As always-- Ferret Wis eis a very busy place- we have numerous nippers , and aging ferrets.. but we have a happy ending or two--- it all depends on how you look at things-- BandiTu- arrived in January-- one of a group of six who werer displaced due to a divorce. She was 4 1/2 years old and bald fromthe shoulders back-- obviously adrenal disease in progress. In March she had surgery a left gland was removed, but there was skepticism she may bne a bi-lateral candidate-- we watched closely at the shelter for signs of hair regrowth-- a few tufts around the base of the tail, then more hair loss on the chest. This little girl with big dark eyes-- was a pitiful sight coatwise... everyone would step backj upon visiting the shelter as we explained the sypmtoms of adrenal disease. BandiTu would walk up and put her tiny paws on their pant legs looking to be picked up, but know one wanted to hold a bald ferret- no one but her shelter MOm. A coupole who had adopted a ferret from the shelter several years ago as a companion to her male saw us last Fall-- their boy was showing signs of adrenal disease- In October he received surgery-- a hot cancer of the left gland-- was sent home with a 6-8 mnonth window. He regrew his hair but was lost in April to the cancer recurrence. They were devastataed-- being the loss of their first ferret-- and knowing how attached they were-- I feared the phone would ring-- and the other ferrets would venture in. But no calls came.... Then early in the week the phone rang late at night. Linda the Mom to the lost adrenal boy asked if we still had the girl here-- ( gosh-- we have lots of them which one did she mean-- I just placed two???) which one? - "the one I saw with no hair!", I was speechless-- you know she has most likely gat an affected right gland -- she has only what time the greater being allos? "Yes, she needs a place to play-- we have four here-- and a cat ( gosh she loves to play with cats) when can she come home?" Tears filled my wearyv eyes as I said you come right now-- BandiTu is wasiting to go home. Nopw this is a happy ending-- one that shelter folks seldom get for their "kids". Small blessings are so wonderful! On a more bittersweet note-- "Prince" FerretWise Scanlon one of our education team ferrets succumbed on Monday to a seizure caused by aortic ivalve insufficiencies. Prince was an adrenal ferret who developed a heart condition prior to the onset of bi lateral adrenal condition. He was a sweet and loving 5 year old MF ferret. You may remember his participation in the story "FerretWise Ferrets Go To School" from a previous FML-- He was loved by every school child who had the pleasure of his company-- we have drawings and posters to prove it! BIG help me here!! [Moderator's note: Umm... help you with what? If you mean the issue number of the go to school story, that was in FML 2356. BIG] He will be greatly missed by shelter Mom and Dad and his hospice parents Mary & Keith, and his surviving cage mates... We are relieved only in knowing he suffers no more pain. And back to tending more shelter kids-- for that is what we do-- thanks for your time, your support, and your LOVE of ferrets. alicia PLease visit our shelter page at: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~crassi/index.html and consider ojoining our FERRET FUN EVENT -- Sept 5th FERRET WISE REUNION - PIcnic and Fun A Thon - more info at: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~crassi/calendar.html [Posted in FML issue 2399]