It wasn't so long ago that I wrote about Crissy and Whitney crossing the Bridge, and now I write of Shadow's passing. Shadow came to me, along with his brother Ozzy and sister Lexie. They belonged to a family who live around the corner from me. They had quite a history. One that I wouldn't have believed if I hadn't seen it myself. They belonged to a common-law family with young boys. The couple was breaking up and the adults (loose description) used the ferrets to hurt each other and the boys. The man had custody of the ferrets and all the lady and her sons had to do to get them back was to move back in. To make a long story short, the lady and her sons got custody of the 3 fuzzies after much fighting and bitterness. Shortly after that, they lost interest in the ferrets and asked me to take them. At first I said no. I already had 9 ferrets. However it became quite obvious that the lady really didn't care about placing these sweet little guys in loving homes, she just wanted rid of them and was planning to separate them. These guys had been cage mates and were quite bonded. I couldn't bear to see them separated, and I didn't really think the homes she had chosen for them were really ferret knowlegable, so I agreed to take them in. They have been a joy to me for the 4 years tat I have been their mother, and the previous family have not even asked how they are doing, nor have they come to see them and they only live around the corner. Their loss! Ozzy and Lexie both got insulinoma and are doing well on medication. Shadow, who I thought was the healthiest of the 3, got really sick one night. After a rushed visit to the vet, we found out that Shadow had insulinoma and heart disease. He was doing quite well on prednisone and lasix. Yesterday morning I gave them their medication and soup and all seemed normal. Shadow wolfed down his soup and his meds with no problems. I had to laugh at the little guy....he loved his medication! The only ferret I have ever known to like medicine and almost looked forward to getting it. The evening soup time was quite a different story. Shadow wouldn't eat and I had a very difficult time getting his meds into him. The first thing I thought of was his blood sugar level, so I tested his blood and the level was within normal limits. I called my vet to see if I could give him some more lasix, but it was after hours, so I had to leave a message. I know my vet checks her messages after hours, so I was hoping that she would call back soon. He was whimpering a little and I thought he was having some pain, so I put him down long enough to go and get him some Rescue Remedy. I thought that would help calm his pain until I could get him to the vet. When I got back to him he was gone. His little heart just couldn't go on any longer. He is wrapped in his favorite polar fleece, and is waiting for his final trip to the vet's office to be sent for a special cremation. He was my biggest ferret at almost 4.5 lbs. and a very good kisser. I held his little body for such a long time, crying and wishing he could kiss me one last time. Bridge greeters, please make sure he meets up with the 21 fuzzies that have gone before him. Please make sure he knows how much I will miss his kisses. I always tried to make his 2nd home so much better than his first. I hope I was successful. I certainly loved him as if I had chosen him myself and this was his first and only home. Sally St Germain and her 4 Little Saints: Chase, Lexie, Ozzy and Roxy 22 Little Angels at the Bridge: Baby, Bandit, Bear, Beasley, Buddy, Casey, Crissy, Daisy, Freddy, Heidi, Holly #1, Holly #2, Houdini, Laser, Mitzy, Moxy, Murphy, Sandy, Shadow, Smokey, Toby and Whitney. Hi, my name is Sally.....I am a ferret-a-holic! [Posted in FML 6063]