(Old) Charlie

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Zoo's Ferret Sanctuary

(Old) Charlie

This is Old Charlie. He joined our family at the age of 10! His former owner kept him outdoors, in a rabbit hutch, with a cagemate for his first seven years. When the cagemate died, Old Charlie was brought in to the garage. The grandchildren never came to visit anymore. He never had a hammy, or a blanky or a litterbox...he didn`t have any toys. He was eating cat food. When the owner spoke of just "klunking him in the head", because he was OLD, his daughter told him about Cathy, and asked if she could take him to her! The father agreed and Old Charlie came to live at the sanctuary, and made many new friends. He had insulinoma, and was losing his fur, due to adrenal disease. These are before & after pictures of Old Charlie, who is a loved & happy boy now---and will be, for the rest of his days !!!

Old Charlie before surgery...

...and three months after it!

Update:(By Zoo) June 25, 2003

Old Charlie began losing his fur, two years after his adrenal surgery, indicating that the other gland was probably diseased. His prostate was very enlarged. We opted for lupron, (a form of chemo) instead of subjecting him to another invasive surgery. Old Charlie has lots of spunk and a burning desire to live.He needs his bladder expressed, every 5-6 hours, due to the enlarged prostate, but still runs & plays quite a bit! His appetite is very good. One of his favorite games is "hunting" down morsels of kibble, which have been sprinkled on the floor for him to find. He is such a positive old guy. Hopefully, the lupron will kick in soon, and shrink the prostate enough so our old man can go on his own. Will post updates later.

UPDATE: October 26, 2004

Five months ago, his legs became weak. He couldn`t walk anymore, but scooted all around his cage, (& the room, when he was out) He loved his soup. Wasn`t ready to die, in spite of several small stokes. What spirit he had! He always bounced back...

The past few days his attitude had changed a bit. He slowed down, & didn`t want as much soup.

Last night, his body temperature lowered. He was sleeping peacefully, at bed time.

At 3 a.m. when I was doing special feedings, he began to seize, intermittently. The seizures became worse, & closer together, as the morning wore on. Realizing that he was not going to recover, this time, I helped him cross, at 8:15 this morning.

Old Charlie turned 13, in late July or early August, according to his former owner, who lives here in Kirkland.

We had a little over three wonderful years together. He was my sweetest old man. Although I am busy with 50 others here, I just feel totally lost today. This is the end of an era, here at Zoo`s Ferret Sanctuary...

Love, Zoo