GEORGE'S BIRTHDAY

Today is George's third birthday! Happy Birthday, little fuzzy man. I'm so glad we have George. He came to live with us last November. He came from a home with nice people, but he belonged to their teenage boy who'd lost interest in him. I can't imagine...

Anyway, they posted a notice on the Ferret Association meetup board looking for a good home. They lived very close to me, so I contacted them and, pretty soon, George was ours!

He is a delight. He is very laid back and very smart. He can leap tall buildings in a single bound. He could eat a whole pack of N-bones in one sitting if I let him. When he wants a treat, he sits down at our feet in the kitchen and looks up at us and moves his mouth, like he's trying to talk. We call it "meow-meow"-ing (after the cat food commercial where the cat would sing, "Meow, meow, meow, meow...") I need to get a video of him doing that...

George loves Duck Soup and Ferratone and shivers when he knows he is gonna get some. He is a bit of a wiggle worm when held and will make his front legs like an airplane.

He gives the best kisses ever. He is a good friend to the other ferrets and to us, too. George is my sweet boy!

IT BE MAH BURTHDAYZ!

Rocky (looking at camera) and Ziggy in the new playpen

Rocky, Ziggy and Milo play in the new playpen

(video camera works great in the sun!!)

Today is Rocky's second birthday! He got a new playpen so he and the others can enjoy these pretty days we've been having. I found it at Petco. It was the only one they had and it was out of the box, so they gave me 20% off! Score! It needs some expansion panels, but I'll order those later. They had fun digging and exploring, but when they wanted out, it was pretty clear...(look at Rocky jumping -- he totally cracked me up!)

O tay, we wantz out now...

CUPID UPDATE:

Well, he's about the same, really. He goes back to see Dr. Dori this coming Monday to be rechecked. I'm going to increasing his feedings again, because he's not eating enough kibble in between his duck soup and he is way too thin. That is, if he ever trusts me again with the syringe...

This morning I was feeding him and the syringe was tight. I pushed on the plunger too hard and it gave, squirting half of the food into poor Cupid's mouth all at once. Needless to say, the poor thing choked and gagged and I had a heart attack. No words describe how horrible I feel about that. I'm such an idiot. I'm very concerned about his aspirating some of the food. In fact I called my friend and ferret expert, Jimi, and she told me what to watch out for (coughing, rattling in the lungs, fever). So far, he seems OK. I think we both were just very traumatized.

I got another call from a ferret friend, Noni, who works at Dr. Dori's office and also is very knowledgable about ferrets. She also eased my mind and assured me he is probably just fine.

Oh, man, I'm glad I have these people in my life. They know how to talk me down from a hysteria...Thanks Jimi and Noni! You rock!

Now, here is what I learned: Syringes get sticky after a couple of uses. Coat the rubber tip on the plunger and the inside of the syringe with a little of the soup to keep it moving freely.

Poor, poor Cupid. Like he didn't have enough trouble without me trying to kill him....

Well, I'm home from work because I have a kind of asthma called Reactive Airway Disease. I'm coughing my lungs up. I'm sooooo tired, because I can't get a full night's sleep...

HOW I FELL IN LOVE

This is Rocky (aka, Rocky Mamoo, Mamoo, Mamoozle, Rock Star, Barn Owl). He was my first ferret and will be turning two years old this coming Wednesday.

I'd never met a ferret until I was introduced to Delilah, my son and daughter-in-law's ferret. Something happened when they handed her to me -- it was as if I'd found my Spirit Animal ! I fell in love and did not want to let her go. It took some convincing, but my husband finally agreed to letting me get my own ferret.

I did a lot of reading and research about ferrets before I actually bought one. I bought the book, Ferrets for Dummies and read it cover to cover. Then I bought the cage and set it up.

I'd been looking at the ferrets at Petco (note: this is before I knew anything about rescued ferrets) and there was a certain one who I really seemed to connect with. I visited him a couple of times (only through the glass, though - they wouldn't let me hold him yet) and chatted with the Petco folks about ferrets. Finally, the day came when I was ready to bring him home. Thankfully, my little friend was still there.

I pointed Rocky out and told the guy he was the one. He took Rocky out of the tank, along with another ferret he thought I should look at, too. Rocky literally reached for me. It was the coolest thing. We both knew he was meant to come home with me!

I have never experienced a love for a pet like the love Rocky and I share. He is my sidekick, my muse, my best buddy. He speaks to me through his eyes and expressions. He can be silly, mellow, wild, contemplative. He is very smart and is a master at climbing and jumping. It's both amazing and frightening. Rocky taught us the rules of ferret-proofing, for sure. My poor husband had to build barriers and fashion blockades around appliances. Knick-knacks and candles became a no-no. Rocky taught me what happens between a ferret and a vase of flowers on the table (the ferret wins) !

Rocky can roll over, stand and (sort of) jump through a hoop. Favorite treats? N-bones, Foamy Fries, raisin Bandits and these things we call "crunchies". Oh, and Ferratone and Duck Soup. Rocky loves blanket fights and rides, running the tunnels and climbing. He's very gentle and has never bitten. He is Alpha to the rest of the business and is a wonderful friend and teacher to them all.

I sometimes call Rocky my little barn owl, because of the coloring and alert expression on his face. All I have to do is fluff the hair up on the top of his head and, ta-da, he becomes Barn Owl. He is a beautiful Siamese point sable. During the winter, his coat becomes cream-colored with black-brown legs, tail, mask and tips. As he sheds his winter coat, a black saddle appears on his back.

See the resemblance? :)

Rock Star was an only ferret for about ten months...and then I got Ziggy. A few months later, Cupid and Dave moved in. A couple of months after that George found me. And, of course, most recently, little Milo Mouse. (They call it "Ferret Math" and there is no cure) Each are unique and I have a special relationship with each one. Rocky will always be my first, however, and will always have that number one space in my heart.

Happy Birthday, Little One!