As the World Dooks On…
has been a long time. Much too long.
See those sweet faces in my site header? Everyone of them are now Bridge Babies. Since I acquired them all in a relatively short window and they were all close to the same age, once illnesses started to present in my babies, they all scrambled away in a fairly steady procession.
Every single one of them took a piece of me with them.
Obviously, Popcorn was my first to leave. The first to leave me after starting this blog was
Popcorn and Beelzebub
my heart ferret, Beelzebub.
Azzy left next. My little star that I featured here. Such a handsome little personality… gained his wings. Which left me wondering what to do here without him.
I ‘believe’ it was either just before, or just following Azzy’s departure that Cthulhu came into our lives. Cthulhu was a sweet baby Waardie, and everyone picked on him so badly…especially Loki…I decided to let Cthulhu be an only ferret for my son, Bishop.
If I am not mistaken, Loki was the next to cross. I lost him to adrenal disease, despite my best efforts. He passed in my son’s arms one Spring afternoon.
Baby Shiva
Shiva followed. He had been diagnosed with insulinoma after experiencing mild seizures. He was given two medications to help his BG, as well as Carnivore Care and extra soupies. But one night, he went into screaming seizures, and I rushed him to an emergency vet. They were able to stop the seizures, but there was no evidence of any functionality afterwards. So I held my sweet boy as they helped him to the bridge. Let me tell you, screaming seizures are one of the worst things you could witness. Insulinoma is no joke.
It was a few months after Shiva’s passing that I noticed my sweet Kali was fading away. I suspect she was grieving Shiva badly. I mean, they were selected from the same tank of kits. The birth certificates I received for them indicated they came from the same litter. When we picked out Shiva, Kali did her best to get out of that tank. She would not let him go without her. So, I guess, it should have come as no surprise that she would give up without him. And it gutted me when she did.
That left me with three little furbabies… Lili, Zeekaboo, and Cthulhu, who was still caged
Baby Cthulhu
separately. But Lili and Zeekaboo were starting to experience their own struggles. Lily was suffering from adrenal disease and Zeekaboo had a chordoma on the tip of his tail. I lost Lili first, her tiny body finally succumbing to the disease, completely unaffected by the Lupron shots from her vet.
Zeekaboo had the chordoma removed from his tail. With Lili gone, I allowed Zeekaboo and Cthulhu to share a cage and playtime… Zeekaboo was the only one of my originals that got along with Cthulhu. And CooCoo seemed much happier having another fuzzy to cuddle with.
But then, the ugly and vicious insulinoma reared its head in Zeekaboo. He was also given medications, and soupies. I tried my best, but in the end, insulinoma won. At least Zeekaboo was not stolen by screaming seizures. But it devastated me, all the same.
Cthulhu and his favorite person, Bishop.
And then, it was just sweet Cthulhu. Alone again.
For the first time in years, I had one ferret. Things were quiet. Somber. He was the sweetest boy, but it was clear he enjoyed having a companion. My heart could not take the losses, though. I’d just gone through years of saying goodbye to 2 or 3 ferrets per year. Yes, it could have been much worse. Some people lose their babies back to back. I am grateful, at least, they they all chose their exits one at a time. But I was a very different person afterwards. I considered shutting down this blog, even. How could I come back here and post ferret related content when my family that inspired me so was gone?
I was at Petco one February afternoon for food and treats when I noticed a fish aquarium in the front corner of the store, behind the checkout stands. Inside this aquarium was a little bedding, a plastic castle made for hamsters and other small rodents, a small water bottle, and a single silver and white ferret. Desperately trying to reach the top of the tank. I approached the aquarium.
It was a young girl.
My mischievous Furiosa.
I asked the cashiers why she was there. She looked a little inflamed in her private region and I wasn’t sure if maybe she was ill. They told me she was older than the new batch of kits they just received, and she played too rough with them, so they had to separate her. She was discounted.
I could not leave her there.
When checking out, after purchasing a few more supplies for her, they informed me if I did not keep her on a Marshall’s diet, I would void her warranty. To which I snapped, “I do not need a warranty. She is going to her forever home.”
That little girl is The Furiosa. More specifically, Phoebe Furiosa. She is usually called Feef. Or sometimes Fifi. But she lives up to Furiosa quite enthusiastically.
It took a little time, but Feef and Cthulhu made good companions for each other. CooCoo tolerated her rambunctious behavior, and gave her a warm body to snuggle with. By this time, his age was starting to catch up, but he was a tolerant boy.
The following Christmas, I was taken to a small pet store on Christmas Eve. The hubs wanted to show me something. That something was a cage with three kits in it. He said I could pick one.
Had money allowed, I would have taken all three, because I think of those other two all the time. The boy was very bitey, something I think he would’ve grown out of quickly, with love and patience. One girl was super friendly and gentle. I had no doubt she would be an easy sell, with such a sweet demeanor. The other girl was friendly, but very hesitant. Timid, really.
She was the one I selected.
I left my name and number and BEGGED them to call me if they couldn’t sell the other two. I warned them that ferrets returned to the breeder did not get second chances. I didn’t want to leave one ferret behind. Honestly, I think the boy needed the home more, because of his biting, but I was worried about how rough he might be with Cthulhu. But I never received a call from them. I hope like hell that little one found a good home. It eats at me.
