BUDDY T. FERRET

So I went to the Houston SPCA tonight after I got off from work. I wanted to see this little ferret, Buddy, they've had posted on the website since December. Plus everybody on Facebook is like, "Yeah! Get him! Go for it!". I love my ferret friends....

Anyway, I went, but they couldn't find him. No ferret anywhere. So that means he was probably adopted out and someone didn't update their computer. So, hopefully, he has a forever home and is happy -- that's all I care about.

Weird story, but there was another black & white sable on Craigslist by the name of Buddy someone was trying to rehome. That posting was removed, so I'm assuming he was adopted too.

So...good news for two black & white ferrets named Buddy.

I have created playgroups for my guys...in hopes to diffuse some of the bickering and rumbling that is going on --- and attempting to avoid anymore partial scalpings. So far, it's working well. Ziggy and Milo don't have to get all worried and anxious and go aggresive on me; and the others can relax and play alittle bit without having to outrun Milo!

I'm hoping this will help socialize Smokey, too. He's one of my former foster fuzzies (now adopted by me) and cage-mate to Angel, my adrenal girl. Smokey doesn't care for other ferrets, except for Angel and Baby. And he is very protective of them. He can get a little pissy with other ferrets and tends to run back into his cage when they are out. I'm hoping that, in time, Smokey will become the caregiver to all his playgroup friends and get over his insecurity.

Well, time to wrangle them all up and get to bed!

BAILEY UPDATE UPDATE

OK, so the swelling and scabbing was just too much. I decided to get Bailey in to the vet first thing this morning and I'm really glad I did. The wounds were abscessing and infected. Dr. D. shaved his little noggin and drained the wounds. Now you can clearly see two teeth punctures from the sabre-toothed ferret that got hold of him. Not pretty, but it looks better than the mess he had before the vet cleaned him up.

He got a shot of penicillin and some oral antibiotic (Clavamox). And she told me to put Preparation H on his wounds. Apparently, it's not just for hemorrhoids anymore...

We got home from the vet and Bailey was war dancing and dooking and crunching his kibble. Now he is blissfully asleep, dreaming, I'm sure, of the day he can kick Milo's ass.

Milo, interestingly enough, has been searching all over for Bailey (I have Bailey separated from the others - in the back part of the house). He's seemed a bit anxious. This morning he came and laid at my feet and then rolled over on his back. Awwwwww!!! So I picked him up and gave him lots of lovies and told him that I still love him very much, no one is mad at him and everything is going to be OK. Then, he just bounced off and went to play with the others, all happy again.

Tell me they don't have minds.....

I'm still thinking about the poor little ferret, Buddy, who is stuck at the SPCA. Man, I dunno. I so want to go get him, but, considering all the 'trauma drama' that just went down this week; not to mention the fact that I had to pay the vet with a post-dated check today....I have no business adopting another one. Hubby would really be pissed and I really need to consider the expense of these guys. It's important to me that they are properly cared for. That they get to the vet when they need it, they get their shots, their heartworm preventative...decent food...all that. AND my attention and time.

It breaks my heart, but I can't save them all. I want to. But I can't. I'm not doing myself any favors by looking at sites like the SPCA and Craigslist. It just adds to my heartbreak. Now, I have this little guy that I've never met, pictured in my head, sitting at the SPCA -- waiting for someone to love him.

GAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! I hate it. It's so freaking unfair.

BAILEY IS INJURED

Shit, crap. I wasn't watching close enough. Milo got ahold of Bailey and, I guess, bit him on top of the head, next to his right ear. He has two blood blisters and it looks awful. I found him hiding behind Keith's bookcase and he cried when I dragged him out. I cleaned it up, checked him over, fed him some duck soup and put him in his cage. He ate some kibble and is now sleeping. I'm jsut watching him now and praying we aren't gonna have an emergency vet visit.

It's my fault. Should've been paying closer attention. I feel awful.

