Our dear little ferret XENA - Warrior Princess (I knew I shouldn't have named her this) decided to go on a quest for freedom. Escaped her safe ferret enclosure, passed our 3 dogs and 1 cat, over the fence & right into a Police Rottweiler & cattle dog. Well, the dogs looked & it moves step sniff. Xena ran under some wood knowing she had gone too far in search of freedom, her life flashed before her. Our neighbor luckily heard the noise of dogs barking with excitement and came to her rescue. Result, a shocked little girl shaking with fright and a broken arm in two or three places. A visit to the vets and we were given one choice amputate the arm!! Well like people we are and ferrets need to climb. We crossed our fingers and begged for an operation which had never been performed before and which had very little chance of success. After 3 hours of microsurgery. Excellent vets and Specialists from Sydney. We then had to take turns sleeping and holding her in case she moved her arm. With notice on our door. Our house smells we feel sick but the ferret is getting better each day!

Approx 3 months later we had friends and felt well once again and a house that was clean. (The smell of a ferret can be overpowering sometimes.) Our ferret loves the garden once again and never wishes freedom from the lovely ferret enclosure. We must have the most expensive ferret in Australia but the sweetest when she kisses me gently on the cheek as she climbs up her enclosure. Advice to others, it's like having a newborn. No sleep and around the clock supervision. One blink and she is out of her hat and biting her arm and the pins need resetting.

I know that when the time comes I will also look after her in aftercare as well, and even though my husband and myself have been in this business since 1987, you never get used to the heartbreak of losing a pet, as each is so special in their own sweet way.



Unfortunately Xena passed away, we found her in her enclosure like she was asleep. This was very sad for us but I am very pleased her end was natural, she passed away in her sleep. She played with all her family the day before. Xena could not live forever and we did not know her age, it was a shock for us all in the morning but we gave her a loving burial at our pet cemetery and a part of her will always be with us.