Farewells come hard these days---- It was May 15, 2002 when she graced my presence with her birth-- one of 2 kits born to Pride's Joy of Downunder. Two days lhater only one kit remained. Later we would find that momma Joy hard a heart condition which may indeed have contributed to the sole kits genetic oddities. Wannabe beat the odds... she nursed and hung on until she could be fed.. Momma knew there were issues with Wannabe and like any responsible Momma, she tried to cover her up, lie on top of her etc., nut as a ferret Mom, I coaxed Joy into nurturing the little ferret kit. We found that among other things Wannabe had a malformed ear-- an outer ear, no inner ear on her right side, she also had a depression and odd hair growth on the right flank over the kidney area, Later when she was spayed we found her intestinal tract / bladder went places it should not be-- evidence her body had some hermaphrodite tendencies. She also inherited an enlarged heart form her momma and wheezed in her sleep and was congested off and on from it. Wannabe grew up a gal, with the face of a male... but, she grew up. Her short stubby legs, obviously thick neck and rolling wobble when she walked charmed everyone who met her. She was a pocket sized ferret that chattered or grumbled each and every day. Her tiny tiny teeth had trouble breaking kibble as her jaw did not open enough... but she loved moms soup and Gerbers turkey baby food.. I would call her "needleteeth" when she would go through her teething period and later as she would use them on the tops of my feet for attention.... the nickname truly portrayed the stature of her build. I will miss the teeny pocket sized gal who may indeed may have lived on love. she was a great ambassador... play well little one and say Hi to your mom & dad for me. "Wannabe a ferret" 5-15-02 to 10-26-07 Momma Alicia [Posted in FML 5773]