:((((((

A FERRET NAMED BUDDY

One thing I do is watch craigslist and the SPCA listings to just keep myself informed on the state of homeless ferrets and ferrets needing to be rehomed. OK, I hate it, but I won't get on my soapbox. I did that with my very first post. Check the archives (January 2009) if you are curious as to what I said about the evil craigslist....

Anyway, I'm looking at the Houston SPCA listings and they have one little ferret named Buddy. They don't have a photo of him and they don't state his age. He's been there since 12/8/09. All by himself. I haven't laid eyes on this little guy, but my heart is just breaking for him. The SPCA doesn't have facilities or personnel to let Buddy out of his cage for playtime. So he's been in his cage since December. And God knows what the situation was that brought him there in the first place.

Every day I look to see if Buddy's listing is still there, or if he's found a home. Every day his listing pops up. I just can't stand the thought of this little one all alone, caged....cared for I'm sure..but missing out on love and enrichment. It brings me to tears.

So I decided that if, by Friday, Buddy hasn't found a home, I'm going down there. I want to see him. Bring him home? Strongly possible. Huge risk because K. will be pissed. It's a chance I'm willing to take for the sake of this little one.

IN OTHER NEWS: Bailey went to the rescue today to visit and get his mouth swabbed for his ADV test. Poor little guy was kind of scared -- all the new smells and ferrets and people chatting. But he finally warmed up and came home all worn out. AND>>>We adopted out three ferrets today!!! That was just awesome! I am very happy!

Angel's little bruise (or whatever it is) looks a little better today. I thought it might be a mast cell tumor, but I'm really thinking it's a bruise. Still watching close. She may need a CBC to check her platelet count. She's had some bruising on her tummy a couple of weeks ago. They come and go fast, but I think it's a concern I need to take to the vet. We go Feb. 8.

That's my news for the day. It sure is quiet right now. I guess everyone's asleep. Not a bad idea...

LONG TIME, NO BLOG!

EEK! Has it really been since November that I've written?? Well, boys and girls, I have some catching up to do. First, let me say that it is 2:45 AM and what better time to catch up on a blog....

Anyway, the last time I wrote I'd rescued a little ferret named Darby. Happily she has been adopted and hardly spent any time at the rescue before she found her forever home. I'm still very involved in rescue -- admittedly I had some bumpy times with it and had questions about whether or not I wanted to continue. But my passion and love are with the ferrets. I can't abandon them or the human friends I have made. I just need to get back up when I stumble, that's all.

I think Angel had already had her adrenal surgery last time I wrote, too. Well, she's doing great in terms of energy, appetite and mood. She's still naked, even after a Lupron shot. And melatonin. Her vulva is slowly shrinking back down, which is good. Dr. Dori wants to see her again in February and I guess we'll see what she says. Maybe more Lupron? Maybe little Angel is just gonna be naked, which is OK, as long as she's healthy otherwise. She's really adorable, the little rat!

Tonight I noticed some bruising on her torso. After a couple of phone calls and a on-line chat with a friend, I went back and investigated closer. Turns out a large mast cell tumor had popped up and the other "bruising" was simply dried blood from her scratching at the spot. I felt silly for thinking she had bruises or hematomas all over her, but relieved that that wasn't it! Anyway, I but a dollop of hydrocortisone cream on it and will watch it closely.

I have another addition to my ferret business! His name is Bailey and he is a cinnamon kit, about 3 1/2 months old! He is just beautiful and a total wildcat! Here he is:

That brings me up to ten, yes ten ferrets. Every one of them is unique, each a blessing to me. I think K. will have my head on a platter if I take in any more. I probably should quit making promises that "this-is-the-last-one-I-swear".

Having fibromyalgia and CFS presents a challenge to me sometimes and these little guys have brought me so much love, joy and healing. I can't honestly say that Bailey is the "last one". I'll explain that next time....

OUCH! THAT REALLY HURT....