Adorable Pixi
That little girl that came home with me is Pixi. In so many ways, she reminds me of my Kali. They had similar features, as well as interests and temperament. Both vivacious, both adventurous. These days, Pixi’s fur is a lot lighter, as she has blown out much of her darker fur with the changing seasons. But she is incredibly soft, and incredibly affectionate. The biggest kisser I have. You cannot not love her. It is impossible. Everyone that meets Pixi, loves her.
It was a small family, but a happy one. Even with Cthulhu getting older. He had two young ladies to snuggle with. All was right with the world.
Almost a year later to the day, my cousin sent me a link to a Craigslist ad that was offering two ferrets for free. Panic set in. Free ferrets on Craigslist often does not end well for the poor angels. I contacted the seller immediately. Over the phone, he indicated he only wanted to rehome the dark one, as it was more aggressive, and wanted to keep the white one. I asked if they were bonded, because if they were, it would be very traumatic for them to be split up. As I was explaining all this to the seller, he sent me a text message saying he wanted me to have them both. My guess was he didn’t want to upset his children.
We made plans for me to stop by that evening and collect them both.
I arrived, expecting two males. one white, one dark. But what he handed me…out of his
Pretty Luna
bathtub, no less, was an immaculate DEW girl, and a sandy colored girl. Two girls. They’d been calling the white one Buddy. Didn’t even name the sandy colored one. And she was incredibly tiny. He said he didn’t have any food to give me for them because he was giving them lunch meat. I promised him and his daughters that I would take very good care of them both. We loaded them into a carrier I had brought, and headed home.
Sweet Nani
The tiny girl was starving. Just starving. I suspect if they were seeing any food aggression with her, as the guy mentioned, that was why. I made extra soup and fed her first, alone, to make sure she was getting enough. And then I gave everyone soupies. There was something heartwarming about five carpet sharks all eating soup out of a big bowl together.
It did not take long for everyone to adjust to each other. The new girls were named. The pretty white girl was named Lunacy, or Luna. And the tiny sandy girl was named Shenanigans, or Nani. They played and ate and snuggled like one huge, happy family. CooCoo was surrounded by girls. Luna and Nani seemed particularly fond of him.
A happy family dinner
But CooCoo experienced the same issue my Beelzebub had… and tumors appeared in his groin. We had surgery performed, and he did very well. He recovered, and was happy and healthy again. For a while. In the end, surgery gave him, I believe, another year. While it didn’t feel long enough for us, for a ferret, that is a long time. The tumors came back, more aggressively. So, as heartbreaking as it was, we had to help him cross. My son was just devastated. Cthulhu left us for the bridge, even at the end, a sweet and considerate soul.
Nani snuggling with Cthulhu
The four girls are fine. They are happy, lively, playful. Pixi and Nani always give kisses. Luna often gives kisses, as well. Feef lick chomps like there’s no tomorrow. They all have my heart, and I try to enjoy each moment with them thoroughly, because they won’t be here forever. I have no idea even how old Luna and Nani are, I figure they are at least as old as Feef and Pixi. But I want them all to be happy. I no longer give them N-Bones because I worry that the preservatives in them might be detrimental to their health, but I am gonna buy some Pickle Juice for them to see how they like it. (It’s not actual pickle juice, by the way. That’s the product name.) If they like it, maybe I can convince one of them to review it for you.
Just like Azzy used to.
Pixi loves soupies a little too much
Love your babies. They are angels temporarily granted to you. Looking back, it will feel like they were only here for an instant. But they will stay with you for an eternity, in your heart, and your memories, and in your dreams.
Each one, a tiny universe that sucks you in.
2015 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,200 times in 2015. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.
Kali – My Warrior Princess
Cute. Fluffy. Soft. Bitey.
Sex: Female
Color: Chocolate Sable
Age: 7 years
From the moment I met her, Kali was an unstoppable force of ‘Yes’. She is smaller than the boys, and has dainty features, but that is where delicate ends. She could out-climb any of the boys, hold her own in any fur-clad wrestling match, and kicked up more rice in a spirited dig box dance than even Azzy.
Kali the Explorer
Meanwhile, my daughter and husband had been playing with a little sable girl. Since both Popcorn and Beelzebub had been light coated, they wanted a dark ferret for a change. I wanted the reincarnation of my beloved Popcorn. So I told them no. We were getting Shiva. The associate put the little girl back.
I had barely looked at her before. But I saw them place her in the cage. And then I saw her desperately scramble to try to reach the aquarium top. She was so determined to get to us. She was… irresistible. “We can’t just leave her here, now,” I argued.
Kneepads! She is such a beautiful little girl.
Kali quickly proved to be a spunky little girl. She was super active, incredibly curious, and determined to climb on top of every item she saw. She grew into a gorgeous fuzzy. Her fur was always soft, really fluffy. She had the cutest little ‘kneepads’ on her back legs, that my youngest son always calls ‘bee’s knees’. And she was a total diva. She constantly tried getting into my makeup bags. She had this peculiar habit of licking my eyelashes, eyelids, and eyebrows. A complete prissy weirdo. My little girl.
