Striped Pet

The shelter director looked at me when I went in to volunteer that day, and said, "Check out Cage 39. I've got one for you." That's how we found Stripe. We'd been looking for a friend for Fox since I started volunteering, maybe somebody to mellow the twitchy little crack weasel out a little bit, and there Stripe was, a big fat silver with the sweetest face and little white feet. Waiting for us.

He came with this ginormous box of cat toys and tubes and extra litter boxes, treats, little outfits even (We put the bandanna on him once. Just once.), all of it evidence that his previous owner loved him tremendously. The guy had taken a job that involved a lot of travel; gave him up because Stripe deserved a lot of time and he couldn't provide it anymore. We snapped him up and brought him home with no idea how two ferrets would work. We could barely control the one we had. But that face? Oh, that face was coming home with us.

He would sit on my lap, curled up, in a big furry ball, fast asleep while I worked. He pwned Joe and Fox more times than I could count, once he figured out that he was faster than the two of them and thought he deserved the toy or blanket or Diet Coke box more than they did. And one of my favorite memories is of him catching the kitchen mouse we had about two years ago, going from sloth mode to speedferret in about 2.5 seconds and pouncing.

It was a mystery, though. Stripe wasn't striped. At all. It wasn't until about six months ago, shortly after his surgery, when he was curled up in the middle of an afghan on my office floor, that I noticed the way the sun hit his fur, and that down his back was a very pale brown stripe. It must have stood out when he was small, but now you could hardly see it.

The surgery was hard on him, but he pulled through and started to get better. Put on weight, resumed kicking the asses of his stuffed toys and jingle balls, ate like a little furry pig. Too soon, though, he'd grown another tumor, and in the past few weeks he's been getting slower and slower, thinner and thinner, a little bit blind, on more and more medications. He's eaten less and less. And yesterday evening, he stopped getting up, stopped making it to the litter box, and this morning he lay on the bed between Mr. A and myself, and sighed, deeply, exhausted. It was time.

We told him Fox and Joe would be waiting for him in the meadow, and to go find them, and be fat and happy again, and make sure any mice he found knew exactly who was boss. I like the idea that the Original Three are together again. I like that idea a lot.

A.

Comments

[scout]

I am so sorry A.
They are together in the meadow...I like that idea a lot too.

We'll miss you Stripe

[mattsmom]

My condolences on your loss. What a nice tribute you've written. I can see the three friends frolicking and know they will have a great time while waiting for you.

[Jude]

Damn, Athenae.

I'm so sorry.

[jim dunn]

god bless, athenae. and as usual your writing is perfect. a tear in my eye for you.

love

jim

[VictoriaB]

I'm so sorry, A. I hardly knew what a ferret was, let alone what kind of pet a ferret could be, until I found First Draft and the Original Three. Now I've just finished crying over a third ferret gone to the Rainbow Bridge. My heart goes out to you and Mr. A. and Puck. May your memories comfort you.

Peace, V.

[VictoriaB]

I'm so sorry, A. I hardly knew what a ferret was, let alone what kind of pet a ferret could be, until I found First Draft and the Original Three. Now I've just finished crying over a third ferret gone to the Rainbow Bridge. My heart goes out to you and Mr. A. and Puck. May your memories comfort you.

Peace, V.

[drunken hausfrau]

I am so sorry, A. But I do love the idea that the three originals are romping in a meadow together... I always pictured our cat, Tuly, greeting my dad in heaven, and my dad muttering, "what is this damn cat doing here?" but secretly loving that she was there and with him... and when my Nebs went, I hoped she'd find them. It's a bittersweet thought on a very sad occasion.

And "what jim said" -- your writing is gorgeous.

a toast to stripe -- one who is loved is never forgotten!

[Shayera]

So sorry Athenae.

[spork_incident]

Aw, hell.

To the meadow!

My best to you and Mr. A.

.

[Joy]

Oh Athenae! I'm so sorry. How blessed you all were to find one another. You wrote a beautiful tribute to him. You are all in my thoughts.

[GottaLaff]

That made me cry.

I'm so sorry. I've grown attached to your adorable fuzzy babies through your beautiful writing, and now I'm heartbroken for you.

Hugs.

[Elayne Riggs]

Damn, whenever a blog post starts like this I know where it's going.

My deepest condolences, A.

[Ghost of Joe Liebling's Dog]

I'm so sorry.

-- Dog

[Dee Loralei]

My deepest sympathies, A. You wrote a beautiful tribute. It broke my heart. It's always so sad when a memeber of the family dies. My heart goes out to you and MrA.

I'm sure they're all frolicking in that meadow.

Dee

[Elspeth R]

Oh...A! I am so terribly sorry for your loss! Like everyone else, I love the tribute you wrote. I haven't really spent any time around ferrets, but your ferret blogging has endeared the little guys to me. Your tribute has me snuffling and wiping the tears.
Much like drunken hausfrau above, when my grandfather passed away 12 years ago, and I pictured him entering paradise and envisioned my beloved basset running out the gates (like he did the door when my g'parents would arrive at our house) to see him and my grandfather pointing back to the entrance and saying (as he did upon arrival at the house) "Inside!" whereupon the pooch would dutifully turn and bound back in, followed by my grandfather...it was bittersweet and comforting as well...
May Stripe rest in the arms of the Goddess, and oh, the fun he will have in the Summerlands w/the others - and plenty of chubby mice to play with. May you and your dearest know peace and comfort.
Blessings,
Elspeth

[TX Scotia]

Athenae,

I am sooo sorry for your loss. I have enjoyed the ferret "tails" over the years. My husband had ferrets in his younger years; he has enjoyed the pics also. I think loosing a beloved pet is like a jagged piece of glass being scraped over your heart, some blood loss but eventually it heals, leaving scars that last a lifetime.

