ferrets 2 days ago and I have a
question how do I keep them from getting into my fanny pack and dragging
my wallet out and hiding it?
 
Sincerely
David Owings
40118595
 
P.S. their names are Vinnie Da Rat and Shadow they are a spayed female
and a neutered female.
 
02/03/13 Less than a month later, Request to Greet Vinnie Jr. and Sr.
One killed by a dog,one killed by David beneath a mattress.  Both
reported to have died "a few months ago." Here is a copy of the text:
 
Sandee Could you tell Vinnie Da Rat Sr and Jr that I miss them very much
they came to The Rainbow Bridge a few months ago one was taken by a mean
Canine and the other passed away when he climed into my mattress and was
squished when I went to bed they were cute and loved to play and chase
anything they thought they could have fun with.  Tell them about Dirt
Mountain and the cheweasels and anything else they might like to play
with.  Tell them Daddy might not be there right away but soon I'll be
there and we can play on Dirt Mountain and they can chase me around like
they loved to do when they were with me.
 
02/04/15   Lost outside,Vinnie found, mauled by dog
02/04/17   Vinnie put down, Sandee please Greet.
 
Here is a copy of the text:
Subject: Sandee Vinnie is on his way
 
It is with a deep saddness that I had to release Vinnie from his pain
the vet called me and told me that surgery wouldn't improve his quality
of life and he would be in agony for his remaining days. He had spinal
injuries that the vet didn't see at first and would have been paralyzed
in his back legs. Sandee Vinnie likes to be chased I hope there is
someone around maybe another fert that can chase him around and be
chased. ------- David Owings Shadow
 
02/04/17 Vinnie comes back from the dead
Here is a copy of the text: :Subject: Sandee will have to wait
 
Good news everyone Vinnie is gonna live!!!!!!! The vet he never saw a
verret make such a dramatic recovery so fast from the brink of crossing
the Bridge. Yes he's a fert lover too he has several fert friends of his
own. Lets all say a prayer of thanks to The Divine Creator of the
Universe and thank him/her for letting Vinnie Da Rat live for a while
longer. ------- David Owings Vinnie Da Rat, Shadow
 
03/05/18 David runs Vinnie over with his wheelchair, Vinnie lives.
 
03/02/18  David steps on Vinnie and kills him
 
03/10/01 Snickers vet says, quoting David:
 
Well Snickers is home now and he was very sick he was dehydrated with
a urinary infection and some urinary scalding along with some lumps in
his cranial abdonimal cavity.
 
03/10/06 Snickers vet says cancer
03/10/15 Snickers fully recovered
03/11/24 Snickers hurts foot, hangs from claws for an hour
03/11/28 Snickers dies (from cancer?)
There are *numerous* messages relating to this death,not just the ones I
cited here.
 
04/08/1 David falls over and kills Bubba
 
05/02/10 Big Vinnie dies of a liver infection.
 
05/12/22 Vinnie is lost outside, first reference
Here is a copy of the text:
 
Subject: Lost Vinnie
 
Well it's day 2 and Vinnie hasn't been found nor has parts of Vinnie or
Vinnie's body so hope is still with me and HOPE if you're reading this
please send massive good vibes to Vinnie to come home.  Vinnie is a
cautious ferret if he sees something and it makes a noise or does
something bad he runs away and doesn't cross streets.  Does anyone
have any hints that might show Vinnie the way home?
 
Sincerely
David Owings
 
05/12/24 The search is being abandoned
Here is a copy of the text: Subject: Aloha Vinnie The Rat
 
Sandee or anyone up there keep a look out for my little Vinnie The Rat I
don't know if he's gone to you but I hope not I hope some nice old bean
[hooman bean] took him home and is caring for him.  Tomorrow is day 5
and even Joe's given up hope and he doesn't give up till a bus load of
fat ladies sing
 
Sincerely
David Owings
 
05/12/25 Vinnie is replaced
Here is a copy of the text:
 
Subject: New Fuzzbutt
 
Hello everyone I want you to welcome my new baby Rat to the house he's a
big male and is not shy about anything he even knocked my hat off my head
when I put him on my shoulder not to mention he is now best buds with
Georgie, Frankie and Shadow.  My brother when he went to the cage at the
local Petco saw one that was bigger but when he put that one down Rat
jumped up his arm and said to him, You're my new papa lets go home.  Well
Joe is now Papa to Rat and I'm Papa to the rest.  His first day with us
is today and his first christmas is tomorrow woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Sincerely
David Owings
 
Number of deaths by category in three years eleven months?  YOU do the
math.
[Posted in FML issue 5115]