(Copied - Author unknown...edited for ferrets)
 
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old
ferret named Belker.  The ferret's owner, his wife, and their little
boy were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer.
 
I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to
perform the euthanasia procedure for the old ferret in their home.  As
we made arrangements, the owners told me they thought it would be good
for the four-year-old boy to observe the procedure.  They felt he could
learn something from the experience.
 
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family
surrounded him.  The little boy seemed so calm, petting the old ferret
for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.
Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.  The little boy
seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion.
 
We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about
the sad fact that animal's lives are shorter than human lives.
 
The little boy, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
Startled, we all turned to him.
 
What came out of his mouth next stunned me.  I'd never heard a more
comforting explanation.  He said, "Everybody is born so that they can
learn how to live a good life - like loving everybody and being nice,
right?"  The four-year-old continued, "Well, animals already know how
to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.
[Posted in FML issue 4988]