This message is to Karie and is being cc'd to the FML:
 
My deepest sympathies are with you.  I've lost two in my lifetime (of nine
total that I've owned), and after the most recent one, Lilly, passed away I
could hardly bear it.  I run a shelter, and the morning she died I cried so
hard and I made up my mind that I was going to put my other (six at the
time) up for adoption because I couldn't go through that pain again.  With
her, like yours, her death was so sudden that I couldn't deal with it.
 
I have to say this, though.  From your post, you sound like a very caring
person who provided a good home for your ferrets.  We need people like you
to take these guys and care for them!  Too many "bad" people have ferrets,
and there are some shelters that are overrun with ferrets that need loving
homes.  Perhaps after you mourn your loss you will reconsider and try again.
 
 
I used to be under the impression that ferrets are very sickly pets, in fact
I think on my web page I still have that written (gotta change that!) In
fact, I recently discovered (from the ferret FAQ, BTW) that ferrets are
among the hardiest pets, but since their lifespans are shorter than dogs or
cats, more ferret owners have occurrance to see disease than cat or dog
owners.  Plus, the Ferret Mailing List is very deceptive, as so many of us
turn to it during the bad times (sick ferret---I'm writing about Ricky every
day there, dying ferrets---you just posted about yours, so there are two
examples) that it makes it seem like everyone has a sick ferret.  Try to
remember there are 2300+ people on the FML.  If we all had sick ferrets
every day's post would be hundreds of pages.
 
Mourn for your ferrets.  I sincerely feel for you, I've been there.  I know
that I'll have to go through the pain again, but then every day when I see
my ferrets curled up in a cute position, or laugh as they bounce across the
room, or when one of them gives me kisses after kisses to tell me that I'm
cool in their book, I realize why the pain is still worth it.  Good luck to
you.  I'll say a prayer that both of your ferrets were happily reunited over
the Rainbow Bridge.
 
Kymberlie Becker
Director, Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association
"Forget Puppy Love...There's nothing Greater than Ferret Love!" TM
http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/ferretlady
[Posted in FML issue 1920]