From:
wls@astro.umd.edu
Date: 2002-05-17 22:35:00 UTC
Subject: Bridgett is gone
Bridgett, our senior ferret, passed away on May 11. She was 8 years old. FML
old-timers may remember her as one of our original group of 5 ferrets: Ben,
Jerry, Buttercup, Bridgett, and Jasmine. All are now at the Rainbow Bridge.
You can see pictures of Bridgett at these URLs:
http://furo.astro.umd.edu/ferrets/bridgett/
http://furo.astro.umd.edu/images/bridgettAndBill/
Bridgett arrived at our home in April, 1995. She was a fearful, malnourished,
completely unsocialized young adult ferret. We rescued her from a life
imprisoned in a cat carrier in someone's basement; she didn't even have
a name. Bridgett didn't know how to play; a dangle toy waved near her
would only elicit a stare. She reacted to human hands by biting hard.
Socializing Bridgett was a challenge, but we soon saw progress. After about a
week, Bill was no longer bleeding every day. On her first vet trip, Bridgett
bit Dr. DiMaria, but by her second visit she only nipped the sleeve of her lab
coat. Seeing Bridgett's spirit blossom was heartwarming. She learned to play,
and she learned to trust us enough to stop biting us. Her relationship with
Ben, Jerry, and Buttercup was another story. Because she was full-grown and
didn't know how to interact with other ferrets, they rejected her violently,
forcing us to keep Bridgett in a separate cage for months. Finally, we decided
to get a ferret kit, Jasmine, to be a friend for Bridgett. The presence of a
kit mellowed our other ferrets, enabling them finally, after 7 months, to
accept Bridgett (well, mostly). There was always some tension between Buttercup
and Bridgett, although they got along well enough to live together.
Bridgett's favorite things in life were playing with miniature tennis balls,
eating Sheppard & Greene peanut butter treats, exploring the hallways near
Bill's office, and sleeping in polar fleece pouches. Like most rescued animals,
she loved to eat and would try almost anything---even dog biscuits. Despite
her early difficulties with her own species, she loved curling up with other
ferrets.
For most of her life, Bridgett battled adrenal disease. She had adrenal
surgery at age 2 and age 5. When symptoms recurred after the second surgery,
they were controlled for some time with Casodex. Two years ago, she stopped
eating on her own and was faithfully given a bowl of warm soup 3 or 4 times a
day ever since. She survived ECE at age 7. During the last year or so, she
looked so old that we nicknamed her "Granny." Although she was losing her hair
and slowing down, she still ate her soup eagerly and navigated the ramps and
connecting tube of her cage complex until a few days before she died. At the
end, her kidneys and bone marrow went into a downward spiral.
Losing a chronically ill ferret is hard; so much of the daily routine revolved
around taking care of her. We keep thinking it's time to get her food ready
or measure out her medicines.
Goodbye, Granny. We're happy that we gave you the chance to be a
playful ferret.
Clare and Bill Sebok
Bonnie, Charlie, and Lucy (ferrets),
Patrick (Sheltie), and Felix (diabetic cat)
In loving memory of our first generation of companions:
Ben, Jerry, Buttercup, Bridgett, Jasmine (ferrets) and Lupi (dog)