Hi All--I'm a lurker who enjoys reading the list but never really has a reason to post anything, until now, sadly. I realize there are some folks who don't care to read stores of ferrets passing on so if you're one of them, you should probably skip over this one. Like I said, I don't usually post things, but I lost one of the best friends I've ever had today, and it's hard to find people who can truly understand what wonderful gifts ferrets are, so I felt the need to put something down on the list to remember Marshmallow. Marshmallow was the second ferret I got, and trouble from the word go. He was six months old the first time I saw him, in a pet store with 3 sable males. I wasn't really looking for another ferret (yeah, isn't that usually how it starts) but something drew me to him. I picked him up and he promply bit me and my SO at the time. Nevertheless, once I looked in those beautiful pink eyes, I was gone. So home he came to become the head ferret in charge, with my first ferret Gatsby as his lieutenant. He was obnoxious, loved being the center of attention, and he was my darling that could do no wrong. I feel that way about all my ferrets, but the non-ferret owners I knew were afraid of him, because of the biting and his being an albino. He bossed everyone around, but he was my boy. Out of the four ferrets, he was always the one to give you a kiss or follow you around. Don't get me wrong, I love my three girls as much as I love him, but I always took his more affectionate nature as a sign of him being male. He never bit me again after about 8 weeks of training. He hated shoes and socks more than life itself, and loved sleeping next to me at night. Last Monday, I noticed him not acting well. I hadn't been spending the usual playtimes with ferrets as I had the flu. When I started feeling better is when I noticed his sickness. I took him into the vet and they found his kidneys swollen to twice normal size, and his BUN and creatnine levels off the charts. They kept him there for 4 days, doing fluid therapy. He was improving when I got him home, but refused to let me give the sub-q fluids. So he was taking Pedialyte and ClinCare for most of the weekend with very little complaint, acting very close to his old self. Last night and this morning he stopped taking any food, and would only wake up to dry heave. I lost a cat last June to kidney problems, and saw first hand how he suffered and promised myself I wouldn't let Marshmallow do the same. So at 4, I took him to see the vet. His kidneys were back to the level they were last Monday, so I made the only decision I could to keep him from suffering. I said goodbye, and sat with him until he passed. As I sit writing this with a broken heart (I apologize if I'm getting too maudlin here), I can't get over a feeling of sadness mixed with gratefulness for having him in my life, even if it was only for 3 years. It goes without saying I wish I had had so much more time, although it's never enough I guess. But I think it would be disrespectful of him not to remember how much joy and fun he had in his short time in this world. He loved his life (at least he sure acted like it)....danced when he was happy, threw fits when he was mad, ate when he was hungry, and slept snuggled up against his sisters when he was tired. There was more joy in the living of his life than I have words to describe. I can't help but be grateful for that. I can't also help but be tremendously grateful for the all the hard work and compassion that Dr. Jennifer Stampf and her staff showed to get him through last week. It gave me a chance to say goodbye, and for him to enjoy his sisters for a bit longer. Dr. Stampf was almost as heartbroken as I was to have to put him down, and couldn't be there to give him the mercy shot. So Dr. Scott Stahl, the other excellent vet at the practice, was there to help him and me. I thought it appropriate that he did so...Dr. Stahl was the first vet Marshmallow saw as a kit. Dr. Stahl was so compassionate to me and so kind to Marshmallow in his final moments. For these things and for the kisses, the toe bites, all the sweet ferrety things he did, and the companionship Marshmallow gave me in his short 3 years, I thank God. Thanks for letting me post this. Rest in peace Marshmallow. Your momma and your sisters love you. Marshmallow "Marshie" Ellis Spring 1995 to January 18, 1998 [Posted in FML issue 2560]