Some people who live in a neighborhood across from us found a little ferret. She just appeared in their garage. They've tried to find the owners, but had no luck, so she is coming into rescue. I have her right now (in strict isolation) and will take her to Dana on Saturday. She is a beautiful little thing - a silver mitt that looks a lot like Baby. From what I can tell, she is about a year old. God, the owners must be frantic. Brings back memories of when I lost Rocky over the summer. Devestating, for sure.

The family that found her named her Darby, which I think is adorable and fits her. She's a little shy right now. No pic of her (I'm trying to stay unattached...mmrrrr) But here is a cute little pic I snapped of Angel and Baby hanging out in the hammock last night:

Speaking of Baby, that little rat bit me tonight. Totally hurt my feelings. My fault. Princess Misty was in Baby's cage, annoying her. I reached my hand in the cage to pet her and she didn't know it was me and swung around and bit me. Hurt like hell. :( I know she didn't mean it - she is a very sweet and lovable little girl. It was totally my fault for suprising her when she was already being defensive.

This is now the second time I have put my hand in the middle of a ferret confrontation and got the shit-end of the stick. The third time may just have me lose a finger....GAH!!!

HAPPY FERRETS

I think little Angel was happy to be back in the cage with her buddies, Smokey and Baby. She was all curled up in a sack with Smokey this morning. She is looking great, too. She's putting some weight back on and is very energetic. I am sooo happy to see it!

Misty has managed to leave her foot alone, so no more bleeding episodes, thank God!! I just found some more bloody ferret footprints in one of the cages, though (from the other night when it happened). I'm thinking she scraped it and didn't actually bite it. Really, she's being very good about letting me put ointment on it and leaving it alone.

I'm sewing a bunch of bedding from remnants of fabric I had (plus some new I just bought, ugh, can't resist cool fabric...) and am sending a box of hammies and sacks to a ferret rescue up in Baltimore that just rescued 40 ferrets. Need to get it done, so I can do something with this house for the holidays. I have crap strewn all over the place!!

There's today's update! All the other Friskies are just doing great, continuing to bring laughter, love and a whole lot of silliness to my life!!

STOPPING THE BLEEDING

Gee Whiz, has it really been two months since I've written here? OMG, don't know where the time goes...

Well, let's see, that last time I wrote, Misty had just been adopted and graduated to the Big Cage with the boys. Things are going well between them ~ even Misty and Ziggy are getting along for the most part. Misty still likes to show everyone that she is the boss by pooping wherever she pleases; like, say, the middle of the living room floor...But we are working on it. The thing about picking a ferret up when they are in the middle of "doing their business", is that they don't STOP doing their business and you wind up with a trail of business all the way from the original poop spot to the potty pad...not fun.

And while I am talking about Misty -- she had a growth on her back foot. I think it is called a sebaceous adenoma, which is a benign growth that can get pretty nasty. I had it removed last Wednesday and everything was fine. Then on Thursday night she came to me wih blood all over her. I'm not kidding, she was covered. Needless to say, I freaked. I grabbed her up and saw that she'd somehow knocked the scab off the surgical wound and it was bleeding like a sieve. I'm by myself (hubby is still out of town) and I'm trying to calm her and myself down, put pressure on the wound, call Dana (because I'm panicking). Now there is blood all over Misty, me, the sink, the floor. I'm thinking she is seriously going to bleed to death. Dana encouraged me to keep putting pressure on it and then when it slows down, using cornstarch. I did that and it finally stopped.

My goodness. Never a dull moment.

I have also adopted the three foster fuzzies I had: Smokey, Baby and Angel. I adopted them and immediately got Angel in to get her adrenal surgery. That was about ten days ago and she is doing fabulously. She is busy as ever, prancing around like the little princess she is. Her prognosis is fair to favorable and I feel very confident about her recovery. I can't wait to see what she looks like with hair on her tail and back! :D

So currently, I have nine ferrets and no fosters. But I'm still very involved in the rescue. I struggled for a little while - things happened that caused some uncertainty on whether or not I would stay. But, it's my destiny to help these little guys out. Happily, it wll turned out for the good of all concerned.

