Ophelia wrote in rec.food.cooking:

>
>
> "Gary" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > > I think you are doing the right thing! You will know if and you
> > > are ready. May I ask, why does your daughter get ferrets and
> > > they try to dump them on you??
> >
> > Daughter has never kept ferrets to the end. She has no idea how it
> > feels to love one then watch them go downhill for many months and
> > then die in your arms one night...or at a vet to get euthenized.
> > I've had 4 of them and they all died right in my bedroom and 3 of
> > them right in my arms when the final moment came. The 4th one died
> > after I left for a few minutes. Ever be right there as a loved one
> > dies? It haunts you forever.
>
> Yes. I know that very well.
>
>
> > Her first two, I adopted years ago when she moved out. Now that
> > she's married she is adopting rescues and she has 6 of them now.
> > Still though...she's never experienced a loved one go downhill then
> > die.
> >
> > Of her 6 now, one of them always fights with the other ferrets but
> > gets along fine by herself with a human. She seems to think I have a
> > need and this one would be perfect probably. She's said a few
> > times, let me just bring it for a visit.
> >
> > Well...I know me. Bring one for a visit and I'll melt. But right
> > now, I don't want another so I tell her NOT to bring it for a visit.
>
> I am pleased to hear that. You need to heal after losing your wee
> one.
>
>
> > It's a dilemma for me too. I don't want one right now and maybe not
> > for several years until I retire. But by then this one will be dead
> > and not lived the happier life that she could have lived with me.
> > How do you deal with this? There are always plenty of needy rescues
> > of any species. I just don't want to hear about them for a bit.
> >
> > sigh ;-0
>
> You can't deal with it by taking every ferret you worry about. If I
> did that I would have a houseful of rescue dogs. I wonder if that is
> what happened to the woman who had my Poppy. I told you about all
> the dogs she had. I am sure she took them for good reasons but look
> what happened! Do what you can, when you feel you can!

Agreed. I (by choice) adopt older rescue medical issue dogs but I keep
it to 2. All but one was 11 years and up when I got them. My youngest
is 9-10 and my other turns 14 on 2 July. It's painful to lose them
too, but there is a joy in knowing a pet who never would have been
adopted due to age, had final happy comfortable years.

Wait until the time is right though.

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