A difficult question on terminal illness and rehoming.

[tough-questions]

Hi everyone. This is my first time posting on here, but I have been a ferret mom since I was a kid. Currently I have two--Lucy and Linus. Lucy is 4 and Linus is 2 and they are both free roam. 

Lucy has an inoperable cancer on the side of her rib cage and is unlikely to live longer than a couple more months. We tried in November to remove the tumor, but it started growing back almost instantly and now it has progressed to the point of having a lesion on her skin above it. The surgery in November was extremely difficult for her, between the pain and having to stay in the cage on bed rest when she has been free roam for the last 3 years. It's been incredibly difficult to decide, but I don't want to put her through that again when there is no chance that the surgery will be successful (the tumor stretches deep between her ribs and the vet says there's just no way to get it all without referring me to a specialist 200 miles away at an extremely expensive animal hospital, where the surgery would be highly invasive and still no guarantee of success). When she lets me know that she's suffering too much, I am going to help her over the bridge.

Linus loves Lucy. He follows her around and tries to get her to play with him and likes to find where she's sleeping and snuggle her. Lucy is pretty indifferent to Linus. They get along fine, but she doesn't seek him out and usually isn't interested in playing. I am very worried about what effect Lucy's passing will have on Linus. 

The other difficult part of this is that I am moving to California in about 6 months for work. I am finishing my MS in Zoology, and San Francisco is booming with biotech jobs, and I currently live in rural Illinois where I have no options for employment in my field after graduation. I love Linus so much, he's such a kind hearted little guy, but there's no way I can justify bringing him somewhere that he will be alone, have to remain caged most of the time, and not have regular veterinary care. This sets Linus up for two very big losses. I was hoping people could give me an opinion on whether it is better to rehome Linus before Lucy's passing into a home that has (preferably free roam) ferrets to ease the pain of his loss, or for him to grieve Lucy's loss with me and then go through the loss of me in another 3 or 4 months when I have to rehome him. 

I have never rehomed a pet before. I thoroughly believe that pet ownership is for life. I just don't have it in me to take Linus where his quality of life will be reduced and he won't be able to have proper care. The rehoming process will be very thorough, and I am fairly confident that through the ferret facebook pages I'm a part of, I'll be able to find a suitable, ferret-knowledgeable ferrent for him. I just don't know when I should do it. 

[Deleted]

When I know my ferrets are very, very sick, i put them to sleep. I just do not like to have my ferrets experience big, bad events. They have suffered enough, no sense of letting them suffer every day and then experience a traumatic death, I guess this is my pet peeve.

If it is in your heart to rehome, I would rehome now and put my ferret to sleep before he suffers anymore.
Also, I would make sure Linus is put in a home with another ferret, AND MAKE SURE he is accepted, because we have several ferrants whose additions are not being accepted by established groups. So that would include a home visit to new owner to see what occurs. Make sure they r not feeding cheap food, and the conditions are nice.

You want an experienced ferret owner. Do have good luck rehoming Linus. If you were near me, I would love to have him, but I am in NC.

[unclejoe]

You have 6 months, but from what you describe, she doesn't. If i was closer, I'd offer to take LInus. You should have time to let Lucy live our her days, most likely, and to find a good home for Linus.
We have 8 ferrets. I just graduated college and i'm looking to start a new career, probably in a new state, and I have to find housing for all of us. But I ain't getting rid of my ferts. They've been through h*ll with me and my wife. They are an anchor, but I'm at the helm.

[Deleted]

I'm curious - why do you say he'll have to be caged? Can't he have his own room? I moved to study to a different country and took my ferret with me, even in a shared apartment with other students. He had my room and I was hus roommate. We are currently contemplating moving to another city with my husband for work - and we'll do it with our entire 7 weasel crew, no question about it moving is always stressful, but they usually get excited about new things, or places. I just noticed you mentioned California - is it wven possible to bring him there?