OK, I will be better at keeping up with this blog. I love writing about my furr kids - they are always teaching me new things!

LIVIN' IN THE BIG CAGE

In the spirit of keeping this little blog alive, I vow to write even though there's not much to write about! All the fuzzbutts are doing well, dancing and be-bopping their way through my heart on a daily basis. We still miss our Cupid McPoo and Snow Bisquit - not a day goes by that they don't enter my thoughts.

Misty has stepped in and made herself right at home and is now a full-fledged Frisky. She even shares the Big Cage with the boys and does a darn good job at keeping them in line. She's a typical little sister, with a "You aren't the boss of me" attitude that just keeps me in stitches. She's just awful about hitting anything that remotely looks like a litter box or potty pad, which has proved to be quite exasperating. Her biting habit has improved tremendously, although she still enjoys a little nip now and then!

Dave, my blind guy who has just been diagnosed with insulinoma, seems to be doing quite well on the prednisone. He is nothing but sweetness in fur who loves to nap in his varioius napping spots and then wake up and amble around the house. If you hear a small "thud", no worries. That's just Dave bumping into something. LOL! I just love him to pieces!

We went on a playdate a couple of weeks ago and Ziggy did great. No worries about him being aggressive. Not a problem. He's just a spoiled rotten little boy who dares to assert himself with certain other ferrets. Gotta love him! (And I do)

Hubby is doing an extended job out-of-town, which is robbing everyone of their run time in the mornings. I try to let them out while I get ready for work (can we say, "distraction"?), but it's only for about an hour and then they go back in their cage. Which everyone,. including me, hates, but I'm still not comfy with the free-roam idea. Maybe it's something I really need to think about though....

TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL

So, I'm a believer in the mystical. I believe there is some greater power out there, whatever one chooses to call it. I believe in spirits and angels. And I believe that, if I open my ears and eyes, the Universe touches me every day. Maybe it's something I hear in a conversation. Maybe it's a penny I find when I'm feeling broke.

Yesterday, God touched me by leaving me the gift of a feather.

It wasn't any old feather. It was a white one with a thin edge of black and it seemed to be stratigically placed in my path that led next to the garden where Cupid and Snow are buried. Now. Both of my little ferrets that I recently lost were white. Cupid was a dark-eyed white with just a touch of silver. Snow was a true albino ferret.

So, for me, finding this pretty little feather, so perfect and so perfectly placed, was like finding a letter from my two fuzzies from across the Rainbow Bridge. "Dear Mom, we are fine. We love you. Look! We have wings now!"

I placed the feather in a spot where I keep Cupid and Snow's photos. And I believe.

MISTY'S FIRST NIGHT AS A FRISKIE

Misty wan't sure what to think about the new cage in a new room. She hates being caged anyway - so spoiled. She'll dig her food and tear up her litter trying to get my attention. Admittedly, sometimes it works and I'll let her back out for a few minutes after everyone else is put down. A few extra minutes with mom all to herself and a lick of ferratone usually calms her enough that she will then sleep.

Her and Ziggy are still working it out, but it's nothing like the issue I had with Snow and Ziggy, so it will be fine. I happen to love how she gets right up to Ziggy's face and chatters at him and how he just kind of backs off and saunters away. Too funny!

We have a play date scheduled for this coming Saturday with some ferret friends, so I'm looking forward to that. Will probably take Rocky, Milo and George -- they are my easy-going guys.

That's all the news today. More to come!

SNOW IS VERY SICK

Oh, geeze. It's 2:30 am and I'm up because I'm watching Snow. He suddenly got very ill earlier this evening and started having bloody diarrhea. He threw up blood, too. Now, he's resting. I've been giving him Pedialyte and Tylan.

Am going to call an emergency vet at 9, when they open. I just hope there's a ferret vet on duty. I'm so worried and scared.

