As many of you know, we do Ferret boarding, and are lucky enough to get cuddles from lots and lots of different ferrets over the year. Some ferrets come once in a blue moon, others come several times a year, and make an impact on us.
Willow was one of those Ferrets, a fluffy tiny little polecat, who was an only girl, and hated all other ferrets. When here, she would pretend the other guys did not exist, and keep away from their cages.
When she first came here, it was for several weeks, as her mum had to go back to New Zealand. She was not impressed with us, and took a couple of weeks to come round, but once she decided that we were not too bad, she would come up and sleep on the sofa next to us. As time went on, she would stop for a cuddle, but never for too long.
On and Off, she has stayed here for many years now, and after her first time, decided it was actually a great place to have a holiday, and made the most of all the things we offered, but was always willing to give us a little cuddle once the fun and games were over.
At the beginning of the Year, her mum and dad had a baby, and Willow was intrigued by the bundle of noise, but other than doing the occasional check to see if he was getting any milk, which she was determined she should also be allowed, was not unduly concerned by by him, and carried on her life as normal spending most of her sleeping days, in mums bed.
In the middle of the year, She was diagnosed with Adrenal, and after her mum talking to us, she was given the implant. This happened to be just before she came to stay with us again, so we had the worry, and subsequent pleasure of seeing her go through the flair, and then seeing her hair grow back, and her return to being a little trouble maker again.
She was supposed to be coming to stay with us for 100 days, starting at the end of the week, as her mum was again going back to New Zealand, to get married, and also to introduce her parents to the baby. The trip had been brought forward and extended as her mums father was dying of terminal cancer, and they wanted to let him see his grandchild before he departs.
A week ago, we heard that Willow had been rushed to the vets, and kept in, as she was very ill, and not eating. She had several tests, and went back home, having to be hand fed, since she would not eat on her own. Her mum kept this up, and called us to explain what was happening, and her concern at the impending trip. We told her not to worry, as we would willingly look after Willow, but obviously she might get some bad news from here if we failed to get her back onto her feet.
Willow continued to go down hill, loosing weight regardless of how much they fed her, and when she went back to the vets, he found many lumps inside her. It was decided that she was no longer enjoying life, and the kindest thing was to help her over the bridge.
Sweet Dreams Willow, we are lucky to have some wonderful boarders stay here, but some are very special, and you were one of those. Hope you have fun at the Bridge. Suz says you can go with your mum to New Zealand now, and see what all the fuss was about.
