I experienced my first loss of a ferret a year ago and it was devastating, you know it's going to happen, but you just aren't prepared. I had to put my ferret Grandpa to sleep, he was over 8 and I had had him 5 of those 8 yrs. When I first got him he looked like a skeleton with skin stretched over it and like he had the mange, this was my first adrenal ferret he also developed insulnomia 3 yrs after I first got him. I learned about the implants and he made the most beautiful Cinnamon guy I'd ever seen. He started going downhill and I had to syringe feed him chicken baby food mixed with dry every 2-3 hrs day and night and did this for almost a year, he just wouldn't eat his dry food at all. He would drink water and I kept it close to his bed so he could reach it easily. When he started losing control of his bodily functions and just didn't want to eat at all I had a great ferret lady, Angela tell me that I would know when it would be time to put him to sleep. At the vets I was waiting for them to come and give him his sleepy shot, he just lay his head on my shoulder, I was crying uncontrollably and with a tear in his eye he just raised his little head up and licked my cheek. I told him I loved him and would miss him, to go over the Bridge and wait for the others. Then I lost my Bandit, I told him Grandpa was waiting and to wait for his cage mates, Damon and Setiva. I told him that they would be coming one day and would need him to show them the way. At the end of December I had to put my Charity to sleep, she was 9 1/2 yrs old and was ready to go to the bridge. This month Damon and Setiva joined their cage mate Bandit. I just lost my big boy Freddie due to adrenal and insulnomia. I have 12 ferrets left and most of mine were old and sick when I get them. I'm just an individual that takes in neglected, abused, old, sick unwanted ferrets and give them a safe loving place to live out their lives. I'm still trying to deal with the loss of my beloved ferrets and know that death is a part of life, but that doesn't make it any easier. I keep telling myself I'm not taking in anymore, their lifespan is to short and it's too heartbreaking when you lose them, that is until the next one comes along and here I go again, giving my heart and soul to another little ferret. [Posted in FML 6945]