DESIRES VS. PRIORITES

OK. Sometimes I just get lost in my desires and lose sight of priorities. Like I desire to make sure little homeless ferrets get a forever home (a loving one) --- so I tend to have a soft spot in my heart for those who are less "adoptable" for whatever reason. I love the cute baby ferrets with all the bounce and spunk. So does everyone else, so adopting those guys out will never be a problem.

But something about those challenging ones: like Misty, who were are trying to teach not to bite, but just does. Getting a kiss from her is golden! Or, little Angel, who is so tiny and has lost the hair on her tail due to adrenal. She has no idea she is little and can outplay the best of em. And she loves, loves the fish. It's just her size. Can't find Angel? Look in the fish. Too sweet.

So, the thing I want to do is be on the list of potential adopters for Misty. And I want little Angel to get her surgery, and my desire is to help with that. Money is tight, so I have to prioritize. Right now, Misty is with me...they all are. Remind myself to be in the moment. Priority is to get some funds going for Angel. The rescue needs $350 for her surgery.

So, I decided to get my creative energies going. We've made this awesome calendar, which will be going to print very soon and we will sell to benefit Forever Home Wanted Ferret Rescue. Also, I have created these great photo greeting cards (blank inside) which I'm going to sell on ETSY and Facebook. Perhaps my own website eventually. Proceeds will go to funding my foster fuzzies and help provide the healthcare and supplies they need until they find their forever homes.

So two great projects that I am very excited about. As soon as I can get pics up of the calendar and the cards, I will. I've been working diligently on these. Seen too much of the world at 2 AM in the glow of a computer screen. But oh so worth it!!!

THERE AND BACK AGAIN

We adopted out two of my fosters, Vestia and Oreo, this past Saturday. They both went together to the same home, so that was really cool. And I brought home three more! These are a bonded triplicate: Smokey, Baby and Angel. They are all very sweet and mellow. (pics soon!)I think little Misty might be confused about where her girlfriends went, but I think she remembers the new three from the rescue. So it's good.

I ended up making two cages into one big one for the Three (I have this thing about spoiling them). And I moved Misty up to a top level from a bottom one, because she loves to dig her food and the top is easier to clean!

Today was long...Snow got his distemper shot (scarey) and them I took George, Rocky and Milo to a library program for kids with HAFA. Snow did fine with his shot and the library program was really fun. Cute kids and cute fuzzy animals just go together!

Kudos to my friends Jimi and Gail (left photo). They work so hard at these library programs. They pour their hearts into them! Very cool!

MEET MY GIRLS!

Vestia - about 1 year old

Oreo - approx. 2 years old

Misty - about 3-4 years old

These are my little foster fuzzies - my girls. I adore them! Each has her own unique personality. Vestia is one we call, "The Baby". She loves to play, especially in the tunnel and rice box, and she hops like a little bunny. She's very lovie and social. Beautiful blaze markings, too. Of course, I'm attached to her. Of course.

Oreo is older and I honestly don't know if she will ever find a Forever Home because of her age. That's more than OK with me, because I have fallen in love with her. She is so mellow and affectionate. She gives the best kisses ever! Oreo is a perfect name for her because her markings are like Cookies & Cream ice cream! Oreo is very petite and girly. She loves her Princess Hammock I sewed for her! Correction: I found out Oreo was only two years old, not five. Thought she looked good for her age!! LOL!

Misty is one we affectionately call, "Cubra Cabre". She has a slight, er, biting issue. She doesn't bite me, but she bites my husband. Haha...can't help it, it's kind of funny. I totally love her. She is very assertive with my boys. When they come up to the barrier, she turns around and shows them her backside!! It's hysterical!!

My little Snow is doing great -- he has plenty of energy and a good appetite. He loves to play in the Walmart sacks. He's going to get a distemper shot in a couple of weeks, which concerns me. But it's important he stay immunized because of his condition.

I've been busy putting together a calendar for the Rescue so we can sell it for fundraising. It's been a bit of a job, but I've had a good time doing it. We are already starting to make plans for the big Pet Fest we have in the fall. The theme is Western and Rocky has already ordered his cowboy hat and bandana!

