After being in my first apartment for a few months, I thought it was time for some companionship. I didn't want a conventional pet, I wanted something different. I did some research and came across what would be 2 of the happiest years of my life....a ferret.

I went with my parents to a local animal store on December 11, 2004 and saw 2 of the fuzziest, playful creatures I've ever seen. I picked up the lighter one and put him against my coat where he decided to play with the zipper pull quite contently and I instantly fell in love. I put a deposit on him and immediately went through the week long craziness of picking up a cage, food, litter, treats and toys. On December 17th 2004, I proudly brought Dusty home in a red zippered flannel carrier, I didn't want the little bundle of fluff to be cold after all. My first apartment, my first pet, my first real responsibility.

For his first Christmas, his grandparents got him a playpen so I could take him out and let him run and jump around and not be cooped up in his cage all the time. He had a blast! I tried training him and he caught on fast, but so quickly lost interest with this big human telling him to sit up or roll over. Eventually his charm got to me and I decided to let love take over and I showered him with more love than I thought I could give. We danced to music, I sang him songs, lol. I'm not sure if he actually enjoyed my singing, but he was way too content to care. He was there when I cried, when I needed to talk things out, when I was worried about anything that life threw at me.

He grew quickly, as kids tend to do and he had quite the extensive toy collection. Much more than I ever had as a kid, lol. He was definitely spoiled to what I could (and times couldn't, lol) afford. His favorie being a silly stuffed lion I happened to find when cleaning out a tote in my closet.

As he grew, it was time for some new digs. I bought him a huge cage where he could really stretch his little furry legs and explore. A bed on every level whether it was a hammock or a round bed I bought on Ebay. An endless supply of chew sticks, raisin treats (one of his faves), peanut butter treats (his other fave) and anything else his little heart could have possibly wanted. I watched him sleep constantly as ferrets LOVE their sleep. He'd be curled up in a ball with his little tootsies sticking out every which way twitching with ferret dreams of digging and jumping.

I remember the first time I ever saw the famed "ferret dance" I was hysterical! I put him on my bed and he looked at me for a minute as if assessing the situation. Then he arched his back, and fluffed his tail out. He made his little dook, dook noises and took off like a bat out of hell diving head first into the mountain of pillows. He hopped and flopped and loved every minute of it. Playing with him was an absolute thrill. So much energy, just a carefree creature loving every minute of life. Then he'd take his Kamakaze leap off the bed and run around the bedroom. He'd run up to me, then back pedal a million miles an hour just to run forward in attack mode again. He was quite intimidating!

He'd watch the door as I left for work and was usually sleeping soundly when I got home, lol. Then I'd quietly wake him up and he was ready for action.

I've taken him on a few vacations. I must say he had quite the fan club. It's not everyday you see someone walking a ferret. And coupled with my parents Rottweiler, we were quite a show as I can only imagine!

His life was cut way too short on October 28, 2006. Mike and I left for a Halloween party and left Dusty to the confines of Mike's bedroom where he loved his freedom. He played in plastic bags, ran through tubes, even played peek-a-boo under the bedskirt. He definitely had the happiest of ferret times. We came home around 2:30am and I couldn't find him right away. Nothing new, he had a habit of curling up in some article of clothing on the floor and sleping. When I took the flashlight and looked in a couple of his favorite corners I panicked. I happened to look in a tube that was connected to a box (another favorite toy). It had long been put away as he rarely played with it anymore. I saw his little tail sticking up and my heart sank. I had no idea how long he was stuck in there. I was too late, my little boy was gone. I lost my best friend, I lost my furry companion, I lost my "son".......I lost a part of myself.

I take some solice, although it's extremely difficult even to write this, in the fact that he had an amazing life filled with all the love and affection he could have ever hoped for. He touched so many lives, even turned opinions and fears into understanding and loving compassion. He made me realize that anything is possible. That and nothing is more important than sleep, lol. I'd give anything to have him back in my life. That weasel weaseled his way into a place in my heart that I didn't think could be discovered and nothing will ever take his place there.