Bear Baby

This is Sondra`s beloved Bear Baby.

A few years ago Sondra had asked if we would take him and Casey Angel Cutie Pie in the event of her death. We agreed in a heartbeat. Sondra was a close friend and a long time supporter of this sanctuary.

Last July (2004) Sondra called us in tears. Casey Angel Cutie Pie had died and Bear Baby was grieving terribly. He would not eat. Sondra was beside herself knowing she was not in a position to get another ferret to keep Bear Baby company--and she truly feared he would die too if something wasn`t done very quickly. She asked if we could take Bear Baby a bit sooner than expected. Of course we agreed. With the help of her friend Billy, she began the 17 hour drive from Texas to Illinois the next morning. She wanted to meet us in person and see where her furkid would be living.

Sondra and Billy arrived July 4th, 2004. They were quite impressed with our facility!

The first time I held Bear Baby in my arms he molded to my body. He had lost some weight in two days of not eating--but that was about to change. We waived the usual quarantine because we were sure of his history. He LOVED running the room--and he got along well with everybody. He liked the Sweet group best and chose to be with them. They agreed and accepted him.

It broke Sondra`s heart to leave her cherished boy behind, but she was comfortable with her decision, seeing how he was already cuddling up with the others.

Bear Baby had a balding fanny so we gave him a lupron shot. Several weeks later he got a plush new coat!

More later--

Love, Zoo

Update: January 28th, 2006

Bear Baby had a really bad tummy ache and didn`t want to eat. We went to the vet this morning and the x-ray showed something suspicious.

He went in for an emergency exploratory---his intestines had ruptured. He was septic. The vet does not know for sure the exact cause---possibly a tumor on the intestines ruptured. She likened it to a ruptured appendix in a human. She didn`t deem him fixable, said it was a real mess...Her advise was to euthanize. To awaken him would have been cruel.

We let him go on the table. My heart is breaking. I am in shock.

His body looks so big and beautiful & healthy. I just can`t believe this has happened......