AS THE POO FLIES

Wow, time kind of got away from me and I haven't had a chance to catch up! Not a whole lot new on the Ferret Front. Ziggy and Snow are still unable to make friends. ;( I've been faked out a couple of times, thinking they were past their little squabbles, but, no....they are still at it. Zigs is the main instigator. He owns the house and everything in it, so poor Snow can't go anywhere without Ziggy trying to push him out. Snow has stopped trying to go into the Hidey Hole and often finds refuge in his own cage. But, numerous times I am having to pull Ziggy out of Snow's cage and tell him, "No, sir!"

The squabbles are still far away from any sign of play. Tails puff and sometimes there is a spray of very stinky poo. I tried letting them "fight it out", but it was obvious that isn't going to work. So now I have to step in and scruff Ziggy, tell him "no" and try sending him in another direction. Yesterday evening, we broke up a fight and I held Snow on top of Ziggy while K. held Ziggy. Needless to say, that hurt Zig's feelings. I'm hoping he will get bored soon and decide to at least tolerate Snow. UGH! It's just like having bickering two-year-olds...

And I hate being a bad guy and getting on to little Ziggy, who is really very sweet.

All my other guys are doing great and getting along with Snow fine. He's shy and pretty much still keeps to himself. He likes his cage and chooses to sleep there, even when I let him know it's OK for him to come out. Sometimes he sleeps in the hammock under the bed with George. Snow is also very sweet likes to be held. He's just had a rough time. He came to the rescue last July through another rescue agency that doesn't take ferrets. He was adopted in September and returned to the rescue in March, because the people couldn't afford to keep him. Poor little one. I think he's a bit uncertain and I don't blame him. Now he's with us and has a Wild Ziggy running after him!!

It's gonna be OK. It will just take some time.

In other news: I'm going to be inspected on Sunday to see if I am approved to do fostering for Dana. I have the cages set up, but need to gather a few more things. I'm very excited!!

WORLD WAR FERRET

NEWS REGARDING THE RESCUE EFFORT:

Arrrggghh! OK. This is what's going on today. I am not going to do my own rescue. Instead, I'm going to be a foster home/satellite rescue for my friend Dana (Forever Homes Wanted Ferret Rescue). This is much better for everyone: me, hubby, HAFA and the ferret-loving community. We only need to concentrate on fund-raising and other support for one rescue, instead of two. Help and funds are scant enough without the added stress. It actually makes me feel good that they were going to support me somehow, anyway, and that Dana is willing to let me be a serious foster home for her. I guess they like me, despite the fact that I am kind of loopy!

So, anyway, I bought home cages that I need to clean and set up. At first it didn't even look like this was going to happen. K. and I had a difficult discussion around the whole rescue issue. He has his thoughts and ideas -- I have mine. The sticking point was the problem of having enough space for the little guys (cages and free-roam space). Lack of communication, me getting upset and throwing my hands up in the air, saying, "Just forget it!" put a strain on the subject, to say the least. So I declared myself as being done.

Then hubby decided it's OK to sell the treadmill and rearrange some stuff in our workout room so I can have half of it for my cages and play space. So we are back on. There's lots to do and I think it's OK to be excited again....!

IN THE FERRET NEWS:

Well. It's been interesting. We've had Snow now for about 5 days now. He is getting along pretty well with everyone except Ziggy and Milo. Milo is my baby, only about 6 months old. He is Ziggy's ferret. Right now I think it's a pecking order issue between the baby and the new guy.

Ziggy is my one-year-old. He has made it his job to defend the Hidey Hole and his pet ferret, Milo. Not to mention his panda bear, his bubble wrap, his balls, his fish...etc. So he and Snow are not liking each other so much. They are fighting, with blood once (I believe it was an accident - Ziggy's foot got nicked) and poo more than once.

