Hello All: On Monday January 16th, we took our dear little ferret, Tabatha, in to have extensive dental work done. I received a phone call an hour after dropping her off at our vets office, she had passed away while under the anesthetic. It was all too much for her broken little body. Tabatha was just too tired to fight this last battle. We burried her next to her little brother. Tabatha came to our rescue in August of 1994. When she arrived she was deathly ill from the effects of forced breeding, prolonged heat and starvation. Tabatha had suffered terribly at the hands of her previous owners and when she could no longer produce kits she was dumped in a local park to die. When this little angle arrived she had serious hips problems, she was suffering from possible skin cancer caused from exposure to the sun (she was an albino and we are sure she was kept outside), her teeth where rotten and her mouth was terribly sore. I had to feed Tabatha by hand after her spay surgery because she was too sick and weak to move, we almost lost her. The last six months of her life were spent with us. She was loved and cared for and despite the pain and suffering she had endured, she always was willing to reach out with love and affection to those of us who tried to help her. I desperately wanted Tabatha to survive having the dental work done. Tabatha was at least five years old when we rescued her and I wanted so much for her to live out the rest of her life in comfort. I guess she just got tired. It hurts so much to know I couldn't take her pain away. We all loved her so very much and she is greatly missed. These beautiful creatures that we care so deeply for are incredible. If any animal had a right to be vicious, Tabatha did, and yet, she was trusting, forgiving and gentle despite the constant pain she was in and the abuse she had suffered. I love you my dear little girl and we miss you terribly. See you soon little one, over the Rainbow Bridge. Tracey-Lee, Oliver, Tristan, Digby, Sabastian, Tilly, Bailey, Teddy and Reilly Ferrets & Friends Club and Rescue B.C. Canada [Posted in FML issue 1083]