She also had another habit that became her most notorious quirk… the infamous ‘lick, lick, chomp’.
It’s not an unusual behavior for ferrets. I’m not sure if it’s a preening tic, or what. I used to call it love bites. I’ve heard of other ferrets doing the same thing. She’d come up to me and start licking my arm. And then, after a number of licks, she’d bite. Not hard enough to break the skin. I don’t think that was ever the plan. It was funnier than it was uncomfortable-except when she tried to do her ‘lick chomp’ on the backside of my arm, above my elbow. THAT never felt good. I think she kinda enjoyed my squeals of discomfort. For years, I was the only one she’d do that to.
And I was completely smitten.
Maybe my favorite Christmas card design… Kali and Shiva together. Always makes me smile.
I hope she doesn’t, not yet. My heart will be shattered when she does. And to think, I almost left her in that store. There’s not a day that passes that I’m not grateful I insisted one bringing her home with us. She’s my little girl. My Xena Warrior. My soul. I cannot imagine these past years without her. And I know I will never be ready to say goodbye.
UPDATE: November 4th, 2015. 8:00pm
I received the call as I was headed home. Kali has gone to the bridge. She took a piece of me with her. DIP, my fierce little angel. I love you so very much, Kali.
An Update and a Plaintive Appeal in Defense of Ferrets
Last week, I posted a rather inflamed response to the Fraim news story, written as I seethed over the countless comments plastered all over the internet from so many people who have virtually no knowledge of ferrets or the kind of pets they really are. And while my opinion on the matter has not changed, even in light of further news, I do regret part of my spontaneous tirade. I am not a conspiracy theorist by nature, and I am not a radical, so I did make a small edit to my previous entry.
But I am, unapologetically, a dedicated ferret lover. I know my ferrets. I know they are much like other ferrets. And I know these are not vicious creatures.
Ferrets have unconditional love and trust for their humans. They make remarkable and fascinating pets for any family willing to address their needs properly.
Last weeks post currently has close to 3200 views, and almost 1200 shares on Facebook. Madness! While I hoped my friends would read it, I did not anticipate such a wide scope of visibility. I definitely would’ve tempered my fury had I realized so may people would take interest in what I had to say. It is true I was quite angered when I posted it. Very hard not to be, when it seems like a world of people turns against you because your gut calls shenanigans. And I wasn’t alone in my outrage. Many of us remain distressed by this recent atrocity.
Further news reports, such as THIS, have indicated that charges will be filed against the parents. Nonetheless, the articles do not retract their initial claims that the attack was perpetrated by the ferrets. Police maintain that their evidence clearly implicates the ferrets, because the mother witnessed part of the attack.
What the mother witnessed… after being upstairs for an undisclosed period of time… was two ferrets sitting on her baby. I have not read any articles that mention the ferrets actually eating the baby. They were sitting on her while she was crying. Considering that the mother’s negligence put the baby in harm’s way, and she is being charged as a result, why is her testimony being assumed as correct? How much credibility should the public give to such a statement, under those suspicious circumstances?
I had assumed in such a case, a necropsy would be performed. Why wouldn’t the investigators seek to prove what happened to baby Skye? As it is, the agency chose not to perform any such tests on any of the euthanized animals. So their true role in this attack is, and will now remain, hearsay. The rabies tests did confirm there was no rabies in the ferrets, so that was ruled out. Not a surprise to ferret owners, who know already that rabies is incredibly rare in ferrets. But no further evidence to prove whether there was – or was not – human tissue in the ferrets’ bellies. A necropsy wasn’t performed on the cats, either. Just pointing that out, because cats have similar bite marks to ferrets. And it is not unheard of for a cat to be easily spooked. What if they had a feral cat in the house? People do take in feral cats on occasion. Those details should have been explored for possible explanations, but they weren’t. Or, at least, if they were, those details have not been disclosed.
Ferrets are not, by nature, aggressive with small children. Some show themselves to be protective over their small humans, even.
This entire story is out of character with ferrets. They are simply not naturally aggressive animals. Their cousins, the black-footed ferrets, skunks, minks, stoats, least weasels, otters, and badgers? Those are all wild animals, and skilled hunters. But domesticated ferrets have been our loving companions longer than dogs. They are still used as workers in some countries, and are recently achieving popularity as service companions. There are reports of ferrets who have saved their owners who have suffered from seizures, and I’ve even read stories of ferrets who saved their owners from home fires. These are not the monsters the media seeks to portray them as. Articles on either subject may be found here and here, for example. (And isn’t it a shame that the news doesn’t report stories such as these? Ferrets never seem to make the news for the good they do.)
My youngest son has been around ferrets since he was a very young child. Ask him what his favorite pet is, and he will tell you it’s Shiva, one of our oldest ferrets. The ferrets all see him as a playmate, not a chew toy. Considering he has never gotten so much as scratched by any of the ferrets we’ve owned, I’d say they have been very well-behaved pets, indeed. If I ever witnessed any behavior from my ferrets that indicated they were unpredictable or untrustworthy, as a mother, I would be compelled to reconsider my decision to keep them. But they have not… not even once.
