When I read Lisette`s post about Bongo & Mystic, I remembered someone
writing a while back, requesting examples of ferret compassion.

I should have posted about Bongo & Mystic. His love for her was
incredible, and probably the strongest example I could share with
everyone. Little Mystic passed comfortably in her sleep, and Bongo lay
with his head on her body for nearly 6 hours. At one point, we tried to
get him out of the cage, & he scratched & clawed, trying to get back
to her. He surely grieved, as much as any human who has lost a loved
one--I saw it :(

For several days afterward, he did a bit of a backslide, not wanting to
eat--and sleeping more & more. He was very depressed. It looked, for a
time, that he might be next...

We have had many phone calls & emails telling of a cagemate wrapping
itself around its dying companion--appearing to try to keep its loved
one warm. They most certainly do have compassion.

In 2001, an 8 year old ferret named Squirrel was brought to us. The
couple had just built a brand new house--and there wasn`t "room" for
Squirrel. Every time one of us entered the room, Squirrel`s head would
come up--and then he would see it was just us--and his head would lower
again. He began to realize that they weren`t coming back. He refused
to eat. This was very dangerous, because our vet had discovered he had
insulinoma.

He became dehydrated & lethargic. We cuddled him, tried treats, &
encouraged him to play--but he just went back to his cage... We called
the former ferrents, asking if they could come for a visit. We
explained that Squirrel wasn`t doing well. They said they "MIGHT have
some time this weekend"--but then they were just too busy. After two
more vet visits, and two more calls asking the former ferrents to
please find some time to visit Squirrel, we lost him. He died in a
screaming seizure, at 2 a.m. This was our first experience with shelter
shock. (There have been two. The other one made it, but it took almost
a month to turn him around)

Squirrel`s former ferrents did manage to find the time to attend his
visitation, and they cried like babies. We were very gracious, but I
couldn`t help but believe it would have turned out differently, if
their visit had been several days earlier...

Ferrets definitely do have compassion--They do have feelings--and some
of them really do grieve deeply over lost love, be it ferret or human.

Bongo`s doing wonderfully now--but it was a rough ride for him.

Love,
Zoo

[Posted in FML 6664]