Following is a Letter to the Editor of the Brockton Enterprise (Brockton,
Mass.), which I wrote and was published on July 27th.  This was a promise
that I made to my Tobey - that I would write a public notice to the
person who so cruelly left him in front of a dumpster in 1999.  Tobey
passed on July 18th and is sadly missed.
 
"TO THE PERSON WHO, IN 1999, ABANDONED A 6-MONTH OLD FERRET IN FRONT
OF A DUMPSTER IN BROCKTON
 
This is to inform you, should you have ever given him a second thought,
that he has been the cherished pet in a forever home since adopted from
Gimmee Shelter Ferret Rescue.  I must say that I will never understand
why you left him the way you did.  Tobey was the most gentle loving
ferret I have ever owned.  He never nipped or bit.  He was a perfect
litter box user.  His greatest joys were his cagemates, his Yogies and
his cat Scooter.  He was the first ferret introduced to new additions
and he endured long days of being dragged around and never complained.
He was sought out by the others for his strength and his gentle ways.
 
I should be angry with you for treating this wonderful ferret so cruelly
by deserting him the way you did.  Instead, I want to thank you.  Your
act of cruelty gave me the opportunity to enjoy 7 wonderful years with
Tobey.  His passing is the hardest one yet and, even though you won't
shed a tear for this sweet fuzzie, I can assure you that I have and will
for some time to come."
[Posted in FML issue 5331]