My beautiful Albino boy Sneaky crossed to the bridge today at 12:45 CT. Last night when I put him to bed he was a bit lethargic but I had just picked him up as he was asleep to put him in his hammock and he's usually a little dazed when I do that. This morning when I went in to get them up and start the FurBrats morning routine, he was at the bottom of the cage totally dazed and confused. I picked him up and he was just out of it and making little mueling noises, his belly was tender and distended and his body temperature was low. I called the vet and he said he was on his way to another call but he would call me when he was on his way back to the office and he would meet me there. I put Sneaky in his little bed and put a heating pad under him to keep him warm and held him in my lap to wait for the vets call. He started to crash and I held him in my arms, he gave a few little sighs and slipped away peacfully to go to the bridge. The Vet called about 10 minutes later to say he was on his way back to the office and I told him Sneaky had just died. I wanted to find out why he had died so the Vet told me to bring him in and we would see if we could find an answer. I wrapped him in his comfy towel and my best friend drove us in. I stood with the vet and stroked Sneaky's head as he did the autopsy. He died of a ruptured liver due to liver disease that he was diagnosed with about a year ago.His little belly was full of blood. There would have been nothing I or the vet could have done to save him. I kinda had the feeling it was his liver but I wanted to be sure that it was not something else that would effect the other FurKids. Sneaky was living on borrowed time and I'm glad I had the time with him that I did, You see, Sneaky was my first FurKid, I had him for 4 and a half years. At the time I got him I was a truck driver for a major moving company and one of my shippers that I as moving from Orlando to California did'nt want him anymore and was going to leave him in her empty apartment so I told her I would take him. I did'nt know a thing about ferrets then but I learned quickly and Sneaky joined me and my husband on the road. He was a well traveled ferret and has been all over the United States. He was soon joined by his new brother Bandit and six months later Diggy joined the crew then came Misty and Patch. The five of them had a big cage that we had built into our sleeper and travelled the country with us. When I got hurt two years ago, me and the FurKids retired from the road and settled comfortably in our new home. Eventually, Scooty, Buster, Stymie and Mickey joined the business and everybody got along great. Sneaky was still the grand old man of the biz and the rest of the gang always deferred to him. He will be sorely missed by me and his seven brothers and one sister. Rest in peace Sneaky Man and someday we'll all be together again. We love You, Linda, Bandit, Diggy, Patch, Misty, Scooty, Buster, Stymie, Mickey and your Great Dane Brothers, Merlin and Monty [Posted in FML issue 2995]