| Dippy |
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| Wolfys Story: Thank you so much Donna, for teaching us last what to do in case a ferret. Because of your detailed advice on the FML, I found my Dippy who got out one night before Christmas of 2002. I almost had the worst Christmas of my life. I lost my Jubilee before she was one the prior year to cancer...Dippy is my baby, I just couldn't loose another kit so soon. We all think we know what to do when a ferret gets lost outside. But as Donna pointed out, it's the most tiny detailed of actions that could make a difference in finding your lost fuzzy. I want to share with you guys what I did "right" that resulted in a ferret not being out in 45 degree pouring rain weather today. The key action that saved her was asking for help. I don't mean an hour after you have ripped apart your house and accepted the fact that your ferret is lost outside. I mean right at the start knocking on strangers doors and asking for help. Nobody else in my home did this as they had not read about Donna and Eppy last year and her advice. I did. I ran over and told my elderly neighbor what happened first thing. I didn't have to ask him to help us; he grabbed a flashlight and went searching outside on his own accord. It was this old man that found my ferret in the woods, not us. I'd like to tell you what I did wrong in addition to what we did right. Loosing a ferret within a large family and among other animals is a whole different ball of wax than if you live alone, or don't have other animals. When Dippy came up missing, I took action and tried to direct my family as to what to do. Panicked and upset... they often did not listen. This resulted in absolute chaos, delaying an effective search. Extra people and extra animals in our home also resulted in noise. Absolute quiet is needed to "listen" for your ferret when you are searching. Even one other person merely walking about your home or animals running about can hinder your search. So what I've learned is we all need to sit down today (and now that this happened they will listen) and make an action plan for anyone that is MIA. Each person in a family needs to assume a role and do it promptly when a little one is missing. I'll be working that all out and delegating responsibilities and procedures to each family member today. For example one person�s immediate reaction should be to round up all animals into an area (so their noise and rummaging does not mess up the search). Another person should begin to "walk the grid" (begin in one room, one area, and go outward from there). Yet another individual should immediately look outside ... and so on, and so on. If you think you don't need to sit down with anyone living with you and rehearse a plan, think again. Believe me things get muddled in an emergency. This needs to be done in every home. We were doing all the right things, but when you do them in a disorganized way... chaos ensues and that is counterproductive. I am taking Donna's advice and I'm making sure this man knows that his help was so much appreciated (I think our big mushy hugs helped demonstrate that). He is a hero to me this Christmas. He didn't know a ferret from Adam, and yet he not only helped to find her, he quickly scooped her up so she would not get away! One last important thing. Something Donna has not mentioned, I don�t think. Ferrets are very curious; they gravitate towards curious places and most of all... curious animals. So if you are seeking a ferret.... if there are animals close by... look there right away. We found Dippy under leaves playing pop goes the weasel and trying to bite a group of stray kitty toes! She ignored squeaky toys, our voices, whistles, and all our bright xmas lights that we turned on � so that she could play with the kitties. That is how strong the draw was. I'm going off to try my damnedest to find some sort of humor in this to write a fun story or post. Wish me luck... Wolfy |
| One Christmas season, I gots so bored. I gots tired of the same ole sites in da house. All my brothers were out in da house playing with me. They were entertained by Christmas stockings, decorations, and our big tree. I walked by the front door, and sniffed the cold air through the crack like I always do. I�d been watching the situation with our front glass door for months cause da crack between the wall and door seemed to have been getting bigger. And my momma, she didn�t notice cause she doesn�t spend much time on da floor. Anyway, I ran over to da crack to sniff the cool air and play my guessing game of what was outside. Then I noticed that when I pushed on da door, it moved. So I pushed more. Meanwhile, a couple of my brothers trotted on over to see what was up. I showed them. They were curious and sniffed too. But I gots a bigger idea. I told them that I thought we could go out there. And I pushed hard and was able to get my head outside. Then I gave a bigger push and I was on my way to a big adventure. My brothers wanted to come. But they got scared and pulled their heads back in and went off to play in the house again. The big chickens. Anyway, I gots outside and I was in heaven. I love outside. I love da crisp air with all the different smells and I love ta run. Most of all I love da dirt, leaves, and sticks. I hoped I�d get lucky and find a big, juicy cricket to munch on. So my big adventure started. I mean how fun was dis? I had lots of fun rooting all through da bushes by da door and things. Next thing I know I gots a little chilly, and tried to sniff the crack again. But da door didn�t open the other way when I pushed on it. But that was okay. I figured, I�d just go on a bigger adventure. I figured I�d find a crack open somewhere�s else if I needed to get back in da house. So off I went. I got ta see bushes, plants, dirt piles, grasses, leaves, sticks, and outside walls of the house I never seen before. And then something really cool blew through the air and hit my nose. Before I could wait for mama ta come get me, or before I could find my way back into the house, I smelled something I never ever smelled before. Cool! So I bounded off away from our house. Way far away. I just followed the neat smell. It was so strong. And I heard voices I never heard before. Goody! Others to play with I bet. I went back into something called �woods�. That is where the world ends and all da trees begin. All sorts of creatures live in there. I could smell toads and lizards hiding underneath the ground but could not get to them. And I smelled something new besides the smell I followed. Next thing I know, all these creatures � eleven of them � came up to me. They were huge. They looked liked what mommy called Lions on TV. They said they were �kitties�. Some of them looked at me, then they ignored me. Some of them talked to me and told me to watch out for something called �Opossum� that lived there. Sounded like a big me if you ask me. I wasn�t afraid. I tried to play with the kitties but they gots bored of me, and ignored me. So I not let them ignore me. NO! I found we were standing on a leaf pile. So, I buried myself in it, and waited. I waited until da kitties got curious and came over. And I played �pop goes the weasel�. I popped my head in and out and bit their little kitty toes!!! That�ll teach em to ignore me. Oh I was having just a blast. I forgot about home, I forgot about mommy, I forgot about my brothers, I forgot I was chilly, I even forgot I was lost. I think it woulda hit me later that I was in big big trouble when my tummy got hungry and thirsty. If the kitties had not been there, I think I might have gotten very scared and lonely. But before that could happen� Some big feet came walking up in big human boots. I hid. But it didn�t help. This big wrinkly hand came down and scooped me up before I could run. The big man, cackled and pet me. Then he yelled out for my mommy. Next thing I know, my whole family came running across the yard to us. My mommy was crying really hard. It got really confusing after that. Lots of talking, crying, hugging, I couldn�t make much sense of it. Then it got quieter as my family walked home with me. I was warm and realized I was cold before. I yelled by to the kitties but they were gone. They ran and hid in da woods. Later on, my mommy said they had been searching for me all over with flashlights, squeaky toys, and were calling for me. They even turned on every light in the house, and all the super bright Christmas lights on the house. I wonder how I not hear and see all dat. I guess I was busy. Dat�s sorta scary. What was really scary, was dat I head the temperatures dipped down to 45 degrees and it rained for three day straight a few hours after I was found. And that would not have been such a great journey if I had been out there. I glad I found. But I glad I went! To my mommies fear and shock, I tried to escape yet again and again. I not learn my lesson. Cause I ferret!!! |
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