Taz is a special ferret.  All ferrets are, no doubt.  Taz was given to me
because I could provide better care, love, socialization for him than his
previous caretaker.  He is a silver with a mask that makes his facial
expression look grumpy.  He is very round.  When he was a baby he was
rescued after having been burned 30 times by a cigarette.  His caretaker
had to debride the wounds for 6 weeks.  She believed that Taz associated
that pain with her and that was why Taz bit her.  Taz is 3 yrs old.
 
Knowing Taz's history and the cautions of his biting never stopped me from
smothering him in kisses and hugs.  Then it happened.  I wasn't quite fast
enough and he grabbed my bottom lip.  I jerked.  The result was a very small
scratch caused by my pulling away.  I gently held his lower jaw as tears
filled my eyes.  Not tears of pain mind you, but tears of emotional hurt.
I've been bitten a million or possibly a zillion times and I always feel
hurt - rarely pain though.  I told him no bite and kissed him again.  He
ignored me.  A few days later he got me again.  I repeated the gentle jaw
holding.
 
Now when I pick up Taz and make kissey noises he smacks his lips and looks
at me.  He suffers my kisses but not without letting me know that he could
do otherwise if he choose to.  I swear he grins at me.
 
This is the same ferret, who on occassion, will awaken me at 3 in the
morning by snuffling through my hair.  Little intimidator.  :-)
 
Hugs to all. tle
[Posted in FML issue 2355]