Farewell to a friend

Yesterday was not a good day. After a long and difficult week M and I had to let go of Oscar, our ferret. It had become clear that he no longer had any sort of quality of life and that he was very sick. His abdomen was full of tumors, and they could have been removed with surgery, but they would have returned by the time he was finished recovering from surgery. There wouldn't be any time when he would be healthy. It was a heartbreaking thing to have to do. I've never dealt with death very much, and I know he was a pet, but I hope I don't have to kiss goodbye many more people or pets that I love in rest of the course of my life.

While I know it is what's best for him, I miss him and I feel an emptiness in our home today. He was an awesome ferret. Before his movement was limited by his weight he was a little ball of cute energy. He could jump so high, and pull clothes down off of anything. He has a penchant for socks, clean or dirty and could find the socks inside a bag of totally different things. There was the happy ferret dance of joy where he would jump backwards and bounce with unbridled joy. He was fearless, curious and adorable. He loved climbing up people's pant legs (eps. Mike's), and would often try to nibble at my feet while I slept (in a loving way). We used to take him for walks in when we lived in Kingston, let him play in the park and really dig in the earth. M would carry him in the hood of his sweater and it would be the sweetest thing to see.

When we moved to Prague, he would come to the barrier to greet us when we came home, and would stand on his back legs so we could pet him hello. He loved sleeping on slippers, having the occasional sip of beer and having his head and belly rubbed. He was very loved by friends and family alike and he was a well travelled ferret who didn't see the inside of a cage for most of his life. And dude, did he get treats.

He was a good pet, a good friend, and I'll forever miss the way he would lick my face and sleep on my feet. It's hard when you're used to looking underfoot to be sure you see him, to know that you're not going to see him again. You are missed and loved by myself, M, and Zeus and all of your extended family. Goodbye Oscar. Thank you for a wonderful 4 years (I only met him when he was 1 and 1/2), for all the fun, for all the trouble and for all the love.