I experienced first hand how quickly these babies can & will bond to
a person, and what happens if that person has to go away for a time
period. To the ferret, time is not a unit of measure for them to
understand. They don't care! They, for the most part, aren't clock
watchers (occasionally they can be found hanging around the water
cooler too long when the boss isn't looking ...LOL!). However they
are very sensitive to cyclical anomalies. For the very fragile ones,
like ones that have just been plopped onto a shelters doorstep, they
can attach to an individual very quickly.

Case in point: little girl around 4 years old, massive tumor mid way
down her tail; a week after getting her we scheduled surgery. Surgery
was successful, having to remove all but an inch of her tail and she
was happily walking around the next day, without having to drag that
nasty tumor around. Then, 3 days after the surgery I had to leave for
a week (forced family thing). Almost immediately she stopped eating &
went down hill so fast. Even with around the clock supportive care from
other very attentive shelter members, she refused to take nourishment
and passed away 5 days after I had to leave. Everyone told me it was
suspected that there were cancer cells that may have become "free
agents" after the surgery that invaded her system, that is wasn't my
fault and there was not a thing I could have done differently. I know
in my head they are right, but in my heart I feel that if I hadn't
gone away that sweet little girl would still be with us today.

Do they bond? Oh YES! Can that bond be so intense that they grieve
themselves to death with the removal or absence of their "buddy"?
Most definitely!

I'm never leaving town again! Well, may be for a day or so, but nothing
longer. See, I've bonded too and the thought of losing another furkid
while away, be they foster or personals, I just couldn't bare it.

Debbie

"The more you read the more you know.
The more you know the smarter you grow.
The smarter you grow the stronger your voice.
When speaking your mind or making your choice."

Help advance ferret education.
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

[Posted in FML 5512]