My seven year old son taking a nap with Beelzebub. He was never once scratched or bitten by B.B., and it was quite common to find them napping together.
There have been times my dogs growled at someone, or barked enough to be intimidating. Sometimes they need to be put outside when there’s company. They’re not mean dogs and they haven’t bitten anyone, but let’s face it, dogs can still bite. Even the nice ones. And then there’s my baby cat, Leo. I loved him to death. He was so sweet, so affectionate, to every one of us that lived with him. But to men he was less familiar with? Forget it. He could shred your arm in the blink of an eye. I understood where his aggression stemmed from, but he earned the nickname ‘Satan’ among my friends. He would’ve made an excellent candidate for ‘My Cat From Hell’. But we loved him, and worked around his quirks, until he fell sick and eventually crossed the bridge at the age of 15.
So why does society adore its cats and dogs with such blind love, and yet despise our ferrets? I’m not sure I will ever understand what sparks such vehemence towards an animal that I know by experience to be THE most gentle of any pet I’ve loved. Why hasn’t the media done more to discuss the true nature of domesticated ferrets, rather than just post these horribly tragic events that are almost always proven to be false? And why doesn’t anyone ever remember that fact?
With proper parental supervision, ferrets and babies make sweet playmates. Show your children how to properly handle and care for ferrets, and they will grow with a lifelong appreciation of our sweet fuzzies. Photo courtesy of Kristina Smith.
I would still trust my ferrets over your cats and dogs any day of the week. I will gladly offer loving homes to ferrets in the future, despite the negative image the police and media have insisted on promoting, because I know that image is false and unjust. No child should ever be left unattended and strapped in a car seat. Not ever. So I cannot, in good faith, take the testimony of someone who neglected their child and then placed blame on their ferrets as anything less than her covering up her mistake.
Please bear in mind, I am not a news reporter, journalist, or a representative of any organization. I am a ferret lover and owner, expressing my opinions about this sad fiasco. And now, because of this story, there are ferrets being surrendered to shelters by owners who suddenly believe their fuzzy is gonna attack their children. My heart breaks for those innocent animals. And my gut reaction, when I see people saying such despicable things about them, is to fight back. I am not a crazy person, and I am not a threat to anyone, or anything else. But I love my ferrets, and I will speak up in their defense whenever the need arises. The same as I would for my kids. Mothers are the fiercest warriors when it comes to protecting their children, both the flesh and furry varieties. I cannot apologize that I am compelled to protest when our ferrets are unfairly attacked and accused.
I can only be sorry that, in this day and age, I would still need to.
Does this baby look afraid to you? Does this ferret look dangerous? Misconceptions and lack of knowledge may tarnish their reputations, but ferrets are beloved and cherished members of their families, and deserve a fair chance. Photo courtesy of Kristina Smith.
Special thanks goes to Kristina Smith, for kindly sharing the photos of her sweet little babies. I cannot say enough how heartwarming such pictures are to ferret lovers everywhere.
Stellar News Reporting Once Again Lets Stupid Out Of Its Box… aka Another Bogus News Story Runs Amuck
Here we go again.
Didn’t they learn anything last time? Remember THIS? Everyone jumped on the ‘ferrets are evil and vicious and should never be owned as pets’ bandwagon, and for what? Little Waldo had NO HUMAN TISSUE in his system. Nada. You know what that means?
Yeah. HE DIDN’T EAT THE BABY’S FINGERS!
I apologize for yelling, but seriously. When THIS hit the news last week, the Stupid showed itself quicker than a bad stab at auto-tune. (FYI… that’s pretty quick.)
At times like this, people need to think with their heads. I know, I know, that’s just crazy talk! Obviously the baby didn’t eat her own face, so it must be the ferrets. But why is that? Because of all those statistics that show hundreds of ferret bites and killings that make the news every year? As I told someone else who made that statement on NANCY GRACE’s Facebook page, please cite your sources. You can’t… because they don’t exist. If you choose to argue the safety of owning dogs and cats OVER ferrets, be my guest. Oh, but take a look at THIS first, thanks. And then we can talk likelihood and probability.
Let us take a moment to review the ferret basics…
If you are afraid of THIS, then trust me, you got bigger issues to worry about. Cause OH MY GOD, how cute is THAT?! Photo of ZigZag Clover, courtesy of Frisky Business Ferretry.
Ferrets are a member of the mustelid family. They are related to otters, minks, stoats/ermines, weasels, skunks, and black-footed ferrets. They are NOT, in any way possible, related to rodents. They are obligate carnivores, meaning they must eat meat. Not unlike cats. They are NEVER herbivores, nor do they have the same teeth as rats. They are not wild, not even remotely, and were domesticated over 2500 years ago. They’ve been kept as pets and companions LONGER than dogs. They sleep roughly 18 to 20 hours a day, and spend their play time either wrestling each other, or playing with their owners. They love toys such as small stuffed animals and jingly balls. They will steal stuff, yes, and stash them someplace, like under a bed or couch. The Latin word for ferret is furittus… which means ‘little thief’. They will use a litter box, much like a cat, if you are diligent in training them. They do have a slight odor, but if you wash their bedding regularly, that is a non issue.
