This is something I wrote for myself and a friend I thought I may share it
with you.  It is kind of long and most of you don't have a clue about the
ferrets you will read about in the story below.  It is also a heart breaker
atleast for me.  I added alittle here and there so you could all understand
alittle better about who I am talking about.
 
This is in memory of Sebastian, my first ferret.  Jingles the 2'nd ferret I
ever had the pleasure of meeting.  He was a good friend of Sebastian, and
owned and loved by Kevin and DD Glaser.  Last but not least Tasha the
terrible who stole my heart and could draw blood better than a red cross
nurse.  Kevin and DD are the president and vice president of Brevard Ferret
Lovers Rescue.  Florida.
 
When I first went to buy a ferret Kevin told me "you have no idea what your
getting into.  Come over to my house and see what your in for." I told him
thanks but I did my research and a ferret is what I want.  So off to the
store I go.  I didn't see any ferrets out on display at the pet store so I
asked if they had any ferrets.  The reply was yes your lucky we have one
left.  They brought Sebastian out from the back.  At first I didn't want
him.  He was around 4 or 5 months old.  He bit but not hard.  As I was about
to ask when the next batch of kits would be coming in and hand Sebastian
back to the clerk.  Sebastian would not let go of me.  He had his front paws
wrapt around me in a death grip.  So I finaly said I'll take him.  That was
one of the best days of my life and I'm sure of Sebastian's.
 
He was a nipper sometimes hard but never drew blood.  That's why he was
stuck in the back of the store.  I never did train him not to nip.  At the
time I thought all ferrets did that.  So the big day comes, Sebastian gets
to meet Jingles.  DD, Kevin and I were all on our toes.  Watching every move
they made.  No fighting at all, they hit it off like they were brothers.
Sebastian spent many a vacation with Jingles.  When I got my 2'nd ferret
Mako, DD and Kevin told me I was crazy two ferrets!  You have no idea what
your getting into.  WELL SORRY KIDS, LOOK AT HOW MANY YOU HAVE NOW, (they
usualy have alot of shelter ferrets running around as well as baby sitting,
foster parenting, and thier own) and you thought I was crazy for getting a
2'nd ferret!  Once when Mako was just several months old Kevin and I went on
a drive trip.  Jingels and Sebatian tried as best they could to find a place
to sleep where the rambunctious little Mako couldn't find them.  Once Mako
grew up all three were friends.  Buy who wants a several month old terror
nipping on your ears when your trying to take a nap.
 
Sebastian was my friend and as DD can tell you, one of the biggest beggers
you've ever seen.  One trick I tought him was to beg for a raisen and take
it out of my mouth.  This was a big hit with the neighborhood kids.  Never
try this with very dry, cracked and chapped lips.  Only once did I ever get
nipped and that was the reason.  One of his Canines got stuck in one of the
cracks of my badly chapped lips.  It wasn't a pretty sight.  He did let go
quickly and looked at me like what happend and where is my raisen.
Sebastain could stand in a begging position longer than any ferret I've
seen.  I thought he was part prarrie dog there for awhile.  He will be
missed very much.  I lost him in Jully.  I am sure Jingels, Sebastian, Mako
and now Tasha are doing the weasel war dance at the rainbow bridge.
Sebastian died of cancer, at 6 and half years of age.
 
Now for Tasha I was the only one in the shelter stupid or should I say sick
enough to take her in.  After beeing bit to the bone many times I just would
not play with her any more.  Mako and Sebastain loved to gang up on her
witch made me happy after a bad bite.  Get her guys. :-)  Well I met Donna
around the same time I got Tasha.  I told Donna not to play with or touch
Tasha she is mean.  Donna started playing with Tasha threw a plastic bag.
Tipical woman never listens to a man.  She gave Tasha love and lots of play
time.  Donna is the only one that never got bit by Tasha.  Soon I could even
pick this once killer ferret up with out fear of getting bit.  Near the end
Tasha and I where closer than ever.  She went in her sleep with no warning.
She had been adrenal for over a year but other than that seemed healthy and
playfull.  Altough she was never quite the same after her long time budy
Sebastian died.  She moped around more than I did.  We comforted each other,
she even became a lap ferret for alittle while.  I was worried about her and
got her a new friend Taz.  She started to play again and seemed content.
 
Tasha was an abused ferret as a kit.  That is why she realy did not like the
company of humans.  She was so stressed out when she came to the shelter and
then my home, she was almost completely bald and terrified of human contact.
Once Donna gained Tasha's trust, she became a loving nose kissing ferret.
Although you did still have to watch your fingers.  I guess she never realy
new how hard she could nip .  It was no longer in fear but in play.  Donna
gave this little girl another chance on life with love not fear.  I would
never had put her down for biting but would never had played with her
either.  I was content to just let her live her life out with out human
contact.  Donna is truely a special person and a sucker when it comes to a
lost cause.  After all look at who she married. :-)  We will miss you Tasha.
I had Tasha for almost 4 years she was assumed to be about 2 when she came
to the shelter.
 
Jingels, what a campion he was.  Kenin and DD's first ferret.  I realy
didn't spend all that much time with him, but Sebatians' eyes would brighten
up every time he got to go over to his home.  I don't know if it was because
of Jingels or the fact that Sebastian could raid the friskies dish in
Jingels cage.  Sebastian loved friskies but I had him on Science Diet.  I
was picking up Taz from the shelter the same day Jingels got realy sick.  I
am glad I had a chance to comfort him and see him for awhile in his last
days.  Such a proud ferret he was.  He made me laugh alot in the funnies on
the back page of all the Brevard Ferret Lovers Rescue news letters.  I
wounder how he thought up all those stories let alone use a computer.  I
will miss you big guy.
 
1997 has been a tough year for my house hold and the Glasers'.  Take care
everyone and give your ferts an extra hug tonight for all those wounderfull
ferrets dancing the weasel war dance across the Rainbow Bridge.
 
Brad, Donna, and Taz and coming soon Maria (sp).  Another hopeless cause
for Donna.  The little nipper.
[Posted in FML issue 2075]