Winkwomp (9/18/1997 - 2/12/2003)

I've only been a ferret owner for a short while, and I didn't expect to have to grieve so soon. But my little boy Winkwomp has passed on. He recently had surgery for tumors on the adrenal gland and then unfortunately developed kidney failure a few weeks post-surgery. My heart is broken for my special little boy.

Winkwomp was the most special ferret. He was a rescue, and I am devastated at knowing the situation he came from. The people who were keeping him before I rescued him had him in a rusted out cage, was feeding him out of dirty food bowl and water bottle, it looked like the litter box hadn't ever been changed, and he was covered in fleas. A fellow ferret lover and I went to this baby. She took him home and got him cleaned up (she said he even liked having the fleas picked off him). The next day, I picked him up with the intentions of fostering him for a while, but after a few days, I knew I'd never be able to let him go. He got attached to me very quickly, and I fell absolutely head-over-heels for him.

I always tell this tidbit when I talk about Winkwomp. The first night I had him, I let him run around for a while. You could tell the previous people didn't let him out of the cage very much. When it was time for bed, I put him in his nice, clean cage. Oh, he didn't like that. He started rattling the cage wanting out, convinced he was trapped in a cage again. But the next day when I let him out for playtime, he was so happy and realized I wouldn't keep him locked up indefinitely. He even went back to his cage when he was ready to sleep. I couldn't wait to introduce him to my other ferrets.

After getting his vaccinations, I introduced him to the rest of my crew. Ohhh, the trauma! Winkwomp had never been with other ferrets and did not know what to do in the presence of his own kind. But eventually, he grew to tolerate their antics. He never fully bonded with any of them (partially, because I only had the privilege of being with him for 5 months and partially, because he's not a "ferret" ferret). It's probably for the best that bonds weren't formed as I would hate for one of my other babies to be depressed by his passing.

Winkwomp had right adrenal surgery in January 2003 and was facing one for the left. This was also my first experience with adrenal surgery, and it scares me that this happened. I know that not all ferrets die from the surgery, but I had hoped for a successful outcome. Unfortunately, there wasn't much that could be done for him. The people I rescued him from had waited too long to seek help as the disease was pretty advanced. And now I am left heartbroken and very angry. Angry that people could be so cruel to defenseless animals. Heartbroken at knowing Winkwomp is not waiting for me at home.

I watched my poor baby deteriorate. He went from being my biggest ferret to my scrawniest one. He lost half his body weight towards the end. Everyone could tell he wasn't healthy. And even though I knew euthanasia was the best option, my heart still doesn't believe it. How could I let him go? He was the only ferret who would climb into bed with me when he wanted to sleep (I sometimes let the ferrets stay out all night). He would curl up next to me and just having him there made me content. But I knew I couldn't be selfish. I knew that Winkwomp had held on as long as he could because of me. I knew the only thing I could do for him was to let him go. And as hard as it was, it was harder to watch him suffer.

I am a ferret lover, Winkwomp was a human lover. We were meant for each other. And no matter what, I'll never regret taking in this sick, but wonderful boy. He's now at the rainbow bridge (the place where animals go to wait for their humans to join them) with a beautiful coat, dancing his little heart out. I never saw him really dance. I never saw him with a full coat.

I miss you, Tinky-Winky. Rest in peace, my dear one. My heart is broken.

If you would like to read my poem dedicated to Winkwomp, please click here.

Click here to see Winkwomp's memorial notes. Thank you for your support in my time of grief.