The poo is Snow's. At first, I though Ziggy was scaring the s**t out of Snow. But, I've figured out, that Snow is using it as a weapon!! I guess, since he can't spray, he poos! Here's hoping he gets past that little behavior....

Anyway, these two were at it again this morning. I decided I'm doing no one any favors by jumping in every time, so I stood close by and watched (just in case I saw an ear fly across the room or something). It was puff tail and scramble and rolling. Ziggy was dookdookdook-ing and Snow was screaming like a girl. They barely touched each other, really, just the neck holding that's normal. A little while later, I find Ziggy in Snow's cage, laying next to Snow and being nice (but dooking under his breath).

So there you go. Ferret behaviour 101. Fighting is normal. Perhaps even a bit of blood is normal. And poo. Our job is to make sure no body parts fall off and give lots of love, reassurance and Ferratone.

JUST TELL HIM, ALREADY!

Tomorrow I pick up Snow and, no, I haven't said anything about it and I'm prolly gonna get in all kinds of trouble. I need to just tell him and quit worrying about it. K. & I had a long talk about the rescue I want to start and he's apprehensive about it. I, on the other hand, am so sure that it's right. I'm working hard on getting a timeline of goals set, a business plan written, etc. I think money is the biggest issue, even though I explained to him that I am going to do fundraising.

I pressing forward and praying K. will come around and see I'm not trying to get in the way of our plans to reduce our debt. I'm following a passion, a calling.

It's not that I'm discouraged and it's not that he doesn't want me to do it. He just is very focused on our five-year debt reduction plan and is unwilling to have any interference. There's got to be a way of working it out so we both get what we want.

Ugh! I'm kind of streesed right now...

THREE DOOKS AND A....

Happy Dance!!!!! I just got the sweetest email from my friend at HAFA offering support and congratulations. This means the world to me.

So it looks like I'm on my way to starting Friskybiznus Ferret Foster Home and Adoption!!

BUTTERFLY COCOONS AND SPRING FLOWERS

Another meltdown on Saturday evening. Cupid is being braver than me. Now we are having to go to the "second level" of syringe feeding. Just a couple of days ago, Sensei was freely taking his soup from the syringe and I even teased him that he was getting spoiled. Now I have to push the food. Dana taught me how to do it and it isn't a cruel process or anything. It's just that I have to scruff him and put him in a football hold. It's me, being more of an assertive, "Eat-Your-Meat-Or-You-Can't-Have-Any-Pudding" ferret mom. He's taken in one and 3/4 of a syringe so far today (about 20 cc's), so that's good.

He's back to not drinking water on his own, either, so I'm having to give him Pedialyte and water with a dropper. He's so weak, he can barely get himself to his potty pad.

We are trying to make his life as comfortable as possible. He gets gentle hold times and walks (we walk, he gets carried) outside to see the Spring flowers and butterfly cocoons. We talk to him and tell him it's OK for him to go. I sense that he is being pulled between two worlds, now. I imagine that he dreams of the Rainbow Bridge.

When I hold him to feed him, Cupid and I are face-to-face. His little eyes, dark ruby, are filled with soulfulness. There is definitely a connection. He has the longest canines I've ever seen in a ferret. The tip of one of them broke off the first week I had him! This gives him character, I think.

Today I took Cupid's footprints and I think he was afraid I was trying to poke him for a glucose! I'm sure he thought I was crazy...

In other ferret news:

Whoo Hoo! We went outside this morning - a beautiful day - and played in the playpen (they played, I watched). Rocky's coat continues to change and he now has this awesome stripe-thing on the base of his tail. Must get a pic.

I went to the rescue yesterday and took some photos of a calendar I'm going to put together to help raise money. I always love going there! There are ferret fanatics (like me), and I am learing so much from them. Of course, there are lots of adorable ferrets to love on! Always, when I get home, my guys sniff me and look at me like, "Mommy! Were you cheatin' on us??!!"

One of my guys got into my mom's purse last night and stole her sunglasses. She thought that was great!

Blogging makes me sleepy. Time to go do Duck Soup. More to come....