While I don’t have all the medical details for this story, it’s still a sweet one that will lift your spirits.

Back in 1997, my husband and I were moving to San Antonio, so I begged my best friend, Jenn, to watch my ferrets Idgie and Winston until we had located a ferret friendly place to live. She reluctantly agreed, as she wasn’t too fond of the fuzz-butts. She had even referred to my sweet sable Idgie, as “that thing.” During the four weeks of ferret sitting, something happened. As it does to most people who really get to spend time with ferrets, Jenn’s opinions changed. Once my ferrets had arrived safely in San Antonio, Jenn informed me that they weren’t as bad as she had thought. A few weeks later she confessed that she was considering getting a ferret for herself.

A month later she had the opportunity to adopt a young male and female fuzzy from a service member who had foolishly though he could keep them hidden in his dorm room. The newly dubbed Mavis and Marvin settled into their new life quickly and weaseled their way right into Jenn’s heart. When Jenn moved into her own place, her children were give “free-reign” as long as she was home. Jenn was even contemplating adopting some more ferrets when fate intervened.

Her vet’s office had rescued a male ferret that was in need of a good home and they had contacted Jenn. After meeting the ferret, she took him home in hopes of a fun, friendly, ferret gathering. Unfortunately “Hobbs” and Mavis did not get along very well. The new ferret was very dominant and little Mavis Anne did not appreciate him. Even worse, a few days later, Mavis and Marvin started getting diarrhea and fell very ill.

After some costly vet visits it was determined that Hobbs had ECE and the clinic agreed to pay for the vet bills. Due to the disagreement between Hobbs and Mavis, Hobbs was relocated to a new, single ferret home. Unfortunately, Marvin did not fully recover from the illness. His back end had become paralyzed, and he had begun dragging himself around the living room, seemingly unaware of his “disability.”

After a week of intensive care, both ferrets were released to go back home. It had been decided that ECE was not the culprit, and the vet was stumped at what had caused the illness. Marvin’s paralysis remained a mystery. Just when Jenn though that things were getting better, disaster struck. Marvin had pulled himself inside an over-stuffed chair and got one of his hind legs stuck in a spring. In an effort to pull himself free, he broke his leg, and then continued to drag it, unaware. At this point, with both ferrets still recovering from the illness, the vet had discussed euthanasia for Marvin. Many of Jenn’s friends also broached the topic.

Jenn made up her mind. Marvin was to be saved at all cost. She felt guilty for bringing Hobbs into Marvin’s home and with Marvin just a little over a year old, she decided on surgery. After amputation of the broken appendage and yet another week of intensive care, Marvin was released to go home. During his absence Mavis had also become ill, but soon recovered once her brother was home.

That occurred over two years ago. I was just home and went to visit my “nephew.” He is still rambunctious and playful. He moves fairly swiftly, dragging his hind end and leg behind him and both dogs fear him. He is living a good life and the decision that Jenn made, out of love, was the right one for Marvin.

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