I received this from a friend who apparently had it forwarded to him from someone on a dog list. Though not specifically ferret related, I thought it would be appropriate and perhaps comforting to those who have lost pets recently (or even not recently). >---------- Forwarded message ---------- [with permission] >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: ...from the mouthes of babes... > >I just had to share this with you guys: > >Got permission to Fwd this from the Service Dog list... >> >>It's about a 10 yr old dog ("Belker") who had cancer. The vet who wrote >>this story told of going to the family's home to put the dog to sleep and >>out of its misery in its own home. The parents thought their 4 yr old son >>(Shane) should witness the experience to help get closure on the family >>pet's death. After the euthanasia procedure, the vet wrote the following >> >>"We sat together for a while after Belker's death wondering aloud about >>the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who >>had been listening quietly, piped up...'I know why'. Startled, we all >>turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I had never >>heard a more comforting explanation. >> >> He said, 'Everybody is born so they can learn how to live a good life, >>like loving everybody and being nice, right? Well, animals already know >>how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.' Karen [log in to unmask] ====================================================================== A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel." (Proverbs 12:10 RSV) ====================================================================== If you love ferrets, check out: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~crassi/index.html ====================================================================== [Posted in FML issue 2577]