I know I've posted about a couple of our recent passings but I don't think they got the official Sarah ferret greeting. I cherish those in my scrapbook. In the past few months, we've had several losses. Would you please give an official welcome to the following: Princess, a deaf blaze old lady of at least 8 or 9, and never showed a sign of illness, eating and drinking and the rest of the day sleeping, who went quietly in her sleep and now meets her Silver Vanilla Flopsy Furzilla at the Bridge. Sandy, a sweet sable girl who while standoffish, was very playful and loved everyone. She greets Dusty and Peanut and leaves behind Vin Diesel Weasel and Fairy Buttercup, two of three kids needing adrenal surgery Gilda Snuffledooks who I found passed in her cage, her back arched,.... the morning after Sandy passed. I fell in love with Gilda at a show. She belonged to one of the local "good breeders" that was closing down. She got her name from a combination of a suggestion from my dad, of our favorite comedienne and the funny little noises she would make, snuffling in your ear, telling you secrets and dooking as she bounced through the house a beautiful black sable ball of fur. Stacie, our little nurse ferret who watched over all of the surgery kids and until her last day, bopped through this house, weighing less than a pound. Stacie was one of the ferrets that awakened my ability to communicate with animals and will always occupy a special piece of my heart and soul.I cried on the way to work the morning she passed as I didn't think she could wait for me to get home. I raced home to find her flat out in front of my bedroom door. I scooped her up in tears , knowing she had just recently passed and started making the calls when I felt a tiny breath. I could not beleive she was still alive. She was with me for less than an hour before she passed, but held out and waited for me, God Bless her sweet soul for waiting to pass in my arms. All my kids know how important it is that they be in my arm when that time comes and it's rare that it happens any other way. Peanut, who was never much of a cuddler but again, loved all the other ferrets and was never an ounce of trouble...just pure bouncing joy. Albi, our special Albino who travelled all the way from MA thanks to April Armstrong and the assistance of Eric & Judith White. Albi was Sam the cat's best friend. Sam kept his distance in Albi's last moments and has only recently started reaching out to the group for another ferret friend. I recall a hysterical story about Albi and getting in the trash can...it's in the archives and is a wonderful testimony to how intelligent ferrets are but will share it again if anyone requests. Strauss, my beautiful chocolate boy, part of the Miller rescue. In spite of our suggestions to get him vetted or turned over to us, he went on for another month with the breeder's diagnosis of impacted oil glands. When he was finally surrendered, we found that "the oil glands" were actually malignant tumors. He had surgery to remove them which also required re-construction of his foreskin so he could urinate properly. God bless Dr. Ho and Dr. Boyd at Pulaski vet clinic for pulling off this very delicate surgery. Somehow I always felt that he would not be around much longer although he seemed fine. I decided to keep him, after he decided to keep me, always finding him curled up with my kids. I felt it was too high of a risk to adopt him out to someone else to fall in love with him and lose him too soon. Instincts, once again proven correct. Still with me but with cardio myopathy is my Taz. My pillow and lovey dovey furo. Since I've been home recovering from surgery, he is permanent free roam, never having to walk too far for his food or water. When not in my bedroom, while Bastian and DeNiro are out, he hangs either in his basket or in a blanket on the daybed with me, scurrying over when it's time for his special baby food. Tonight, we shared insomniac theatre together, he with his baby food, and me with a people snack, hoping I could go back to sleep for just a couple more hours. Taz is remarkable It's strange how your subcounscious works. I think I've had this propendency to stay up all night to sort of guard the house. The cats cover the day bed being ever so careful not to step on my foot...or Taz. He has frequent accidents, I imagine due to the Lasix he is on. In an effort to not get anything on him , he walks as he releives himself , leaving a 3 foot trail, still getting his belly wet. He is used to the baby wipes and mini baths and totally cracks me up. When he finishes his baby food feedings, I hold up the paper towel and he wipes his faces as proper as any human. I've never experienced a cardio patient, but know there is no cure for my baby boy who is at least 9 and probably closer to or approaching 10. I treasure every heart beat against my face when we are chilling together. He makes these little noises ranging from grunts to the sound of a cooing dove. Even as he waits for his baby food to heat up on the coffee table candle warmer, he sits patiently, his head resting on my leg. When his time here is up, I just don't know how i will handle this one. My sweetest, most loving boy. Another post coming, I have an awesome suggestion to you rescues!!! Hugs, Kim Kimberly Fox Director/Rescue Mom Somethin Up My Sleeve Ferret Rescue http://companiontalk.terrabox.com/SUMS-Rescue.html Help The Helpless. SUPPORT PRIVATE RESCUE Pay Pal accepted for donations at this email address. [Posted in FML 5621]