Saturday's speakers were fascinating.  Dr. Willard began the day with a
lecture on Nutrition and food for ferrets.  It was very informative and
helpful.  Gary Holowicki took over soon after and spoke beautifully on
Timmy' s Tonic and how it was created.  Bob Church entertained us on his
knowledge of ferrets and housing, stress and domestication.  Dr. Williams
spoke eloquently on all sorts of diseases and viruses.  We had a raffle
which many people donated items for and we had booths from a few different
shelters & clubs.
 
Half way through Dr. Williams' lecture, I had a bad feeling in the pit of
my stomach about a shelter ferret named Tugger.  He was blind, deaf, had
Adrenal Disease and a mass in his tummy.  I left the hotel with My vet Dr.
Karen Regan and Amy.  Tugger was helped to cross the Bridge that afternoon.
When I returned to the hotel, BIG announced it over the speakers and all in
attendance turned to the back of the room where I sat crying and offered
their love.  It was a very touching moment that I will not forget.
 
Before dinner that night, I went to my room to freshen my teary face and
change.  On my bed was a beautifully wrapped gift.  The paper was gold and
just sitting there.  I looked at my roommate and she said that it was a
gift from Harvey & Helga Clark.  I opened it (crying again) and saw the
most beautiful sight.  It was Barbie as Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra.  It
was a touching gift.
 
That night at dinner, I was honored to sit beside Dr. Bruce Williams.  For
so many years I have looked up to this incredible man who has helped the
ferret community in leaps and bounds.  By Saturday at dinner, Bob Church's
Hawaiian shirts had become so bright, he matched my hair.
 
Linda Iroff presented the FML Hero of the Year award to BIG just before we
ate and I was happy to present a small gift and plaque to our speakers.
 
After Dinner, a few of us went to Harvey & Helga Clark's room to play
with ferrets and hang out.  Then we gathered in the hotel's pub for more
drinking.  I really don't know how you all did it, I was so beat I left
early thinking only of my warm bed.
 
Rebecca & Sara McFarlane had given me a beautiful candle so I lit it and
took a nice hot bath with Harley running in the bathroom with me.  Harley
had a blast with all of you and the adventure he had.  I have to say that
poor fur kid had chapped lips from all the kisses he got from everyone!!!
 
Sunday morning I got up early and went to the hotel's swimming pool.  I
was alone for an hour, swimming and reflecting on the weekend's events.
It gave me time to think.  To be quite honest, I went there to write my
lecture of which I had not yet.
 
After my swim, I met Paige in the hall.  She was crying and told me that
she had lost her foster ferret Phoenix that morning.  Another sad loss.
 
The Ferret Aid Society Ferrets 2000 Conference
http://www.ferretaid.org
Subscribe to the Ferret Aid e-list at
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http://www.igive.com/html/ssi.cfm?cid=1383&mid=43897
Use your mouse to raise funds for the shelter at no cost to you!
Click here!!
[Posted in FML issue 3210]