I have been in cat and dog homes that REEK. So don’t talk to me about how smelly they are. Your arguments are invalid. And don’t talk to me about how mean they are. They are not. My ferrets will not hurt you, even if you hurt them. They won’t need to… if you harm my ferrets, I will rip you to pieces before you can even smirk. Do NOT mess with my babies. You’ve been warned.
And any ferret owner will tell you the same. When these horrific stories hit the masses, we all brace ourselves for the backlash, because we know it’s coming. There are few pets more demonized than ferrets. It makes no sense at all to me that some individual who has never held a ferret, claims to know enough to run their mouth (or fingers) about them. And it’s always bad. (They probably type that rubbish as they pet their sloppy, drooling dogs, and comment on what a good baby they are.) Be forewarned, I have no respect for individuals who think they are immediatley superior because they fall into the ‘dog person’ or ‘cat person’ category. I don’t think that makes you superior. And it certainly doesn’t make you original.
My ferrets are extremely affable. They are curious, playful, and affectionate. They DO NOT BITE us, or any person I’ve ever introduced them to. I can’t get them to eat raw, so believe me, you do NOT look delicious to them. Though they will lick you. Probably a lot. They kiss. That’s hardly threatening.
Photo courtesy of #IggyIsWeird
The three ferrets in this case were euthanized immediately. The news said it was for rabies prevention, but have you looked into how many cases of rabid ferrets are found every year? It’s almost non-existent data. Currently, cats are the highest risk for rabies in domestic pets. So… three ferrets died. The public is outraged that ferrets could hurt that poor baby. HELLO! Be furious, yes. AT THE PARENTS. Because the ferrets weren’t eating the baby. They were licking the baby. FERRETS WILL LICK JUST ABOUT ANYTHING. And for that, they were destroyed, and now the masses are screaming again.
Ironically, this is also around the time several bills are being decided upon. Bills that could legalize ferret ownership in New York City and California. I do not think this is a coincidence. Something bad happened to that baby, yes. But I think the ferrets are being purposely blamed as part of a bigger plan. Yes, sounds like conspiracy theory propaganda, right? Go ahead, roll your eyes. Please. I can wait. Right now.
Edit 2/1: I did regret not removing this paragraph before posting this last week. I promise I was not wearing a tin foil cap and preparing my underground bunker. I allowed my passions to get the best of me. Passion is a good thing, but I am nothing if not reasonable. I am also honest, which is why I choose to simply strike through it. I am admitting I spoke out of line here, and I’m not covering up that fact.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Larsen
The right person gets killed by a pit bull, and the witch hunt will begin again. It’s just a matter of time, but it will happen. Mark my words. But keep this in mind… pit bulls have instincts, as all dogs do. They don’t all attack. It has to do with how they’re bred and how they’re raised. That goes for any animal. You wanna keep your Fido, you best start paying attention to what’s happening here.
Ferrets ARE NOT vicious. They do not attack and eat children. EVER. Over 500,000 of them in this country, being kept in homes, most with children. If they were truly a danger to anyone, there would be news stories all the time about the vicious attacks.
Photo courtesy of Sydni Madison Bowers.
Don’t tell me about the dangers of ferrets. First, admit that people are horrible, vicious, violent, and destructive. We ARE the biggest monsters on this planet. Our children are not safe from people. Those little ferrets are the least of your worries. Who hurt baby Skye? I don’t know. Perhaps the parents. Perhaps the dog. Perhaps even a wild animal… such as a raccoon.
Wait for the necropsy. The ferrets DID NOT eat that child’s face. Like Waldo, there will be no human tissue found in those ferrets.
SHAME ON THE MEDIA for such irresponsible journalism. Shame on the police for being gullible enough to buy that bullshit story from two people who were already under investigation for being bad parents. And shame on everyone who buys in to all the hype and spreads this ferret hatred around. If you are one of those people, YOU are part of the problem. Congratulations.
Be very afraid… they just might snuggle you to death!
*Special thanks to Frisky Business Ferretry, IggyIsWeird, Jennifer Larsen, and Sydni Madison Bowers for your wonderful photo contributions. You made this post adorable, and I am indebted to you.
I will update any further developments in this story. The truth WILL come out.*
A Letter to Beelzebub
Beelzebub
It’s been a month to the day since I had to let you go, and not a day has passed that I am not painfully aware of your absence. The whole gang is more subdued, so I know it’s not just me. We are all grieving here.
I know that nothing was the same for you once Popcorn left for the bridge. I tried to help you forget, but that was a useless endeavor. You still mourned, even as you slept and played with a number of new companions. I watched you eat less, lose weight, and lose that playfulness that brought me so much laughter. Eventually, you got some of it back, but it was never quite the same for you, was it?
The one thing that didn’t change was your affection. Even when Popcorn was still here, you were my cuddle bug. You were just as happy to sleep in my arms or on my chest as you were snuggled in your favorite hammy. You often stuck out your tongue and whimpered in your sleep, and every single time you did, my heart melted more. I’d hold you like that for an hour, sometimes two, before you were ready to go back to your hammy.
