Hardy

On December 11, 2004, we were called out to pick up many ferrets from a back yard breeder in Paris, ON. When we arrived, we all thought we had arrived in hell. 29 ferrets were taken alive, some near death and 12 were dead, half eaten by their cage mates or simply skulls. Of those 29, we lost Leezle first. She was just too weak for her spay surgery. We were left with 28. Hardy was one of those 28. A big boy who defiantly fought to survive. We knew it from the minute we laid eyes on him, Hardy would have done anything to live. He was the healthiest ferret we removed that day and also the most aggressive. I think he fought so hard to live because he knew there was something better out there for him. I think he was holding onto life so hard hoping to find happiness.

Shortly after coming to the shelter, many of the volunteers feared him. I remember hearing a scream coming from the ferret room one day and rushing to see what was going on. I giggled as I saw Olympia half jogging with Hardy attached to the back of her leg. He was a handful. Off to a foster home he went in hopes he would learn to behave.

Within a few weeks, Hardy was as gentle and loving as the other Paris kids. I fell in love with him and paired him with Elvis, my true favorite of the bunch. All the other Paris kids got homes except Hardy and Elvis. Truth be told, I was holding out to find what had to be the perfect home for them. They were my boys and no one but the best was going to be allowed to take them from me.

Along came Tanya and her family. I never hesitated once. I knew they would be the perfect family for my boys and they were. I have never seen more spoiled ferrets in my life (though Britt and Stephen come VERY close!!).

Fast forward a year. Hardy gets sick. Has insulinoma. Tanya struggles with the idea of surgery for him. After a lot of thought and much encouragement from all of us, she decides to go forth with the surgery, knowing it will help him and doing what we all thought was the right thing to do. We all thought it was right.

Hardy went through the surgery and a large tumor was removed from his pancreas. The surgeon had a hard time stabilizing his heart rate and his right adrenal was too close to the vena cava that the surgeon decided to leave it. Hardy's heart just wasn't stabilizing and they didn't want to have him under anesthetic for longer than needed.

At about 9 o'clock last night, the vet rang Tanya. Hardy was still unstable hand had to be transferred to the emergency clinic over night. They had the equipment to monitor him and stabilize him.

Hardy died at about 2 o'clock this morning. This is my ode to the Hard One. The one that put the volunteers through so much, the one we all fell in love with the one we must now say good bye to. Hardy doesn't have to fight anymore, he learned what love was and I believe his fight to survive so early in life paid off well in the end. He had a forever home, one that loved him and is now desperately missing him.

Good bye little Hardy. I love you and please watch over your mom, grandparents and kitties. Run to my mom Hardy. She'll goo you for us all.


Miss Randy Melanie Belair
President
The Ferret Aid Society
www.ferretaid.org