The Bald and The Beautiful
the Hairless Wonders of the World

Soft, silky and snuggly you described me, as you cuddled me in your arms, next to your heart. You couldn't wait until you came home from work to play with me and each evening you cuddled me some more.

Even though I was sad to see you go each day, I looked forward with great anticipation to the time when I would hear the key turn in the lock. Then I would hear your footsteps hurriedly approaching my room and the eagerness in your voice as you called my name! We shared a companionship beyond measure! A bond that could never be broken... or could it?

At first 'he' would come home with you and you were proud to show him my many antics. 'He' too would cuddle me and exclaim how soft, silky and snuggly I was. Sometimes you did not come home! Other times you would come with him but neither of you would take me out to play or cuddle me. I would hear your footsteps, but they would go in the opposite direction and my heart would sink. Then I would hear them come my way, only this time it would be a pat on the head, a quick change of food and water and you were gone again! Did I do something wrong? Was it because I was losing my hair? Now I am not as soft and silky anymore, you do not want to cuddle me? Have I lost my place next to your heart?

Time passes quickly, I sleep more, although I seem to itch a lot and so I scratch, you seem to think I have fleas, but that is not so! You decided to take me to the vet who says I probably have a skin allergy! So you bathe me in a nasty tasting shampoo. You are not so proud of me anymore, in fact I have become a real bother!

'He' suggests you move to his place, if you do, I cannot go! You anguish, you look at him, and then you take me in your arms, cuddle me and cry a little. Without a word you put me in my cage. I HAVE LOST MY PLACE NEXT TO YOUR HEART!

I hear you making arrangements to take me to a place where ALL UNWANTED FERRETS go. I am overcome with sadness. What did I do wrong? Was it because I lost all my hair? My sadness turned to despair knowing you cared no longer, so when we parted I hid under my blanket to hide my tears.

At the shelter they greeted me with open arms. They gave me my own place with all the necessities of home, bit it wasn't the same without you! How could you leave me here? Did 'he' mean so much to you that you could discard me and forget about me? Time passes slowly here. I still dream about you. I long for your arms around me,, so I can be next to your heart.

As I look around, there are many ferrets at the shelter that have lost their hair. They say it is an ADRENAL PROBLEM! Some have swollen vulvas and some are a little anemic, is this why their owners abandoned them? Do they know that surgery may correct our problems? If we do not get help, some of us will die from anemia or urinary blockages, plus the cancer may travel to other parts of our bodies. Is it the cost of surgery that keeps us looking so BALD AND BEAUTIFUL? Or is it because no one cares that we are doomed to be the HAIRLESS WONDERS OF THE WORLD?

For more information about

adrenal disease and insulinoma in domestic ferrets,

please visit the South Florida Help Line at:

http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/