>Does anyone have any suggestions that might help us.  We have never lost
>a pet like this before and we are not sure how to make it easier on
Beeker.
 
I can relate, we rescued a ferret, male , sable , the owners broke up
and left him in the bathroom for 2 weeks with the tub faucet running and
a bag of food and turned the light off and closed the door.  The neighbor
asked us to come have a look as the owner called her to check "The
Ferret".  When we got there he was hunched up in the corner and was
lethargic.  He hardly noticed us at first but then he looked up with the
most depressed eyes I'd seen .  I pick him up and he was limp and stared
down at the floor.  We took him home and he did watch out the car window
as we drove along .  When we got him home we named him Newbie.  It took
many months of reassuring hugging , holding and constant attention
especially letting him lay in our arms .  He came out of it and then one
day he joined the group in mock war , wrestling , chuckling and dancing
about.  He slept with the group in the pile of fur in the main hammock
and never left the group after that.
 
When you looked at him he had found joy again but still had a bit of
depression.  I don't think you can ever "cure" them but just make them as
comfortable as possible and take the time to let them come back to the
light.  He lived with us for about 4 yrs after that then one day we found
that he had passed on in his sleep , we know he was happy as he was found
at the bottom of the pile of ferrets, they never knew he died and where
still right there ..........
 
hope you're out there romping thru the grass in the big meadow in the sky
Newbie .........
 
All the best
Mark
[Posted in FML issue 4102]