Post by Heather on May 9, 2013 1:43:48 GMT -5
Have you ever noticed that sometimes when you rescue a ferret that they seem to go through all the right moves, get better, work really hard to be happy and just when they're happy appear to be healthy then they die. These ferrets very rarely ever fade. One day they're healthy and happy....the next day you're either rushing to the vets or finding them curled up peacefully in a corner, their journey to the shadow world already complete.
Many of you know Azrael and his short stay with me and mine. Azrael was a rescue that actually managed to buy time. I'm not sure why things work the way they do but Azrael managed for a time to cheat death. He was supposed to travel through the veil that day. His people decided that it was his time. They left him to die. He looked in good shape. He wasn't thin or dirty. He didn't have fleas or was uncared for. They had loved him and cared for him once or maybe they still did. Perhaps they just couldn't afford to pay the vet to put him to sleep. But, they left him....they left him to die, alone, with strangers. He was after all very sick. They said he was old, that he had adrenal, that it was his time. My vet didn't see an old ferret, at the time he didn't even appear particularly ill. She had tried to find out more, but his people had left....deserted him. So, I was called. What was I going to do with another sick ferret....what do I always do. I find room both in my house and my heart and I bring him home. He didn't have a name, his people hadn't even left that, they had left him with nothing....not even his life...so he said his name was Azrael. 
Azrael, was a wonderful wee boy. He loved life and was such a sweet boy. 
He soon moved in with Atreyu and Minion. They became my little band of misfits. 
Azrael was so obviously a solo ferret. Though he loved his new friends, he would sooner play by himself. 
He had no clue how to play with the Minion and Atreyu but he was willing to try. He soon learned. He had friends, he was loved....he was sick. First we dealt with the primary issue....his urinary blockage. Some antibiotics and a change of diet and he was better. That issue never returned again. He then started exhibiting some seriously hobbish behaviour...so he was treated with a DES implant. All this time, he never complained. He loved everyone. The implant and the raw food gave him a new softer fur coat. He put on weight, he learned to eat prey from Minion. It wasn't long before we noticed that though he was always game to play, he played less, slept more....acted old. You'd find him sleeping, instead of playing.
Once again, we knew he was ill. His steps became more deliberate. He'd be playing and you would see him stagger. Insulinoma....it wasn't fair. Again, he was treated but this time he didn't respond.. this time he got worse. I watched as the light in his eyes left....I watched him turn away from his friends and curl up on himself. I watched the life slip away. I held him a lot those last few days. He was ok, with being fed for the first couple of days....then it was all over. He refused to eat and when I looked into those dark eyes, I knew....So, I drove him to the vets and I held him tight as he started to slip away. Told him that he was loved, that he had friends and that he would be missed and always remembered. This time it was done right. This time he did not die alone, in the company of strangers. This time when he slipped into darkness and journeyed through the veil, toward the light he was with friends. He knew he was loved, he was not alone. Azreal lived with me for 8 months. He lived a lifetime in those 8 months. For whatever reason, he needed those last 8 months. I hope that I help fulfil his bucket list, I hope that I helped him earn his heartkey.
Goodbye my sweet little misfit, I miss you so much and so does Minion and Atreyu.....Gentle journey little one, you were my shooting star.
ciao
Not Azrael. His story broke my heart when I first read it. I was so happy that he found a new life with someone who would take care of him. I'm so sorry Heather, he knew true love and a happy home in the end, that's what is important. DIP Azrael 
I'm really sorry to hear that he's passed. 
DIP beautiful boy
