After reading your post on the FML about the "abandoned" ferret with 14
ticks and his being emaciated I felt compelled to respond.  I am very happy
that you have adopted this little critter and that there are so many
wonderful people in our world like you.  It is very, very sad that some
people are just plain ignorant and heartless when they abandon a precious
creature, but not all ferrets found outdoors (and in such an unhealthy
state) have been abandoned.
 
Four years ago I lost my Archie (sable colored, neutered male, age 3.5).
This is how it happened: my sister, her husband and their dog were visiting
from another state.  They stayed in my home for three nights and four days.
I had four "free range" ferrets at that time.  With all the extra ins and
outs the house with the dog and two additional people Archie disappeared.
By the time I discovered that Archie was not sleeping in the kitchen drawer
at least two hours had passed.  I knew in a heartbeat that Archie had
slipped out the door.  I ran through my house calling his name, I ran
outside and around my quiet neighborhood calling for him - all the while
making lots of noise with a crinkely plastic bag.  I called the police and
our local SPCA to let them know my Archie was missing (it's a small town -
2500 year round residents).  I went to the town dump to alert the folks that
work the transfer station as my sister had taken trash to the dump.  My
worst fear was that Archie had climbed in the trash, then transported to the
dump and placed in that giant compacting machine.  I was sick to my stomach
thinking about where he was and what terrible thing might be happening to
Archie.
 
I'll never know Archie's fate, but I do like to think that someone,
somewhere found him and gave him lots of love.
 
Good luck with your new guy.
 
mlm
[Posted in FML issue 2128]