Today I held Angus for the last time as he crossed over the bridge. Angus was one of our first shelter ferrets, and due to his age (@ 8 yrs) and his temperament (loved humans, hated other ferrets) never found a home that would suit him. That was OK, because he had a big family here at the shelter. People who helped out regularly knew Angus. New comers met Angus. Everybody loved Angus. He was spoiled, has his own run of the house, loved to be held, and would do anything for a honey nut Cheerio. His body started to give out on him. He was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy around the first of the year, and arthritis made it necessary to change cages a couple of times to accommodate his elderly bones and joints. He would play less and less since any sustained activity would cause him to go into congestive heart failure and he would need lots of TLC (and medication) to pull him through. Many thanks to all of those who loved him and participated in his care. Thanks to Linda and Diane and Tom who were more than generous with more than just their time and attention. Thanks to June and Louis who always checked on him first. Thanks to Charleen and Tracy and Sandi and Lorayne who listened to me sob over the phone during his last hours and offered the emotional support I needed to get through his passing. I still cry like a baby when I lose a shelter kid -- but I remember some sage advice given to me along time ago -- "When you stop crying and feel nothing, it's time to get out of it [shelter work)" Look up in the sky tonight, the newest star you will see is none other than Angus McFerret. Liane [Posted in FML issue 3101]