My most sincere, embracing hugs looking over the Rainbow Bridge.

[The Other Sarah]

Athenae,
Once more, we grieve with thee.
Thank you for the lovely tribute to Stripe.
Thank you for the wonderful, loving life you gave Stripe, and Fox, and Joey, and are giving Puck.

[Tracey in AZ]

Athenae, I am so sorry for you loss. You wrote a lovely tribute to your beloved friend.

[virgotex]

I have no sorrow for Stripe because I know he was incredibly well-loved and cared for and that the timing of his passing came out of that love.Also because his spirit is now part of the infinite.
I have sorrow for you and Mr.A because I know your loss hurts and because I know you miss him in the way we miss animals that have passed. Not in an abstract way but as animals ourselves, missing the smell, the weight and heat, the gloss of fur, the sounds of play and sleep.
Love to you both.

[Athenae]

Thanks for the kind thoughts, guys. You're all great.

A.

[Ferrari]

I second what Elayne said. Too often, when I see a post like this and how it starts out, I know where it will ultimately end, and it breaks my heart when I'm right. Given the problems you'd mentioned with the tumors, I know this probably was something you knew would come eventually, but that makes it harder, not easier, to let go when the time finally arrives.

Thoughts and prayers to you and yours. I'm suddenly compelled to go hug my cats.

[pansypoo]

he'll see you on the other side. what a lucky boy.

[Tommy]

A - Please don't make me start crying on Monday mornings.

[The Kenosha Kid]

NOOOOO!!!

[BuggyQ]

I am so sorry, A. I wish...well, I think you know what we all wish for you. Whatever time we have with them is never enough. Never. But I hope you can give another furry bundle of joy a home sometime soon, because the time we do have with them is too special to miss.

[John O]

I lurk here quite a bit as a fellow Chicagolander, and love this blog.

I also love animals very much, and am very sorry about Stripe. He always sounded so fun and sweet.

Hang in there. I've always had pets, always known it was guaranteed pain at some point in the future, and have never thought they weren't worth it. I can tell you are of like mind.

Mourn and cry and remember fondly, and soon you will be laughing at Stipe's antics again.

All the best,

J

[FeralLiberal]

Athenea, you gave your best. Stripe could not have had a better life.

[slim]

I'm so sorry. Knowing it's the right time - and acting on it - is one of the hardest things I've ever done. Stripe was so lucky to have you all.

[munkihaid]

My sincerest and deepest condolences to all. One must take comfort in the fact that indeed, there could never be a better loved companion.

All my best.

[Maitri]

Sorry, girl.

[Sarah Deere]

Oh, honey, I am so very, very sorry for your loss. Reading your beautiful memorial to him made both smile and weep. If I may offer you a consoling hug, please know I also can see that lovely meadow and fat, happy, sassy ferrets.
Best,
SD

[Southern Beale]

So sorry for your loss. Heaven has a new angel.

[jac]

Crap. Sometimes I think losing a pet is worse than losing a human. So sorry.

[Vicki Stein]

Athenae,

My heart goes out to you. You're the genuine article, and I'm so sorry for your loss.

Peace tand comfort to you and Mr. A.

[NTodd]

God damn it, I'm so sad and sorry, Starbuck. Peace to Stripe and the Original Three. And you.

[Catherine]

This former ferret skeptic is de-lurking to say that I am very, very sorry for your loss. You and Stripe certainly enriched each others' lives and I appreciate that you have shared it with us. Sadly, that means that we now share a bit of your pain as well. Hang in there, A.

[pie]

Bye, Stripe, you lucky devil.

You were loved by fabulous humanoids.

Now, you're romping again. Does it get any better for you?!

[Li'l Innocent]

That was one of the finest animal-friend tributes I've ever read, A. I've never known a ferret well, but obviously Stripe had much within him to call out such a response from you. Peace and timelessness to you and to all you care for.

[jezebel]

So very sorry, Athenae. You've had a rough time of it. I do you hope you find some comfort in the knowledge that your boys are beyond suffering now, and frolicking happily in the meadow.

[nancy]

I'm so sorry to hear about Stripe. He was loved and you were loved - it was just right that you found each other and that you gave him friends to play with. You have written a wonderful tribute!

[The Crapture]

my condolences in the wake of Stripe's passing. may he and the souls of all the other dearly departed carpet-sharks conspire to torment Rudy Guiliani in this life and the next and any beyond.

[Barry from Alaska]

Athenae, that was indeed a very nice tribute to Stripe. What a cute little feller he was, lucky to have you as his pet too.

[Scorpio]

Stripe was always just adorable. You are right -- that face was irresistable.

[Scorpio]

Stripe was always just adorable. You are right -- that face was irresistable.