Dear Sandee- Please watch for Brodie- "Brodie Ferret Wise Williams". I am sure he is poking his way towards the bridge. Brodie is a special boy. He arrived at Ferret Wise shelter out of necessity -- you see his owner was a terminal cancer patient and had lovingly cared for Brodie for 4 1/2 years - and had actually gotten Brodie as a companion for her 11 year old daughter knowing due to illness she could not always pay enough attention to them due to her illness and wanting to build a positive force in the little gals life. The day it all happened was in December of 1997 we were called to pick up this ferret as the woman was entering hospice. The apartment was clean but stark, no evidence of the Christmas Holiday. A cage was brought to us by the daughter - theree4 was a brown ferret with a few toys and an opened large bag of cat litter to come with him. The daughter then retired - clearly overcome by the situation. The Mother thanked us from her hospital bed for looking after this ferret- it seemed no one else would help. We took Brodie and left- wishing the circumstances were different. We read her obituary in the local paper 5 days following. Brodie- hated me, hated us - he must have thought we stole him away from the home he loved. AT 4 1/2 years of age grief overcame him- forced feedings had to be started, sub-q pushes and Brodie never ever liked me, but would respond to shelter Dad. A month or so later a couple stopped in to donate a set of file cabinets. I introduced sad little Brodie to them -- unbelieveably Brodie was licking their noses-- the FIRST thing positive since his arrival. It was that day he went into foster / hospice care with Judy & Christian. Brodie disliked other ferrets but had free roam with 3 elder kitties and was a JOY to behold in his new - second home. Soon he would have a surgery for insulinoma, and a year later an adrenal / insulinoma surgery-- that little boy was a real loved ferret and gained a love of life again. He hopped and ran through the house and played wonderfully . He continued on and age was taking a toll - then he began to limp -- the xray showed it was bone cancer. Another odd that Brodie would not cave easily to. Though the vet said it would take him swiftly- Brodie managed to squeeze in 3 glorious months and to see the Spring tulips before the pain began and he was released. Brodie is sadly missed though we are certain he has met his first Mom and is playing happily once again with her. Shelter Mom & Dad send their love & thoughts as do his foster folks Judy & Chritain. Would you please say hello to "Brodie-Brodums" for us Sandee-- we want to know he is okay and is happy again. Brodie 1/24/94 - 5/18/01 Alicia shelter Mom at Ferret Wise www.ferretwise.org [Posted in FML issue 3426]