At 10:05 Bandit passed away.  Rich was taking him out to the car to go to
the vet and heaved and struggled and blew about 2 teaspoons of brown fluid
out his nose and was gone.  Rich is having a necropsy performed and we'll
know more in two weeks.
 
Bandit had a rough start in life.  Blind from birth and possibly deaf.  At 6
months of age he was on death row at a pet store for biting a customer.
Rich came into the store and asked if they had any ferrets.  They didn't
have any for sale but had one in the back that was scheduled to be killed
for biting.  Rich asked if he could see him and then offered to buy him.
Fortunately for Bandit he went home to become part of Rich and Kelley's
family.
 
Through the years Bandit had difficulties.  It wasn't until much later that
it was discovered he was probably deaf too.  Bandit had a continuous ear
infection that caked his ears with wax within days.  He was treated many
times but the vets were unable to clear up the infection.
 
Bandit, because of his handicaps, was a very misunderstood ferret.  He would
bite without warning, and bite hard.  While I had the great pleasure of
meeting and loving Bandit, I never experienced the displeasure of his bite.
He was as gentle with me as I was with him, but I was also very cautious
when handling him so as not to upset him.  Bandit was part of a loving
family with several other ferrets surrrounding him and very loving parents.
 
Bandit was 7 years old when he passed over the Rainbow Bridge at 10:05 this
morning.  Through tearful eyes I say "Sleep well my love, I'm blessed to
have known you".
 
Hugs to all. tle
[Posted in FML issue 1642]