Hi everyone, It's been a hectic week, but I wanted let everyone know how Oreo is doing. He's our little three legged boy who had to have his leg amputated. I also wanted you all to know that we have received several packages from all over the country from the nicest folks in the world, "the ferret people", all of you. Some special packages came from the Ferret Giving Tree and some special deliveries for Oreo, some for the hospice ferrets and some just to share with all of the ferrets here at South Shore Ferret Care. I cannot describe how fun it is to bring a big box into the ferret room and sit in the middle of the floor with the ferrets "helping" me to open it up. Oreo and Serafina usually sit on my lap with interest, Buddy and Turbo (from Ohio) help to unpack the box Blazor (another Ohio guy) climbs into the box, and all the other shelter guys surrounded me as each one sniffed each precious item in appreciation. One by one they all decide what they like and whisk it away to their private hidey places. Mikey steals the bundle of socks that someone has sent him, Rudy takes the bubble wrap paper, Buddy and Turbo hop in the biggest hand made hammock I've ever seen, Chloe pushes a ball across the floor, her favorite type toy, Moosey dances around with an N-Bone in his mouth, others take crotched eggs and race away shaking them in every direction. Some remain at the source of enjoyment the box of goodies and I dole out bandit treats of every flavor to little open mouths. Back to Oreo, he has had a rough week. He had a bad seizure last week so we upped his prednisone, we almost lost him. Thank goodness for warm fluids, nutrical, special soup and tubes of glucose 45 on hand, as well as an Angel in the form of Michele who came over at 11:30 at night to medicate the other hospice ferrets while I worked with Oreo to bring him out of his seizure and back to us. He went back again to the vet's office for another re-check as he isn't gaining any weight and I haven't seen him eating kibble, just the special soup I make him and doesn't show any interest in playing. His blood sugar was up from 33 but only has reached 37. So we have added diazoxide to his prednisone that he is already on. As well I had a full work up done on him and he also has an intestinal bug, so now he is on the dreaded flagyl as well. My vet made a super concentrated mix for him so he only has to take 0.15. He is a tooper though, with a bit of a scruff, handles it like he did the Baytril he was previously on. After we left the vets I actually heard him crunchy on kibble. Music to my ears as I don't think he's eaten much kibble in a month. That night he was a little more energetic. Today though, I think he is a little sad, he knows when mommy is sad. We lost another hospice ferret yesterday and she lreally oved Oreo. Missy was a ferret who was taken in with two other ferrets as an abuse case I worked on with the local animal control officer in the Boston area. Apparently one of the ferrets pooped in the wrong corner so to teach him a lesson they ground out a cigarette into his back. Thank goodness someone reported this and animal control stepped in and removed all three. Missy was an old soul in a little naked body. She was the very first ferret we tried the melatonin implant with and because she was so small (under 800 grams) we had to order a special small implant for her. She was the matriach of our shelter and we were hoping that she would see her 10th birthday in April but it was not to be. Because of her we have helped alot of ferrets with implants and educated folks manage adrenal disease for their ferrets. Oreo has lost five of his friends in six weeks that he met when he first arrived. Missy was his favorite cuddle buddy. So this morning he and I sat together while he ate his soup and I cried for Missy.I told Oreo over and over again how happy I was that he came to help me say good bye to the others. Since I work full time as well as running the shelter, and we have to help someone to the bridge I try to make the appointment when possible, during lunchtime. Afterwards I have to go right back to work after saying good bye. I never have the luxury of taking time to reflect and grieve properly for them. All I get is about fifteen minutes in the car to cry all the way back to the parking lot, wipe my eyes and walk back into my office to work. You shelter moms and dads know how it is, we love them so much and at the end feel honored to be the last ones to say good bye to them, giving them the last kindness of releasing them from little bodies that no longer work for them trading legs that can't help them to stand for wings. Oreo and I would like to suggest something to help others. Missy's favorite thing in the world was little soft animals that were her "Babies". She would tug her babies across the room, even if they were bigger than her to "put them to bed" in a special spot. It anyone else touched her babies she would hiss at them. Over the past few months Missy received many new "Babies" that she didn't even get to play with as her time was short and she grew weary. In Missy's honor we would like to share her precious "Babies" and also include some of our dry dook soup to help another TLC Ferret. Maybe you have or know of a ferret who has lost their friend, or a hospice ferret who could use one of Missy's Babies to cuddle up with. Please send me an email with a picture of the ferret and some information of how we can send them a "Missy's Baby" to them in her honor. I would like to make this an ongoing program and will be including it on our website once it is up in the next month or so. Thank you everyone for praying for Oreo, It means so much - Diane Wall South Shore Ferret Care [Posted in FML 5884]