My name is Dudley Ryan and I have a story to tell. I am a domesticated mammal of Mustela putorius furo. I want to thank BIG for his idea of establishing a network for the ferret community because without this network, I probably wouldn't have a family right now. In fact, I probably wouldn't be around to share my story. [Moderator's note: I didn't START the FML, just continued it. BIG] In January, my Momma got an e-mail from a sweet southern Belle. It would seem Momma met the southern Belle on the FML. They would correspond about helping shelters with bedding so my cousins could have warm snoozing places. Sometimes the bedding was brand spanking new and sometimes it was the kind held together with tales and whispers of other fuzz butts and the lives they lived. It was about the love and caring of ferrets and sharing of human efforts. The e-mail Momma got was a request for help for Me, Dudley. You see, my family lost their home and I was in a shelter in Watertown, NY. Like many shelters, they did not have the money to help ferrets like me with medical problems. A nice lady working in the shelter spotted me and initiated my my journey. This nice lady, believe it or not, was -- drum roll please -- a relocated Crafty Weasel from Georgia! It seems Miss Norma came to NY with her Hubby, a military man. He was training at Ft.Drum (10Th Mountain Division, USA - Poppa told me - he likes military history). Please say a prayer for him as he is now deployed to Afghanistan to keep America free and safe for us weasels!! Oh, a back tomy story. Miss Norma is bestest buds with Miss Florence, you know her, she is the Head Crafty Weasel and the sweet southern Belle I mentioned earlier! It would seem that Miss Florence once had a ferret and you know what his name was? Yep, Dudley! And you know who he looked like? Yep, you guessed it. So back and forth they went with discussions and pics of me and my not so nice looking fur and skin problems. Even, how I looked so much like that other "Dudders." My fast thinking Momma talked with the Shelter Director and they agreed, Momma could be a foster Mom to the kids for the JCSPCA - Oh yeah, I have a buddy named Snow. He had all his fur but he was having some respiratory issues, he needed help too. Our new Foster Momma called a friend and they took a six hour road trip to get Snow and I. First, we had to have medicine for our respiratory issues which Momma thinks were a result of pine bedding, living in a smoke filled home and perhaps exposure to human sneezes and coughs. Then Momma took us to meet Doc G. He examined us up and down and in and out and good 'ol Snow fell asleep in his arms and stole his heart. Way to weasel right in there Snowman. Then, Doc offered Momma a free fecal exam for us. And guess what? Yep, we had the bad guys in our tummies. Hmmmm, how did he know?? Thank goodness for Momma's good cooking cause we got soup everyday and she snuck the medicine in it for us. Back home to quarantine we went to watch my fur grow and wait for my Deslorelin implant. Doc agreed, I certainly was a candidate for the good old Deslorelin implant. The Snowman moved on to win over other hearts - he had room for more love now that his chest congestion was cleared up. Last week we went back to see Doc, delivered our new poopie sample - complete with a Deva picture of a ferret butt within a big purple circle. We wanted to say thanks to the vet techs for checking our poopies!! Hahhahahaha, we are so funny!! Such joksters!!!!! The office was verrrry busy. No problem. I am a pretty laid back guy and very social. I sat in my carrier and talked to a kitty and a Golden Retriever. Then it was our turn. Doc said something to Jackie about having to hold me while they did the injection. Then someone had to help Momma off the floor where she was rolling around laughing. I lOVE "TONE!!" I mean, I reeeaaallly LOVE FERRATONE. Momma of course already knew this. She suggested to Doc that if he just loaded the cap Momma brought and he pushed hard to get the needle through my exceptionally tough hide, I would indeed entertain myself with the "Tone." Ummm, I believe I heard them chuckling at me between slurps!! I know one thing for sure. I want Jackie to come help Doc next check-up because she gives LOTS of " Tone." Momma was a spoiled sport and stopped her after about five helpings!! I feel better now. Snow feels better now. This implant perked me up within twenty four hours. I am loveable and I like to follow my hoomins around the house. Momma says now I have a bigger bounce in my step. I'm kind of a short hefty fella, about three and half pounds worth of mustelid. Poppa calls me "Hockey Puck." While Snow is off playin with his new buds, I'm playing ferruppy and followin my hoomins around looking for treats and loving. For some reason, they trip over me or scoot me across the floor - sort of like -- well, a hockey puck. At the end of the week the mail came and Momma announced to me and Snow that we had a new name and a forever home right here with our new cagemates and friends, Silver Boy and Lil One. We had papers!! Momma, Pop, Silver Boy, Lil One and Roamy had fallen in love with us and wanted to keep us. WE have papers now that say we are Ryans!! Snow and I are pleased we could share our happy LOVE story and thank the people who made our journey and new life happen. It is all about being connected, be it through the FML, the small world we all live in, or the Universe that allows ferrets gone to Rainbow Bridge to return in spirit to help a fellow mustlelid -- or two. Happy tails to all, Dudley (and my side kick Snow) P.S. Kisses to you Flo Momma and Norma, from us and "Your Dudley." rescued animals in two clicks http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3 [Posted in FML 7002]