In Memorium

The Story of Huckleberry Finn Ferret

Huckleberry Finn Ferret, FIRST's mascot for the past three years, was a loving, quiet, and gentle animal who enjoyed public appearances and being seen with people of influence as he personalized the plight of animals, particularly ferrets, and showed the world how wonderful ferrets can be.

Found as a stray in the fall of 1996, he was an unaltered male with an estimated age of four years. Clearly an escapee from one of British Columbia's many ferret mills situated in the Abbotsford region, Huckleberry endured the effects of severe misbreeding and mistreatment that characterizes the circumstances of too many ferrets raised in this province.

Malnourished, ill, and frightened of people, he suffered from chronic gastrointestinal inflammations due to poor diet and untreated infection; congenital deformations of the heart; congestive heart conditions; and a grape-sized tumor above and behind the heart which impaired his ability to eat and drink. Trauma to his face required the extraction of three broken fangs and three incisors; two premolars were lost due to disease. His spine was damaged in two areas where vertebrae were misaligned, and he had severe arthritis in the haunches and base of the tail, both conditions resulting from physical abuse. In his last year he was prone to strokes and suffered blindness due to detached retinas. Through this all, he still enjoyed life, especially with his ferret family and his public outings as mascot.

Huckleberry was the fifth ferret taken in by FIRST after inception. Due to his poor general condition and the high maintenance expected, he was classified a ward of the Society, and, as such, would remain permanently in the care of the Society. Unsuitable for adoption and being a prime example of the misery a small animal can suffer, he was chosen to be the Society's mascot. His scruffy appearance and determined demeanor required a name suitable to him, and so he became Huckleberry Finn in his new life.

Huckleberry stayed at the home to the Society's President while his medical needs were seen to. He remained isolated from the five resident ferrets during this period, having a small room to himself for safety, as Rasputin, the only male ferret in the home, had demonstrated a very powerful protective streak for his four girls and tended to attack other ferrets mercilessly. At the end of his stay, Huckleberry somehow managed to escape into the apartment at large while no one was home. Upon the return home, a somewhat panicked search for either a furry body or cowering ferret took place. After an hour's fruitless search, an unfamiliar hindquarter was noticed in the ferrets' primary nest -- Huckleberry, undisturbed and peacefully sleeping.

The resident ferrets immediately came up to peer into the nest. Rasputin, the fearless and relentless defender of the home, climbed in, curling himself around and over Huckleberry to protect him: Huckleberry was home. Thereafter, Huckleberry's family of Rasputin, Lucretia Borge, Minerva, and Jennifer would care for him and protect him. Unfortunately, this little family would not last long. Within a few months, Rasputin died of Aleutian disease, and Luci, his mate, pined at his loss and also passed on. The loss of Rasputin, who was thought a litter mate, marked the start of a long decline in Huckleberry's health. Within the year, Minerva died, too, of lymphosarcoma.

New youngsters joined the family over the year: Lochinvar, Vlad Teppis, Vampira, Gainesborough, and Dante. Huckleberry enjoyed the youngsters, even if they were a touch too rambunctious for him, and they all loved and respected their "grandpa Huckie," bringing him treats and grooming him. Though his illness, their company and attention helped him cope.

Even with his degenerating health, he was happy to be involved in activities which promoted the Society and its aims. Huckleberry took part at the introduction of the Society to the Vancouver Regional SPCA advisory board where he made a grand impression and helped create the fundamental working relationship between the two societies. At the 1997 Pet Fair, Huckleberry took up residence in a small tent on the Society's table for the two days, happily snoozing away the day and coming out to greet people or meet special guests such as "Sarge," the police dog. He appeared at all events the Society participated in. Never shy, he was in the spotlight whenever possible to promote the welfare of ferrets.

Since November, 1998, Huckleberry was too ill to take part in any events. His outings were restricted to short walks on warm, dry days and the occasional visit to his vet's office, mostly just to say "hello" and to supervise the clinic for a short while, which he loved to do. It was clear that his health was deteriorating quickly and he experienced a series of strokes. He remained at home due to increasing incontinency and difficulty walking.

At 23:35 on the 21st March, FIRST's beloved mascot, Huckleberry Finn Ferret, passed away peacefully from an apparent heart failure at an estimated age of seven years, having spent the entire last weekend of his life happily cuddled-up with his parents and loving ferret family.

No ferret has overcome so much adversity to do so much for the welfare of other ferrets. He is sorely missed.

FIRST will establish a memorial fund in Huckleberry's name to assist in the emergency care of badly abused ferrets and to promote legislation to protect animals from abuse. Donations to this cause will be gratefully accepted.

(Huckleberry's total veterinary expenses came to $1,865.50, of which $738.98 were while he was cared for by the Society, the rest was covered privately by his parents. All these fees were heavily subsidized by Huckleberry's vet. Additionally, there were several procedures which were not charged for. The real cost of caring for Huckleberry was at least twice the total.)