I should’ve known that precious time would be over too soon. Isn’t that the way it always goes? We people get so distracted by the stress and drama in our lives, we often forget to appreciate what we have. And it wasn’t that I forgot to appreciate you, my BB. But I would’ve paid even more attention, taken more pictures, looked for ways to give you new adventures and treats. I always knew you’d be the first to go, but that’s cause I had you first. I still hoped and prayed that the bridge would be years away. I truly was not ready to let you go.
I’m still not ready.
Beelzebub and Popcorn were partners in silly. I’ve never seen a happier pair of fuzzies.
You are sitting right beside Popcorn on my headboard, slightly more than a foot from where I sleep and dream. I saved your last N-Bone for you, and every night I sleep with your blanket. It’s not a good substitute for you, not even close. I’ve looked at pet psychic sites, because I am that desperate to hear from you and to find some way, no matter how ‘out there’ it sounds, to let you know how much I love you, and how badly I am missing you.
Maybe what I’m looking for is someone to tell me it really was time for you to make your journey. Because no matter how logical I try to be, I’m just not sure. When they tried to put the gas mask on you, you fought it. It could’ve been that the gas was smelly, and that you’ve always fought things like medicines and nail trims, even when you realized you ‘liked’ the medicines, or enjoyed the tone you’d get to distract you as your claws were trimmed. I tried to keep you calm, but you were not gonna lay there and take that mask calmly. Even the vet tried to calm you. He was very nice about it all, and assured me afterwards that the tests he ran confirmed that your little body was riddled with the cancer. He said what we did was an act of mercy. But what I need to know is if you think we were merciful. Everyone says that our fuzzies will let us know when it’s time, however, I’m not sure you were ready. Nothing has scared me more than the possibility that there was more we could’ve done to help you. I worry that the vet might not have told me about possible things that could make you more comfortable and prolong your life. Please, please believe me, baby. I would’ve done those things in a heartbeat, had they told me of them. I would not ever want to take even a second away from you.
But I didn’t want to be so selfish that I couldn’t see your pain. It was obvious something was wrong. You were starting to breathe heavy, in a way I’ve never seen. When they said they couldn’t give you the shot, I wondered if it wouldn’t be better to just take you home. But then I had no way of knowing how much pain you were in. I didn’t want you to hurt. I didn’t want you to be scared. And I know that when it was all said and done, you just went to sleep. We should all be so lucky to go that way, I guess. But it wasn’t a decision I wanted to make. Please know that I only wanted the best possible outcome for you, BB. They told me that was it. My heart is still not sure of that, but then, it’s still very broken.
I’ve only had the one dream of you, so far, and it’s hard not to think it was a message. If it was, then I should feel more at peace with the choice I had to make. It was a beautiful dream. I remind myself of it all the time. But it’s not easy to reconcile making the decision to stop your heart and send you to the bridge. You weren’t even six years old. You deserved years to play, to be a silly, vibrant, lovable ferret. Why couldn’t I give you that?
It’s funny, I thought it would be easy to put my feelings into this letter, but it’s not. I am still crushed, still devastated. I can be fine one second, and the next second, feel like someone completely gutted me. That’s every day now. It has not gotten any easier.
I miss the way you would chase me around the room, and leap at me with your little claws open wide… and miss my leg by a foot. I don’t know if you really overestimated your jumps, or if you were just going for the laughs. I miss the way you always nibbled at my toes, especially if my toenails were painted bright colors. I miss the way you always insisted on laying on top of the N-bone bag and eating yours while it was in the bag, so none of the others could get to their treats. I miss your smell, your whimpers, and more than anything, I miss your kisses.
You were my very special fuzzy, BB. Where ever you are, I hope you remember what I told you that day. It is still as true now as it always will be. No other ferret will ever replace you in my heart, little one. You are my sunshine, my sweetheart. I hope you’ll come back to see me. And I hope when you do, I’ll know you’re there.
Eternally. There are no words. You are in my heart forever, my little angel.
I love you, Beelzebub.
Beelzebub’s last Christmas. Such a sweetheart. He will always be this to me.
Big Fuzzy News Announcement in Hollywood!
Casting continues for Alison Parker’s upcoming feature film, The Ferret Squad. The movie centers on Max (played by Smallville‘s Connor Stanhope) and his pet ferret, Digger, who move to California, where ferret ownership is prohibited. Digger is a fugitive, as Max helps a group of kids called The Ferret Squad rescue and adopt ferrets in southern California. When Digger’s cover is blown, it’s up to Max, the Ferret Squad, and a kind neighbor (played by 2012‘s Blu Mankuma) to defy authority and get Digger to safety before Max loses him forever.
Breaking news has leaked that the lead ferret, Digger, has finally been cast. The role will be played by none other than FALCOR!
Falcor portrayed Jasper in indie sensation, Jake and Jasper: A Ferret Tale
Falcor, the first ferret to EVER have his own IMDB page, is no amateur actor. Last year he played Jasper in the indie hit, Jake and Jasper: A Ferret Tale, which continues to garner film festival awards. Prior to Jasper, Falcor has also starred in several Marshalls product commercials, a short informational video titled Ferret Facts (which now boasts over 7 million views on the internet), and a public service announcement for LegalizeFerrets.org with fellow Ferret Squad cast member, Sierra Pitkin. It aired in LA on such channels as HGTV, Discovery, and Animal Planet, just to name a few.
