I am new to the Ferret-L Digest. My good friend, Frankie Dishman, told me about it and encouraged me to sign up about three weeks ago. I have read the messages on the digest everyday with extreme interest. I have never seen such a group of supportive and wonderful people reaching out helping one another.. ferrets truly have more of an impact on our lives than we could ever have imagined before we get one, two, three, and then so on - they, the ferrets, are what brings this group of supportive folks together with such a common ground and interest.. I have just been in awe!! Just this past Sunday, I called my friend, Frankie, in a panic because my precious Newby got sick very quickly and was having a hard time breathing.. she came running. We have an awesome ferret vet that is about an hour away; however, she does not have emergency hours, which is too bad for us. I finally decided to rush Newby to one of the veterinarian hospital's here in Norman that does have emergency service - that is sort of like playing "Case Sa Ra Sa Ra" to see who you might get. The emergency vet said that Newby had had a heart attack and wasn't going to make it and suggested that I have him put him down.. I asked for medicine to help him and I chose to bring him back home because my intention was to take off early the next day for my ferret vet who is an hour away.. I was just sure with my tender love and care, I could keep him going until the next morning. That didn't happen - he took off for the Rainbow Bridge in my arms about 1:00 a.m. I have been devastated.. and what did my friend Frankie do - she sent the following post to the Digest "Hello Sandee, Would you be on the look out for Newbe, He left for the Rainbow Bridge today, The emergency vet said he had a heart attack, anyways, Newbe was my best friends baby and she misses him a lot. He was a beautiful healthy looking ferret, white with some dark markings, when he gets there tell him to look for Sherman-Diddle and to take care until we can come home too and cross the Big Bridge together." How thoughtful - her having done that touched me so deeply.. and then folks that read her message began sending her notes of condolence and Fuzzie Postcards about Newby which she forwarded to me.. this has just taken my breath away the way people who read these posts reach out to one another.. You guys are truly special people.. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.. May God bless you all.. I now really understand the saying "a dog or cat steals your heart, but a ferret steals your soul. They truly do!! Sue and the Mobley bunch: Ricky, Jamocha, and Darla Meeting Newby at the bridge: Hootie Toot, Mojo, and McGuinn [Posted in FML issue 4239]