Please everyone, give your loved ones and fuzzies extra hugs and kisses tonight and remember how blessed we are to have them as part of our family. As I write this, tears are streaming down my face for the 4th consecutive hour as I try to figure out how to tell my daughter that my namesake..and her favorite ferret..is now at the Rainbow Bridge. Shadra was my latest rescue. The guard at our complex called me one evening to ask if one of our ferrets escaped. I did a quick nose count and knew it wasn't one of ours, but when he told me he had it at the guard gate for 2 days and couldn't get it to eat, I knew I had to see what I could do. When I got there, I found the cutest, sweetest, calmest female blaze. She was very young, very dehydrated, very hungry, but very affectionate. Within seconds of picking her up, I was being covered with kisses. After talking to the guard, I found out he'd been offering her oranges and bread to eat. She was also covered with fleas. I told him I would keep her until the owners could be located (quietly cursing the fact that although the guards had found her 2 days before, no one had come forward about a missing pet), gave him my work numbers, and took her home to a nice warm bath and flea treatment. That night, she ate and slept in my arms...she even slept on my pillow, getting up a few times to go eat - the sweetheart even brought me back some food and laid it on my chest for me :-) A week later, we found out that the sweetie had been abandoned by a family that had been evicted; of course by this time, I couldn't bear to depart with her. Within four days, she'd made a full recovery and was quickly beating up on the "big guys"....they all loved her, even the couple of fuzzies that get along with no one. She was fiesty, but always affectionate and a big kisser. Although I love all my babies, she was probably one of the most special to all of us. We've assisted two of our four legged children on because of severe illnesses, but we have never lost a pet due to an accident. With Kizra and Slinky, there was time to say good bye. With Shadra this evening, however, it was too quick, and I can only pray that it was painless. I am thankful that my daughter Ashley was not at home this evening, for if she had been, she would have witnessed first hand what I myself still see flashing thru my head. Our tragedy happened as my husband was coming out of the kitchen and in an effort to avoid one of our war dancers, trippped and accidently landed where Shadra decided to teleport to. I had just 2 seconds earlier seen her on the other side of the room climbing thru half packed moving boxes, rearranging the books for us. I heard my husband scream in horror and looked to see him stooped over Shadra and in shock, apologizing profusely -- he loved Shadra with all his heart and still feels horrible about it. We rushed to get her to the vet, but she was gone before we could get out of the door. All the ferrets and cats seemed to understand what happened and immediately calmed down. Her cage mates even went to their cage without being called..they just knew. We've both spent most of the evening crying our hearts out, but now it's time for me to pick up my daughter, and be brave for her. Skeeter, please make sure my Shadra is introduced to everyone up there...it was way too early for her. We love you Shadra and will miss you!! Momma, Daddy, Ashley (the humans) Pinky, Brownie, Blackie, Cinnamon, Snow, Shadow, Anonymous, Houdini, Flicker, Liquor, Gremlin, Gizmo, Bristles, Kricket, Blazer, Eeek!, and Monster (the ferts) and cats Smudges, Sylvester, and Raven, the wanna-be ferret Mary Reeves [log in to unmask] Want to know all about my "business?" Check out my ferret page! http://users.ev1.net/~shadra/ferret.htm [Posted in FML issue 2713]