Earlier this year, the announcement was made that Falcor was retiring from acting to enjoy time at home. But the rousing interest of his fans has prompted his owner, Alison Parker, to postpone his retirement and bring him back to the big screen.
“I struggled with this decision for a long time, because I am Falcor’s human, and I didn’t want to be distracted by him while filming,” says Director Alison Parker. “But the fans have spoken, and Falcor has won their hearts. I didn’t want to let the fans down.”
When asked about Falcor’s well-being and concern over the potential stress that
Fans everywhere will be overjoyed to see Falcor playing lead ferret, Digger.
accompanies such a commanding lead role, Parker laughs. “Falcor is a very happy ferret, and I want to give him the best life I can. I’ve never seen him happier than when he is in training for a film role. He loves attention, and he especially loves treats!”
Professional ferrets are not commonplace in Hollywood, due in part to anti-ferret laws in LA, combined with the independent nature of most ferrets. But Falcor is a consummate performer with impressive screen presence and charm.
“Falcor is an incredibly talented animal actor, so it was a no brainer for me as a casting director, ” says Travis Doering. “He’s also non-union, which is great for our budget.”
Falcor appeared in a public service announcement for Legalize Ferrets.org that aired on several T.V. channels in LA.
The Ferret Squad is an endearing film with an important message. Parker hopes to enlighten audiences to the true nature of pet ferrets, and the need for ferret rescues and shelters. Also pivotal is the subject of anti-ferret legislation in California, which ferret owners everywhere desire to see changed.
Falcor is a fuzzy veteran actor, and fans can’t get enough of him!
The movie will start production in August 2012. Donations are still very much appreciated, to fund filming. Many fantastic companies have shown their support by donating, such as Ferret Depot, Ferret.com, and The Ferret Sqaud’s media partner, Diversity News Publications.
Please consider contributing to this worthy effort. Donations can be made at The Ferret Squad’s Indiegogo page, or you can visit the website. Fundraising ends on June 10th, so make your donations as soon as possible. All donors receive wonderful perks for their contributions, in addition to the knowledge that you are helping change the futures for hundreds of thousands of ferrets currently living in California.
Falcor the Ferret can be found on Twitter at @FalcortheFerret or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FalcortheFerret. He loves hearing from his fans, so stop by and give him ‘tweatz’.
If you are interested in more information about the film, or would like to schedule an interview with Alison, email her at ferretsquadmedia@gmail.com.
Falcor says, “I iz ready for my cwose up!”
The Fight for Ferrets Meets The Ferret Squad
The Ferret Squad – Alison Parker’s new feature film project!
Here in Virginia, ferret ownership is legal. Quality vet care and superior foods are readily available to fuzzy owners. You can walk them on the streets or carry them to the pet store with you. And many of you probably assume that the rest of the country is the same, right? Sadly, the answer is NO.
The Historical Growth of Misinformation and a Sad State of Affairs.
One of the most progressive states in the US lives under a shroud of restrictions and misinformation: CALIFORNIA. How can such a cornerstone of this country be so maligned? It started back in 1933, when a statute entitled ‘The Importation and Transportation of Live Wild Animals’ was enacted. Basically it banned animals that were not native to California, including all types of ferrets. Back then, of course, domesticated ferrets were not the popular pets they are today, but neutered males were permitted by those who wanted them. For many years, the law went unchallenged. But in the 80’s, ferret lovers began coming forward to request that the law be modified to allow the admittance of spayed females as well. At that time, the judge would usually order that the males be neutered first, and then the California Fish & Game would be ordered to issue a permit that would allow the petitioner their spayed female.
Fish and Game didn’t want to do that. So they began a very negative campaign, involving falsified studies from the California Department of Health to spread inaccurate information about domesticated ferrets. (They later confessed they felt they were supposed to write an overly biased report and had no intentions of showing objectivity in their findings.) They claimed ferrets were a high rabies risk, viciously aggressive toward people and other animals, and would get loose and form uncontrollable feral colonies that would destroy crops and livestock. Of course, none of that is scientifically accurate. The truth was that in 300 years, only a dozen or so cases of ferrets with rabies were ever documented. And as to ferret attacks? Please! Domesticated dogs, coincidentally, are involved in more than 15 deaths per year, as well as thousands of rabies cases.
But dogs are still legal in California. As are cats. Despite the evidence that cats and dogs are far more aggressive and far more likely to pose a health risk, only ferrets are euthanized if found by Cali Fish and Game. Innocent law abiding citizens are vilified and punished if found owning these harmless companions. And for no other reason than prejudice and ignorance.
It’s time for this to stop… ferret owners should not have to live in fear. Ferrets need to be removed from the banned list. There is no scientific justification for this law.
The Ferret Squad… Saving the World, One Ferret at a Time!
