Monday, April 18, 2011

Today my best friend died. I love you Roxie!

Today my best friend Roxie was put to sleep due to complications from pancreatic cancer. Roxie was a male Ferret with a female name. When we got Roxie from a local pet store over 7 years ago, he came with papers that indicated he was a she.

Roxie has had a rough life during the past 1 1/2 years. I've had to hand feed him every 4-6 hours and keep him on medication to elevate his blood sugar. Through it all Roxie has been a loving and loyal friend to me. Unlike many ferrets, Roxie was very smart and litter box trained. Most ferrets can't be totally trained to use a litter box reliably but I could count on my baby Roxie. Roxie loved me as much as I loved him. He loved me to hold him and pet him for hours. If you know anything about ferrets, you know that they don't want to be held, they want to explore and hide. Roxie loved those things too, but he truly loved for ME to hold and pet him as I spoke to him. He enjoyed the contact we had during hand feedings and grooming time. Roxie loved to take warm showers with me and then run and play, rolling and scooting on the carpet to dry off. My life has been greatly enriched because Roxie shared his life with me. I'm very sad he is gone but I know he's not suffering from the ravages of cancer anymore. Roxie became very weak 3 days ago and I just couldn't bring him out of it. Today when I heard him crying and whimpering as I attempted to give him water through a syringe, I decided to let go and give my beloved best friend a much deserved rest.

I Love You Roxie, I hope there is an afterlife for animals and you are now running and playing in the dirt you craved so often. Think of me and please know how much I cared for you. Goodbye my baby, go have some fun.