Who would have thought that inspiration could be found in Mira's story? It amazes me each time the cruelty of men (as in humanity) when treating each other and even the lowliest of all creatures... this story moves me .... each time ... This was the story I read when I was first presented with two awesome ferrets as a gift from my husband and my son ... I knew nothing about them or how to care for them but in researching and learning I happened upon Mira's story and since then I have been a 100% supporter and donor to ferret shelter/rescue services Nationwide...

Mira - Short for Miracle ... was abused ... neglected ... stepped on and burned and YET she did not lose her playful and loving nature ....

This is her story and you can read the full story and others here:  http://www.ferret-fact.org/Mira.htm 

Ferret Association of Connecticut, Inc.

Meet Mira Nearly 5 years ago, Mira came to the Ferret Association of Connecticut shelter. At 3 months old, she had been stepped on, causing permanent injury to her shoulders and front legs. Bleach had been spilled on her and not washed off, causing third degree chemical burns to half her body. Mira almost died that first night. But Mira is a fighter; she survived. In time, Mira became sassy and spoiled. Although still crippled, with missing hair over her deeply burned shoulders, Mira blossomed into an "almost normal" ferret.

What isn't normal about Mira is her spirit. Outgoing and friendly, Mira is the star of any event she attends. She can never climb or run fast, but she can play and hop and loves to nip toes.

Just like Mira I REFUSE to lose my outgoing and friendly spirit ... even in the face of adversity ... I am moved by an inner force that surpasses all of that and I press on ... undisturbed ... 

I find inspiration everywhere and I learn lessons even from these little creatures .... I had 8 ferrets on Saturday morning ... all kept like royalty in an awesome multitiered pen that occupies an entire room all for them ... they are perfectly groomed ... liter trained and do tricks ... they are so smart I swear one day they will talk LOL ... and for the uninformed Ferrets are NOT rodents and they make awesome pets but they need a lot of attention and care ...

After Zumba on Saturday I came home and took a shower and was whisked off to a restaurant for lunch with DD ... with no makeup and totally busted I asked DD to run me by Petco afterward since it was right on our way to pick up a big bag of liter ... It was then that she placed a warm little bundle in my arms that wrapped its paws around my fingers ... I immediately named her Pandora little fuzzy belly just stole my heart ... and I had 8 ferrets no mo ... cause ferret #9 came home ...

This is Pandora and I this morning...
 
and this is her with her sister Chiquitita ... she climbed their kitty tower all by herself at her tender few weeks age ... she looks so much like her brother Finibeau...

 

Meet Martita's ferret #9 her name is Pandora ... itty bitty tiny and soooo cute...
  

Oh and this is not all that much off topic ... it is as WLS friendly as it can get ... pets are awesome therapy ... I spend awesome quality time on the floor with them ... I run with them ... I play with them and I have awesome walks with them.... do not fret thinking I went CRAZY (even if I am nutz) when you see me on the beach walking my ferrets ... trust I walk them EVERY DAY and I have an awesome stroll while they play and exercise and stop and check every passerby as they in turn stop and pet them too...



This was me YESTERDAY  holding Pandora and her brother FiniBeau ... Beau is no longer the baby... 

 

Today I could not be bothered with all that hair ... plus after my 4:30 a.m. 5.5 miles run this morning I only had chance to hop in the shower pack and bring lunch and b-fast to work and of course my DH snapped my pictures for my digital empowerment journal a picture a day helps keep the pounds and the inches away....

 

This is my empowerment collage today ... staying away from morbid obesity one day at a time ... one choice at a time ... living my life to the fullest and loving it!!!

 

Like Mira in the story did not lose her essence in the face of such adversity neither will I lose mine ... I am enjoying my journey post WLS as if it were the first day ... it has paid off in maintaining a total loss of 203 pounds ... of having 5 co-morbidities in remission and of having health and mobility and the ability to run/jump and swim just as good or better than I did on the track/swim team in high school ... WLS the best thing I did for ME!!!

Thank you for allowing me to share.

That poor baby! I don't understand why people abuse animals, or abuse anything for that matter.

 But they do .. they abuse animals AND they abuse people ... even with the PA crap that those who can discern can perceive .... it is sad on all fronts ... but I got Pandora WOOT! .... she is a doll .... I am about to hop in the shower and bring them for a brisk walk along the beach before hitting Zumba toning with my DD...

Isn't she cute?
 

Awww, what an awesome story! I'm not a ferret kinda person, but I love it when people get small pets and treat them the way they are meant to be treated. In addition to dogs and cats we have a bunny and he is so spoiled! Most people put their bunnies in a cage--outside!--and do little more than feed them and look at them after that. We have an indoor taj mahal cage with multiple levels for the little guy, he's litter trained, and he gets multiple hours of running around the house time each day. Little animals need love too!

As always, you're inspired and inspiring, Martita!

 Thanks Amy ... you were Annie right? I got to meet you and your awesome dog ... I admire anyone who loves and cares for people and animals ... no matter the size or the pedigree... I am so glad your rabbit gets to leave the cage ... do you know ferrets we bought originally from Europe to here to help the hunters flush rabbits out of the holes? Someone asked yesterday via pm if their hamster would be safe with a ferret and I told her no ... they would eat it ... and although mine eat the processed food I purchase at the pet store I would feel horrible seeing them eat another animal *shudders* ... some people rather feed them natural foods like lil rodents and raw meats and stuff ... I just can't ... I have had these since babies and Pandora is the youngest I have ever gotten ... 

I am envying your rabbit's cage ... how does he get along with the dogs and cats or do you separate them?

Nope, not Annie, I've always been Amy. It would have been great to have met you, though!