Connor Stanhope plays Max in The Ferret Squad
In 2011, director and ferret advocate Alison Parker filmed Jake and Jasper: A Ferret Tale, a short film about a young boy who learns to deal with the loss of his mother through the companionship of a delightful ferret (played by Falcor the ferret, Parker’s personal pet fuzzy.) The film was well received by ferret lovers across the world, and received several indie film awards as well. Now, as a follow-up to the success of Jake and Jasper, Parker hopes to produce another film that will not only delight and entertain ferret lovers everywhere, but alert and educate the public at large to the huge injustice that continues in California.
The Ferret Squad is about a young man named Max who adopts a ferret from a local shelter, before finding out that his father is moving them to California to stay with family. Instead of leaving his ferret, Digger, with his best friend, he sneaks Digger into the truck and smuggles him into California, into the home of his aunt and cousins. It is there he meets the Ferret Squad, a group of young people who rescue ferrets in need and get them out of harm’s way–a tricky feat considering two of the kids are the children of an employee of California’s Fish and Game. But when Max finds himself on the receiving end of California’s wrath, it’s up to the Ferret Squad, with the help of a compassionate neighbor, to execute a risky maneuver to get the threatened ferrets over state lines before the law catches them.
Why Does a Movie Need MY Help?
Donate to The Ferret Squad today!
Making a movie is expensive. Actors, sets, ferrets… it adds up quickly. Jake and Jasper was completely donor funded. The Ferret Squad is, as well. But it is important that this movie does get made. Not just for entertainment purposes and the collective delight of hundreds of thousands of ferret lovers everywhere, but because of the message this film sends.
Over 500,000 ferrets live illegally in California today. That is a lot of ferrets that will be euthanized if the state finds them. Alison Parker, through The Ferret Squad, hopes to enlighten more people to the injustice pet owners endure in California. In addition, she hopes to show the world at large how meaningful owning ferrets can be, and why so many people are willing to risk so much to share their lives with them.
And one more thing I want to share with you, why assisting The Ferret Squad is so important. There are a number of ferret goods manufacturers that will not support the movie, in any manner. They don’t believe ferrets will ever be legalized. Rather than rally behind a cause they should have a deeply vested interest in, they turn their backs on the very animals they are in business for. It is disappointing, to say the least. I really don’t understand their rationale. The inability to change the law in the past does not indicate that all efforts will continue to end in failure. But should we all just give up fighting the way they have, then yes, that does equal failure.
I want to see The Ferret Squad succeed. I want to see this movie made, and more people coming forward to demand their rights as pet owners. I want to see a brighter future for all those innocent ferrets on the wrong side of the state line.
What you can do is really very simple: DONATE. It doesn’t have to be much. There are perks for all donors. In addition to helping fund an important feature film, you will be donating to the fight to legalize ferrets. Alison Parker is donating 5% of all donations to LegalizeFerrets.org, to assist in their fight.
PLEASE DONATE TODAY! All donations can be made on The Ferret Squad Indiegogo page at http://www.indiegogo.com/TheFerretSquad.
Your support is imperative, but more than that, it is deeply appreciated. Whether or not you own a ferret, or a cat, or a dog, you understand how important our companions are in our lives. Would you ever want your state banning your precious pet? We all must stand together, to ensure that this injustice ends, and pets everywhere are protected. NOT victimized.
For more information on The Ferret Squad and how you can help, visit http://www.theferretsquad.com, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheFerretSquad.
If you like what you have read, please share this post on your social network sites!
*Historical information can be found at http://www.goldenstateferretsociety.org/pdfs/FerretHistoryWhyIllegal
THE FERRET SQUAD Needs YOUR Help!
Jake and Jasper: A Ferret Tale
Directed by Alison Parker 
Starring Connor Stanhope, Andrew Jackson, Nina Hagerty, Blu Mankuma, and Falcor the Ferret
Jake and Jasper: A Ferret Tale is a short film about a young boy who is having a hard time coping with the death of his mother. Then Jake (Connor Stanhope, Smallville) receives a gift from his sister, Jessie (Nina Hagerty) a precocious ferret he names Jasper. Suddenly Jake isn’t so lonely anymore, as he developes an unbreakable bond with his new fuzzy buddy. That is until his special friendship garners unwanted attention at school, and gets him in more trouble than ever before. When his father (Andrew Jackson) decides that it’s time to separate the boy from his pet, Jake takes Jasper and runs away. As the pair tries to get through the woods to Jake’s sister’s house, they encounter dangers that threaten to keep them apart forever.
Falcor the ferret makes the finest fuzzy leading man in Jake and Jasper.
Family friendly movies are hard to come by these days… family movies with a real live ferret just being himself, well, that’s one in a million. Hollywood and the media have both played a part in the past in misconstruing the nature of domesticated ferrets, so a film such as Jake and Jasper is a welcome respite in today’s cinematic offerings. Those unfamiliar with the personality of ferrets can get a small taste by watching this movie, and those already won over by the charismatic little critters will be tickled to see an authentic fuzzy in action on screen.
If you are looking for an endearing movie that will be equally adored by people of all ages, Jake and Jasper will be an excellent choice. It is a refreshing change of pace from today’s CGI heavy, unbelievably graphic films.
Still not sure this is the movie for you? Check out the trailer:
FuzzyFriskyFierce 