IN the summer/fall of 2003, our Vet told us that there were two ferrets up for Adoption from the Local Humane league and figured that since we do ferret Rescue, that we would be interested. At first we were rather hesitant about adopting more ferrets, since it seemed like we just lost three right in a row, and we were feeling a little Jaded.  But, after some thought, we decided to go check them out.  Once we arrived at the Humane league, we were ushered into the "get acquainted room".  Shortly we were joined by two little fuzz balls that just wanted to play and romp.  We also got their file and a note left by their previous owners.  Their names were Rascal and Scampi, and they were 2 years old, and 1 year old respectfully.  It turned out that they were well loved, but due to allergies, they had to get rid of them.  This set some of our fears to rest since we were afraid we were going to have to deal with mistreated Ferrets.  While in the room with the little guys, we learned quite a bit about them (since we were left there for almost 45 minutes)

Rascal, was a sable ferret, and she was spastic.  She LOVED to play with either raven or I, and she took extreme pleasure in harassing Scampi, and our feet and legs.  The longer we played with her though we realized she was a little scrawny, and I was uncomfortable with the amount of bones I could feel.  It said in the note that they switched from ferret food to cat food, and we wondered if maybe she just didn't like cat food.  But after feeling every rib and her sternum, and her willingness to play with us, there was no question about whether or not they would be coming home with us.

Once home, they instantly became friends with our other ferrets, and within an hour, they were all sleeping in the same hammock.

I decided to take Rascal to the vet to get her checked out, since she was so boney, and she seemed to have developed a little bit of a cough in the couple days she was home.  Upon examining her, the Vet pronounced her healthy, if a little scrawny, and the cough as either a ploy for attention (LS did it all the time) or a cold she was most likely getting over.  So with a clean bill of health the  little ferret returned to life at her new home.  Rascal hated car rides, and hyperventilated and  drooled after 5 minutes in the carrier, so we avoided taking her out unless it was absolutely necessary.   Her play time is spent wrestling with anything that moves, and some things that don't, like my shoes, or toys.  She loved to eat anything I offered her.  With the other ferrets, I could put a dab of linatone on their bellies so I can trim their nails without them fighting me, but rascal hated it when I try it with her.  We took to calling her Pogo-Fert  because of it- she did a little bouncing hop (it looked like a highly exaggerated War-dance for those who know ferrets)  Largely though, despite her spastic nature, we've all gotten used to the eccentricities of each other, and we get along just fine.  Especially Her and Raven.  when Rascal was out, she'd hunt him down to make sure he was around and then wrestle and play him the whole time.  If he wasn't around, she play with her sister, but in either case she practically ignored me unless I had treats.

In the fall of 2005 we decided to move.  we took everyone with us and set up in Wilkes-Barre.  but soon after we moved up here, in the spring of 2006 Rascal became very ill.  We scheduled a vet appointment for her, but before we could take her in, she died before we really had a chance to react. In shock we interred her in our new back yard and I painted a tombstone for her. I know her death hit Raven pretty hard since they were good friends.   I also know Tinkerbell and Scampi were depressed for a while after wards as well.  It's always hard to say goodbye to a beloved friend, especially one who was so full of life and who took so much joy in just playing with everyone and everything.  She will be deeply missed.

Rascal Pictures

She was trying to steal the phone.... She'd try to steal anything

"hope, I wasn't trying to steal the vacuum"

If you have any questions or comments