In 2007, I adopted a beautiful champagne DMK boy from Diddy at the MaFF. I know only a small number of DMKs made it to New England at all and was very proud to be able to offer a forever home to a ferret who had suffered so much. Diesel was a delight from day 1. In the beginning, he was a nipper, and took several chunks from my heels over the first few months, but he responded to correction quickly and it didn't take long for him to completely take over my life! When I took on the notion to feed my ferrets a raw diet, Diesel didn't hesitate one iota. He chomped into that first chicken wing with ferociousness, and never went back to kibble. Diesel slept in my bed with me every night, and most days would hop in the shower with me too. He had such a forgiving and loving personality and seemed to know just the right times to dance to make me laugh. Diesel loved every ferret he met and was the glue that bonded all my ferrets, especially when introducing newbies. He was a charmer and won the admiration of many non-ferret people, too. There wasn't a soul that Diesel couldn't tickle. His heart was just that big. I really believe he knew how lucky he was - and how loved. His brain was equally as big, and he was a master escape artist. In one apartment I lived in, the ferrets had run of the living room, but I barricaded my bedroom off with a playpen. Diesel, most mornings, would push the pet stairs I have for them to get in and out of their cage over to the playpen and then take a quick leap over, to visit with me in bed. He made me proud in many aspects, but he made us both proud at the 2009 Winter Nationals. He won Best Shelter Ferret, my first First Place ribbon and his only one. In 2010, Diesel began having a near constant battle with infections, irritable bowel, and wasting. We tested him nearly weekly for insulinoma as he often would appear drooly - but a trial run of prednisone didn't help, and his BG was consistently about 110. In February of 2011 he lost his best friend, NB's Captain Morgan. Diesel's health declined rapidly after the loss and eventually we discovered the real problem: he had a tumor on his liver. I helped him cross to the bridge in September of 2011. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him, and the lessons he taught me about ferret ownership but also about humanity. It wasn't in his nature to hold onto bad memories, he only looked forward. He rejoiced in small triumphs. I think this is how we all need to view the DMK ordeal. So many ferrets were put through so much trauma, but yet so many of them found the ultimate life through the dedication and big heartedness of those in the ferret community. The DMKs are like our big secret: loving, personable, and trying - but if you mention DMK to many ferret owners, they don't know what you're babbling about. And here we are, rejoicing in small triumphs. [Posted in FML 7395]