I am truely shaken to my core.

[Forum Administrator]

My original pair of ferrets: Lugnut and Hendrix brought me such joy and happiness. They were the inspiration for this website, they were what prompted me to want to be a vet. I got them both when I was out in Arizona attending my freshman year of college. When I moved back home to St. Louis the summer after freshman year I was devestated when I had to rehome not just them, but their "sisters" Willow and Weezie as well. My parents wouldn't allow me to keep them.

So with a heavy heart I posted an ad to rehome all four of my little ones on craigslist. A couple that lived about 2 hours away from me adopted Lugnut and Hendrix and renamed them Sam (Lugnut) and Shire (Hendrix). They went home with this wonderful, ferret knowledgeable couple and even had two new ferret brothers waiting at their new home.

Unfourtunately I lost touch with the new owners of boys and I always wondered how they were doing. Today, when I logged onto facebook I was shocked to see that their new owner, Angela, had contacted me. She needed to tell me some bad news about Hendrix (Shire). It appears that my soul ferret has passed away. I do not yet have a cause of death. I know he was FAR to young though. I am sure it was through no fault of Angela's that he passed on, she seems just as devestated as me.

It is a mixed bag. On one hand I'm estatic to be back in touch with Angela because she still (as far as I know) has my original, very first ferret, Lugnut (Sam). But the circumstances that we've gotten back in touch under are very sad.

Hendrix was truely my heart ferret. He would lay on his back and grab his little feet and fling his head side to side when he got excited. It was the funniest thing. It is devestating to lose him not once (when I rehomed him) but once again, at the same time I'd found him again.

Please keep Angela and her fur family in your thoughts, and please keep out little angel Hendrix/Shire in your thoughts as well.

[Forum Administrator]

Hender-Bender, I remember when I first saw you. You were at Morning Starr Animal Sanctuary in Cornville, AZ. My b/f at the time and I drove an hour south of our home in Flagstaff, AZ to go and get you. We had one ferret, at the time, your brother Lugnut. We wanted to give him a brother to play with, and Al and Fran (the owners of MorningStarr) said they knew of just the ferret for us.

When I met you, your name was Chino. You were confiscated by police from a drug house in the Chino valley. Luckily, you were healthy, and you were beautiful. You had a big squishy belly and the softest fur. I loved you right away.

It only took my (now ex) b/f and I halfway through our hour long car ridge home to name you. Hendrix was your new name, because you had a new life now, you deserved a new name, right?

You and Lugnut hit it off right away. You were best pals. You and your brother helped me realize not just my love of ferrets, but my calling to be a ferret vet. When I entered college I was a business major, but it didn't take long after bringing you and your brother into my home and my heart for me to change my major to Zoology and Wildlife Biology (Pre-veterinary).

When we had to move home from Arizona back to St. Louis, MO your daddy and I packed you and your siblings into the car and we drove 21 hours back to St. Louis. You never complained on the car ride home. You were such a good boy. Just like always.

Shortly after moving back to St. Louis I moved back in with my parents (after daddy and I split) and unfortunately I couldn't keep you or your siblings anymore. My heart broke into pieces when I had to search to find you and your siblings new homes. I was sick with worry wondering if the homes I picked for you would love you and care for you the way I did. I searched and I searched and I searched until I found what I hoped would be just the right home for you and your brother, Luggy.

I will never forget packing you and your brother up in the car in a brand new blankie I bought just for you. My new boyfriend and I drove and hour to meet your new family and it was the longest drive of my life. I cried the whole time. When I handed you over to your new family I tried to keep the tears at bay. I packed you in their car and watched them drive away. I sat in the car and sobbed for 30 minutes straight after that. I was truely devestated to lose you and your brother, but I believed I had done all I could to send you to the best home I could find.

I have never for a day stopped thinking about you and your brother. I have missed you, and I have loved you, and I have hoped you were happy and well. Even though I had to give you up, HendHend I never stopped being your mommy, you just got lucky and got to have a second mommy that loved you just as much, and maybe even more (because she had more time with you).

I am so sad to hear you are gone sweet angel. I will carry you in my heart always, right where I've kept you all this time we've been apart. Why did you have to leave so soon little one? I'm sure your new mommy is devestated, as am I. Fly free little one. I will remember you always.

[Heather]

I'm so sorry for your loss, Giuli. I know of the pain of losing a furbaby twice, it was this type of loss that changed my whole perspective on rescue. It changed and hurt enough that my guys now live out their lives with me. It means that I rescue fewer but I know and am no longer wondering about how and where and if. My heart goes out to you. You did what you had to do at the time, it is always much worse when the conditions are beyond ones control, when the choices are not your own.
Your little one, Hendrix must be playing with Loki at the bridge along with all the other little ones. Romping, playing, chasing each other. Sleeping in the earthy smelling leaves and digging in deep dark tunnels. Curled up in each others embrace they will dream of their people, of the ones that loved them and cared for them. They are forever a part of us, we need only to listen to the wind to hear them, to feel the soft tickle of little whiskers against our neck. Close your eyes and you will hear them playing. They are forever in our hearts, we need only to listen for them.
Goodbye little Hendrix, another candle is lit, one just for you. For little ferrets, life is too short and you too are another shooting star.
ciao

[sherrylynne]

I'm so sorry about losing Hendrix. Even though he had a second home, and another mamma, the pain is no less.

[josiesmom]

Aww Giuli, such a bittersweet way to make contact. He'll always be Hendrix to you and you;ll keep the memories of your life together close and dear. My condolemces to you for your loss. Just because a beloved pet goes to another family doen't mean we love them any less. And the news of their passing doesn't hurt any less, somtimes it hurts more because we DO love them still and yet we cannot hold them close for that final farewell. I understand your heart break and greive with you.

I hope that a little light brightens from this and you remain in contact with Lugnut's caretakers.

With sympathy,
Kim

[nwheather]

I'm so sorry to hear that you lost him.
(HUGS!)

[klindshill]

Im so sorry about your loss Guili. I know hes waiting for you at the bridge.

[bigsis7]

I am so sorry for your loss Giuli. *hugs*