[Heather]

Unfortunately, California is a ferret free state (bullshit they have more ferrets there than we do up here)...but that being said they are illegal. Vetting is not a problem as it's not against the law to treat a ferret but to own a ferret. There are many ferret owners in California who would be more than willing to help you out and an organization to assist you too if you chose to keep your ferret. Allowing your ferret to free roam a room in your house in California is no different than here. That being said they are illegal so that is a decision for you to make.
As your wee girlie has probably less time than you until you move, I would be making my arrangements and letting Linus deal with his grief over loosing Lucy. Let him stay with her until you choose the proper time for her to die. This is not an easy prospect for Linus as loosing you and her is going to cause all sorts of issues for his adopting ferrants. What you're planning to do to your wee boy is a double slap. He is bonded to Lucy and though she might not show it she's bonded to him (at this point in her life chances are she's too sick to show him the attention he needs) This is part of the separation, this is part of a ferret dying, this pushing away. This will help him cope when she dies. If you were to rehome him right now. He would mourn the loss of a friend and you. I don't envy the ferrant that gets that bundle. I've done it. I do rescue....I've had people dump their ferret after loosing the one and going they can't take the grief, they have to move on, here you look after my ferret. I then get the great job of trying to glue the pieces together. If you decide to "rehome" Linus please remember to tell the new ferrant that this is what they're dealing with. That way they can be prepared with dealing with the trauma.
ciao

[Deleted]

People cross them over the border very often. Although for Linus to lose Lucy, and then possibly you, it'll be really hard on him. So I agree entirely with Heather there. I wish you as much luck as you need.

[Klarissa]

A ferret I rescued/rehomed years ago (I was a halfway home for sick ferrets is the best way to describe it) left with her pal Cornelius. He died and they brought her back :/
The two I just got Rocket & Trixie came from a business of 4. They were barely settled in with Bear, when Rocket passed away. Poor Trixie is not handling it well. It's tough on them to have their whole world shift so much, so fast. So for Linus, its in his best interest to stay with you, what everyone else has said. Just because it's illegal, doesn't mean you can't have ferrets; I have a friend with lots of ferrets who lives in California, with a ferret vet too.

As far as the end of Lucy's life. I tend to align with the notion it is better to be earlier, than a moment late. Animals in general do not have the same sense of their own mortality that we do. I don't believe in letting them feel pain & suffering if they cannot get better, or the lengths it would take them to get better are not a guarantee & invasive. Of course it is a very personal decision, and many people feel differently.

You're in a rough spot, I'm sorry and hope you find a solution soon.

[Deleted]

You have a very difficult decision to make.
Linus clearly loves Lucy. I can only speak for what I would do. I would let Linus stay with Lucy thru the end.

I believe that he will grieve but still be able to understand what happened as opposed to suddenly finding himself in a new place without Lucy and with a new ferrrent.
I see it as Linus always wondering when you and Lucy were coming back for him.

Good Luck and all my best wishes,

[FireAngel]

I'm so sorry you have to make these choices. I like the others can only speak as to what I would do. Let Linus stay with Lucy until the end and then make the best choice possible for him when the time comes.

[tough-questions]

I appreciate all of the feedback so much.

As far as Lucy's health goes, the vet told me Monday that as of now, her only discomfort should be from the tumor tugging on her ribs when she bends certain ways. The skin lesion isn't yet to the point that it bleeds, but I think that will be the point that it becomes uncomfortable and we go back to the vet for her final appointment. With the rate its progressed, I think that'll take about two months, but it could be less.

It's VERY good to know that vets will still treat him in CA! I would love nothing more than to bring him with, if it could be done right. It still concerns me though, because I will be renting and all it takes to have him taken will beif my landlord decides to pop in for something unannounced. Do many vets still see ferrets? A ferrets in CA website I looked at only listed 5 or 6 ferret friendly vets in CA and they were all in the south it seems, while I will be near San Francisco.

[tough-questions]

I'm also concerned about the state inspections they do in CA at border crossings. Does anyone have any experience with these? Are they difficult to avoid?

[Deleted]

I would just call local exotic vets in the area you'd be staying and ask if they ever see ferrets and how often. Because there are many more then those 5 or 6.

[tough-questions]

Jul 16, 2015 18:08:10 GMT -5 @lea said:

I would just call local exotic vets in the area you'd be staying and ask if they ever see ferrets and how often. Because there are many more then those 5 or 6.

That's solid advice. Thank you, Lea!

I just want to thank you all again for the help. I haven't been able to sleep at night, I've been so worried. I still don't know if bringing Linus is the right thing to do, but if he can adapt to being an only ferret (with kitty buddies to play chase games with sometimes), then I think bringing him along is a really viable option. I was very worried about veterinary care, after Lucy has needed so much of it. She was posing so sweet this evening, all on her own, so I wanted to share a picture of her and one of Linus from tonight.

[tough-questions]

I couldn't get it to attach to the last message....

[tough-questions]

And this is Linus!