It was almost yesterday that I posted about our wonderful little albino
male, Otter, disappearing.  (No, he hasn't returned, and we now have 6
inches of snow on the ground.  Hope is waning.)
 
I write today with an even more horrible experience in hopes that others
may prevent such things with their own little fuzzy family members.
 
Three evenings ago, my daughter and I were working on an art project in the
dining room when I started smelling burning hair.  Thinking some of my hair
had fallen onto the stove burner we were using to heat embossing powder, I
checked the stove.  Nothing, but I turned off the burner before going back
to our card-making.  The odor got stronger so I went to investigate more.
The dishwasher was in its drying cycle, and yes, the horrible smell was
coming from the steam vent.  Thinking a plastic dish or something had
fallen against the heating element, I opened the door to find our beloved
little Rosie Ferret quite dead, face resting on the wires.  I was horrified
to say the least.  I cannot imagine the terror dear Rosie must have felt
when that water started and she couldn't get away from it.  And so very,
very hot!  And I didn't hear her scratching or crying (because the machine
is so loud).
 
Please, please, check and check again that your fuzzbutts aren't exploring
inside before starting your dishwasher!!!  You do not want to lose them
this way, I can assure you.  I am absolutely overcome with guilt and
sadness, missing our baby.  And so soon after Otter's disappearance too.
I miss them both.
 
Cherish the time you have now, with your ferrets, your family, your
friends.  We never know when our visit will end.  Make the most of it.  I
am comforted only in knowing that Rosie and Otter were dearly loved and
told so at every chance.  Now that they are gone, I feel such emptiness
in the place that was filled with an abundance of bouncing, chuckling,
kissing joy.
 
Tamilyn
[Posted in FML issue 3245]