We keep the dogs away from the bunny because they want to chase him and cause him distress. The cats don't seem to bother him but they are only a few months old and still smaller than him so they are kinda intimidated by him right now. That may change as they grow so we're being careful.

I did not know that about ferrets and rabbits. That's interesting and good to know. We had a corn snake many moons ago and it was always difficult to watch him eat live mice. I know it's nature's way but....yeah....it's tough!

It would have been great to meet you as well... I met a beautiful young woman and her dog at the last OH Conference ... she was dressed as Annie and both her and her dog won the first place in the costume contest ... I would love to meet you if you come to the Conference in Atlanta ... I plan to be there...

As a ferret mom I have learned a lot about these bundles of joy ... I too was surprised to learn that the domestic ferret has is origins in Europe and is not a domesticated version of the black footed ferret native to here.  I learn something about them each day.... My guys even have their own blog which I have to update with Pandora's grand entrance to the ferret circus... if you are ever interested to learn about me living with and loving ferrets this is their blog  http://furcircus-martitasferrets.blogspot.com/

Having a house filled with rescued critters and being  a halfway house for any injured critter within a 50 mile radius, the extent of human cruelty to the smaller beings of our world truly horrifies me. 

There is a saying that you should not judge a man by the way he treats those above him or equal to his status, but how he treats those beneath him. 

I hold this to be especially true when it comes to animals. For those I have come across that treat the smallest creature with disdain, contempt, and cruelty I have no patience and hold them with nothing but contempt.

I realize that yes animals are not human and yes they feed us and clothe us. But there is no reason to further their misery and treat them horribly. The sacrifice a cow makes so that I can eat is a great thing so don't just say "it's only a cow". That cow feeds you, puts shoes on your feet, keeps you warm in your leather jacket.   There is no such thing as "Only a chicken."  There is no such thing as "only a mouse". 

If you must kill then do so humanely. But do not torture or prolong the suffering of any animal. And when you take an animal that has placed it's trust in you and then you do horrible, terrible, despicable things to it, you should have to suffer the same fate and feel the same pain and you should be denied medical treatment.

 Wholeheartedly agree with you.... on all that you wrote and especially this....

"There is a saying that you should not judge a man by the way he treats those above him or equal to his status, but how he treats those beneath him. "

What a heartwarming story about Mira and it's amazing that she's still warm natured.  What a cutie! ;-)

It's easy to get bitter when you've been kicked to the kerb, but being around positive people really helps you to remember that there are good people in the world.

Thanks for the uplifting post.  ((Hugs))

 Oftentimes the good is overshadowed by the antics of those moved by hidden agendas and veiled cruelty ... it is good not to be discouraged ... to keep our eyes on the prize and to embrace joy and just let it happen to us ... I do every single day ... and it pays off with blessings after blessings...

Thank YOU my beautiful sista ... for allowing me to share Mira's story ... it is a heartwarming story indeed.

 
You are da bomb!!!!!!!!!! 

That is so awesome and Pandora is one lucky little ferret, not to mention abso-freaking-lutely adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope I look half as good as you do when all is said and done and I will be thrilled!  Some people just have "it" and look fabulous all of the time, even waking up out of a dead sleep, and I know that is you. . . . .unfortunately, that is sooooo not me, getting up with hair all jacked up looking like I stuck my arm in a light socket  . . . . .LOVE your clothes and style. . . wish I could work it like you do, but I just don't have that fashion flare.  

I love the story, love the pics, you are exuding fabulousness and looking amazing as always. . . .if I ever had a "girl crush" it would be you!!!!  

 LOL Lynn ... I was looking totally busted in the store on Saturday when my DD handed me Pandora ... she knows I have a weakness for these little creatures ...  

Trust you don't need any fashion flare and I doubt I have any LOL ...  I just love putting a lot of things together colors/shapes/forms you name it ... oh and hair ... it is long again today ... it just GREW this morning when I put it on LOL ...

You will do great and even better than I ... just embrace your life and your journey and let it happen to you joyfully ... even on the days when their is a bit of sadness or discomfort or frustration embrace JOY and make it happen to YOU .... some people confuse Joy with everyday happiness and there is a big difference ... do not be afraid to set goals and dreams and work towards them ... you do not need to stress yourself in achieving them all you have to do is try getting as close as you want to each day ... because each step in the direction of your dream is a measure of success.... YOU HAVE THIS!!! 

Wishing you nothing but the best on your journey!!! Sistas on the journey!

Poor little Mira, how amazing that she still has such a kind and open nature despite being abused and nearly killed. Animals often set such a good example for us 'higher level' creatures.

I love that picture of you walking the ferrets. I've thought about putting a harness and leash on my giant maine coon kitty but given the way he loses his **** when he sees a bird in the window and his general tendency to spazz I don't think it's such a great idea. Though running home trying to contain 20 pounds of yowling, flailing fluff could be good exercise for me I suppose
hmmmmm

 20 pounds of yowling, flailing fluff sounds like TONS OF FUN!!! 

For obvious reasons I cannot read what you posted about the abused ferrets, my heart cannot handle such things.  Animals are innocent, they do not act with malice, those who abuse them are sub-human beings.  I haven't been online in a few weeks because we recently adopted two Golden Retriever puppies and all my extra time is spent with them.  They are truly a blessing.  Meet Bailee and Kymber with my son Will.

 SWOON!!! madly in love .... they are BEAUTIFUL!!! and that HANDSOME HANDSOME HANDSOME young man looks soooooooooooooo much like you .... It is good to see you and to know you have been AWESOMELY busy with such bundles of joy!!!

I am madly in love with my new munchkin .... Pandora ... she is so cuddly...

 

Thanks! They are amazing. I have been at Petco so many times and everytime I see the ferrets I think of you. They are all so lucky to have such a great mom.