What do white water racing, playing in an ensemble and fixin' ferrets have in common? They are all a part of the life of recent New England transplant Dr. Sandra Kudrak Mitchell. With "18 ferrets, 11 cats, a lovebird, and a dog. Oh, yeah, and my husband, Bob!" Dr. Mitchell moved from a practice in New York to southern Maine, where she is owner of Animal Medical Associates (http://www.animalmedicalassociates.com). Maine is the perfect spot for someone who likes to "canoe, camp, run, bike, play with my 4 legged kids, hike, spend time outdoors." As happens with many new ferret owners, Dr. Mitchell's first ferret was an impulse buy. "It was love at first sight, and then took on a life of it's own!" she said. "Zachary picked me. I was at a local pet store to examine some cats which were up for adoption through a shelter. As I leaned over the cat enclosure, this little masked bandit reached out of the cage and snagged my shirt. I tickled his nose and went back to the cats. He grabbed my shirt again. And again. Zachary and I wound up walking around the store picking out toys (together) and drove home in the middle of a snowstorm. At almost 9 years of age, Zachary is still with me." What a wonderful testimony to the love and care that Dr. Mitchell provides her ferret family. Known for taking in "long shot" ferrets or those with multiple problems, Dr. Mitchell works with shelter ferrets who need extra attention, too. With years of memories, it is often difficult to pick just one. However, as those who have had numerous ferrets in their lives know, there are some that weasel their way into our hearts. And, for Dr. Mitchell, that ferret was Milo. "Milo ... spent all of her time with me battling a variety of illnesses. She was a ferret that was always cheerful, always sweet and affectionate, even when she was sick. She never gave up, she took on every battle her little life gave her but always with a smile. The day she left me for the Bridge, a very bright light in my life left me. But, she taught me the essence of climbing every hill gracefully; losing her was a mountain which I am still trying to climb." When not tending to the needs of her massive furry family -- and husband Bob! -- Dr. Mitchell can be found trying to keep off the rocks! As a whitewater canoe racer, she soloed in the Whitewater Open Canoe National Championships in PA earlier this year. "It was a very difficult course, and I wasn't sure I had the skills to tackle it. With the encouragement of my racing partner, Terry, I got in the boat, still not sure I would emerge uninjured at the other end........and wound up placing 2nd." If she does manage to slow down a bit, she may be reading a book by Michael Creighton or John Grisham, but "I usually read text books and journals," including "sports related books and magazines (training books, Runners' World)." Given a bit more time to spend with someone, Dr. Mitchell would choose "My dad. There were a lot of unsaid things for us to talk about when he died." Dr. Mitchell, who has known many animals in her life, would like to be remembered "as someone that made a difference in the lives of as many individual animals as I spent time with." And, one of those who made a difference in her life is also her heroine. "There are a lot of people and animals I look up to!" said Dr. Mitchell. But "I would have to say Milo was one of my heroines. She lived her life with such dignity, grace, and style (even though she was largely bald from adrenal disease for the first 6 months I had her!" Dr. Mitchell is a heroine to many, as well. She will share with us information on cardiology in ferrets at the Pittsburgh symposium. Please join us to learn more about affairs of the heart in your ferret! To use Dr. Mitchell's services, call or come by: Animal Medical Associates 838 Portland Road Saco, Maine 04072 207-282-5151 Join us in Pittsburgh November 7-9, 2008 International Ferret Congress (http://www.ferretcongress.org) Ferret Emergency Response, Rescue and Evacuation Team (F.E.R.R.E.T.) (http://www.ferretemergency.org) [Posted in FML 6116]