It is with incredible sadness that I post this memoriam to Potpie, who I had euthanized today. She was suffering from advanced insulinoma. Back in 1992 I decided I wanted a ferret and that I would name this ferret 'Potpie'. I bought Chuck and Fox Morton's book, and as ferrets were illegal in Michigan at the time, called vets and pet stores in northern Ohio. One of the vets gave me contact info for someone who delivered ferrets via air from Path Valley; I requested a sable female and a few months later a very smelly, noisy, tiny 6-week old ferret was flown into Toledo. I had a friend pick her up as I was working and my car was in poor shape, and when I got her from his place later that evening, he heaved a sigh of relief that I'd come to take this honking, stinky thing from him. Potpie promptly backed up and pooped on his carpet. In the seven years that followed, Potpie trained me far more than I ever trained her. She was a very sober, practical ferret who always won over whoever she met, even if they'd only had bad ferret experiences before. She never liked other ferrets, and as a result was an 'only' ferret all her life, with her own cage and play area. I may be over-personifying her a bit by saying that, perhaps as a result of being an 'only' ferret, she had an unusual understanding of and connection to people. There are many things I could share about Potpie, but among my favorite quirks of hers was the way she'd run up to me and put one of her paws atop my foot when she wanted my attention. Last summer Potpie was diagnosed with insulinoma, and many of you will be familiar with the slowly escalating drug regimen that accompanies the course of the disease. I came very close to making that last appt with the vet many times, but was always willing to try another increase in the dose of pred or proglycem. The last, substantial dosage increase didn't result in a significant improvement in her condition, so I made an appointment to have my vet make a house call and have her put Potpie to sleep at home. Potpie had been suffering regular insulinoma fits during her playtime and for some amount of time before each of her 2x/day medicine doses. She was still often alert and affectionate, but just as often very dazed, weak, and in discomfort due to the effects of insulinoma. I decided I didn't want her to decline to the point where she was always unhappy. I am relieved that I could provide her with an escape from her condition, but am grievously saddened by her departure. I will miss her very, very much. Melissa - [log in to unmask] - This is a coin hold of great beak bird style. - [Posted in FML issue 2941]